Oh my gosh, am I ever disappointed and pretty discouraged, too. Yesterday, I spent hours and hours doing the type of research I am always nagging at you authors to do. I did numerous Google searches in an attempt to locate cat-related sites that welcome story\/article submissions from others, review books on cats and\/or have newsletters for which they solicit submissions. And what did I find? Sites that are difficult to navigate, a lot of outdated material and faulty contact forms. <\/p>\n
In some cases, I spent quite a bit of time in an attempt to locate an email address and, when I attempted to use it, discovered that it was bad. SIGH!<\/p>\n
The sites that solicited articles and stories, did so only with threats and unreasonable demands\u2014\u201cThis had better be the real deal and original material or else\u2026\u201d and \u201cBy offering this to us, we have the right to take your firstborn child\u2026\u201d Well, practically. From the sounds of their Terms they want more rights than the author ever had.<\/p>\n
Directories. Now don\u2019t even get me started on directories. I love them. I am always providing links to directories for SPAWN members who read my incredible SPAWN Market Update<\/em>, for those of you who read my blog, in my various books, etc. But I get so crabby when I meet up with a directory of publications, distributors, agents, publishers, newsletters or ? where every other listing is bad. Sometimes directories, which are supposed to be designed to save us time in our searches, end up taking (and wasting) immensely more time. <\/p>\n It isn\u2019t unusual, when you meet up with one of these poorly maintained directories, to average one or two good sources for every hour or two of work. I can attest to that. <\/p>\n When you plan to do the type of Internet research that I and other professionals recommend, whether you are promoting a book or attempting to take your freelance writing business to the next level, make sure that you have plenty of time. Here are some additional tips:<\/p>\n \u2022\tApproach the task with large helpings of patience. And folks, if you have a website dedicated to your book or your freelance writing business, please, please keep an eye on it. Make sure to update it regularly. Go through the resource list and remove any bad links. Fix broken links. Evaluate your site from the perspective of a technological neophyte. How can you simplify your site so that it welcomes and guides your potential clients\/customers rather than repel them?<\/p>\n Believe me, I intend heeding this advice with greater regularity concerning my own site, http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a> <\/p>\n It is certainly easy to take your website for granted. Many authors and freelance writers do it. I have been guilty of it, myself. But why would anyone change his or her email address and not tell their site visitors? And why would they bury their email address so deeply into the crevices of their website that it takes a trained bloodhound to find it? <\/p>\n Let\u2019s all make a pact to visit our own websites at least once every few months. View your site as if you are someone from Mars. Is it well-organized and easy to navigate? Does it realistically represent you\/your services\/your book? Check the links, evaluate your menu \u201citems,\u201d and don\u2019t forget to check your spelling and grammar.<\/p>\n Now this is a whole \u201cnother\u201d topic, but have you noticed how many sites are riddled with errors? And do you know what? Some people don\u2019t even care. Mention it to them and they will make excuses for not dealing with it. In the meantime, they are offending and repelling many potential customers and clients.<\/p>\n Wanna hear something crazy? (It makes me crazy, too). One publishing newsletter I receive carries a disclaimer stating that the \u201ceditor\u201d knows there may be typos and errors in grammar, but not to pay any attention to them\u2014just benefit from the information and resources. I wonder why this person doesn\u2019t just hire an editor and make the best presentation possible.<\/p>\n I pointed out to another author and newsletter editor recently that, while he provides such a valuable service through the writing he does, he is a bit behind the times when it comes to certain editorial rules. He said, in so many words, \u201cI know. I like doing it the way I do\u2014I choose not to conform.\u201d<\/p>\n SCREEEEAAAAAMMMMM!!! <\/p>\n I\u2019ve had some interest lately in some of my online courses. I guess it\u2019s that time of year\u2014things have finally settled down after the holidays. If you would like someone to walk you through the book proposal or self-publishing process, you want help establishing a freelance writing business or you need some assistance with book promotion, check out my courses at http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/courses.htm<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Oh my gosh, am I ever disappointed and pretty discouraged, too. Yesterday, I spent hours and hours doing the type of research I am always nagging at you authors to do. I did numerous Google searches in an attempt to locate cat-related sites that welcome story\/article submissions from others, review books on cats and\/or have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\u2022\tExpect dead ends, the run-around and Wild Toad rides.
\n\u2022\tUse every bit of common sense and creativity you have when searching for contact information. (I\u2019ve written about how to do this in a previous blog post. If you request it, I\u2019ll repeat it for you.)
\n\u2022\tIf a rather difficult site is valuable to you, note in a folder somewhere how to navigate it so you won\u2019t forget the next time you want to visit.
\n\u2022\tContact the owner of the site with questions if the site doesn\u2019t respond to them.
\n\u2022\tIf you can\u2019t find the owner\u2019s contact information on the site, do separate Google searches in an attempt to get a good email address. <\/p>\n