Phineas Crow
First Post
JVisgaitis said:
Signatures only show up once per page.
What do you look for in a Publisher's website?
- Thread starter JVisgaitis
- Start date
Signatures only show up once per page.
DaveMage
Slumbering in Tsar
JVisgaitis said:
I very rarely, if ever, do a thorough browsing as I generally don't have the desire. I usually go to a publisher's web site with a specific goal in mind - and that goal usually involves looking for information on 1) a product's release date, or 2) checking for web enhancements for a product I already have.
As for favorites, both Necromancer Games and Green Ronin have excellent ones.
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cybertalus
First Post
A nice, clean layout that works in all browsers and resolutions down to 800 by 600. It should be easy to navigate, not require users to download obscure plugins, and if it has sounds of any kind, have a way to turn them off. This kind of thing should go without saying for all websites, but unfortunately it doesn't.
Product information. The smaller your company, the more information you should provide, because of the increased likelihood that your customers will be purchasing your product sight unseen via the Internet.
If you're really small or really new a strategically chosen preview excerpt can really make a difference. The trick with an excerpt though is to make it typical of the entire product. If you put the best part of the book in the excerpt some customers may buy your product on the strength of the excerpt only to be disappointed with the full product.
Links to somewhere customers can buy your products. Unless you're Wizards of the Coast, this is an absolute must.
Not a requirement, but I always find I spend more time at websites of companies that provide some information about the people who work there. Bios, lists of past products (especially notable ones that lots of people may have heard of), maybe even a picture or two all serve to make it seem like I'm dealing with actual people and not some faceless company.
Freebies can get people visiting your site, but if that's the only reason people are visiting, many will probably keep showing up only as long as the supply of freebies is kept fresh and flowing.
Of course probably the most important thing a publisher's website can have is products that are actually worth buying. None of the rest really matters if you don't have that.
Product information. The smaller your company, the more information you should provide, because of the increased likelihood that your customers will be purchasing your product sight unseen via the Internet.
If you're really small or really new a strategically chosen preview excerpt can really make a difference. The trick with an excerpt though is to make it typical of the entire product. If you put the best part of the book in the excerpt some customers may buy your product on the strength of the excerpt only to be disappointed with the full product.
Links to somewhere customers can buy your products. Unless you're Wizards of the Coast, this is an absolute must.
Not a requirement, but I always find I spend more time at websites of companies that provide some information about the people who work there. Bios, lists of past products (especially notable ones that lots of people may have heard of), maybe even a picture or two all serve to make it seem like I'm dealing with actual people and not some faceless company.
Freebies can get people visiting your site, but if that's the only reason people are visiting, many will probably keep showing up only as long as the supply of freebies is kept fresh and flowing.
Of course probably the most important thing a publisher's website can have is products that are actually worth buying. None of the rest really matters if you don't have that.
Phineas Crow
First Post
JVisgaitis said:
Or you could do it bi monthly, keeping the updates fairly substantial, and also more frequent.
If I visit a publishers website, its mainly to check their current releases and upcoming releases pages or to check for errata and web enhancements for products that I’ve purchased.
I can’t pick just one, so here is my top three.
www.mongoosepublishing.com
For the nice, clean look. The menu is compact and near the top, meaning its useful even at low resolutions.
www.greenronin.com
I probably visit this publisher site the most, mainly for the frequent news on new products. I like the “Green Ronin Goings-On” which tells you what stage soon to be released products are at.
www.bastionpress.com
Great section of free material.A lot of quality stuff too. I purchased my first Bastion Press book because I liked the free downloads so much.
And here is my top three small publisher websites.
www.redspirepress.com
Nice layout. Easy to find what I’m looking for.
www.ancient-awakenings.com
Good looking website, could use more news.
www.bluedevilgames.com
Awesome looking site.
MonsterMash
First Post
My list:
Errata for existing products
Web enhancements for existing products (I don't mind these being password protected using a word in the book)
Details of upcoming products
Realistic release date targets
Links to forums for the publisher
Errata for existing products
Web enhancements for existing products (I don't mind these being password protected using a word in the book)
Details of upcoming products
Realistic release date targets
Links to forums for the publisher
Kax Tuglebend
First Post
i'll second MonsterMash, with the exception that hate password protected web enhancements (even when i have the book), but then i regard them as sort of previews.
another thing that is VERY useful: links to fully independant reviews! it makes life so much easier (if i have to go looking for reviews myself i usually find reviews of other things that look more interesting)
another thing that is VERY useful: links to fully independant reviews! it makes life so much easier (if i have to go looking for reviews myself i usually find reviews of other things that look more interesting)
mroberon1972
First Post
Got bored and followed links back to their source from my website... Now what do we have here?
Hmnnn...
Thanks Phineas, It's nice to know someone likes the design!
As to what I like in a website: Lack of flash (literally), clean and easy to read, and with a usable forum attached for contacting the company.
If they hide it, I ain't interested...
Hmnnn...
Thanks Phineas, It's nice to know someone likes the design!
As to what I like in a website: Lack of flash (literally), clean and easy to read, and with a usable forum attached for contacting the company.
If they hide it, I ain't interested...
JoeGKushner
Adventurer
1. Product Information: This includes previews, errata, and links to reviews.
2. Upcoming Products: A current listing of books that are coming down the pipeline. Don't list product X coming in Y when Y passed two months ago.
3. Web Enhancements for existing products and for general use. The Game Mechanics Initiative Cards get a lot of use at my table.
4. Clean. Easy to see and use.
5. Forum: Not mandatory, but good to have. Necromancer Games and Malhavoc have some of the best forum boards.
One of the most important things for me is when seeing a book that has issues, not ignoring those issues. If a book needs serious errata, provide it.
2. Upcoming Products: A current listing of books that are coming down the pipeline. Don't list product X coming in Y when Y passed two months ago.
3. Web Enhancements for existing products and for general use. The Game Mechanics Initiative Cards get a lot of use at my table.
4. Clean. Easy to see and use.
5. Forum: Not mandatory, but good to have. Necromancer Games and Malhavoc have some of the best forum boards.
One of the most important things for me is when seeing a book that has issues, not ignoring those issues. If a book needs serious errata, provide it.
Prince of Happiness
First Post
Downloads. Whether they're web enhancements or for general use, I love 'em.
Voadam
Legend
Product info.
Web enhancements. For instance the Green Ronin Book of Fiends WE that included summoning lists and three alternate fiendish templates is a great one. So is the counter set for Bastion's Minions monster book.
Art galleries, the more art the better. I use the art gallery from WotC for copy and paste purposes when using certain monsters in my e-mail games and I'd like to do so with more of the 3rd party books I have.
Errata. Very important to be able to doublecheck and it is relatively easy to get this posted online at the website.
Frequent updates are not that important to me nor are forums.
Web enhancements. For instance the Green Ronin Book of Fiends WE that included summoning lists and three alternate fiendish templates is a great one. So is the counter set for Bastion's Minions monster book.
Art galleries, the more art the better. I use the art gallery from WotC for copy and paste purposes when using certain monsters in my e-mail games and I'd like to do so with more of the 3rd party books I have.
Errata. Very important to be able to doublecheck and it is relatively easy to get this posted online at the website.
Frequent updates are not that important to me nor are forums.
