How Can I Best Spread The Word About This Site?

[Bill]

As you might imagine, I am winding down any recruitment attempts until after the festivities are over, although I am glad to see that we are still attracting new members every day even at this time. Once we're into 2005, I will be trying to let as many interested parties as possible know about the site before we have our 'official' launch on January 17th, when we will be sending out a press release.

So I thought I would ask if anyone had any thoughts about other websites, other forums, Yahoo sites, newsgroups etc etc I should be contacting - or perhaps any non-Internet methods of passing on the fact of Book Group Online's existence. Then I can hit the ground running in January. Of course, any spreading of the word by any of you to friends, relatives, acquaintances, complete strangers you meet at a bus stop, will be greeted with extreme gratitude - although you too might think it's best to hold off until the New Year, as people have so many other things to think about at the moment.

I'm open to all ideas, which will be gratefully received.

Thanks.

Bill

[My Friend Jack]

No idea how to do it properly, but a lot of libraries have notice boards. I reckon if you could somehow target librarians, once you've got them joined up, they would be happy to spread the word. Have to admit, I'm not really a library-user myself...

[Lady Lazarus]

Yeah the library thing is a good idea. Also, what about independent bookshops? they might be prepared to have a poster / some small advert in the window or something...

on a grander scale, what about writing to the Guardian / Radio 4 to see if they might give you a mention?

I have put a link to the site on my own weblog as well!

[Abbynormal92243]

(perhaps you've already done all this)

you could put the link on the bottom of your email....

flyers at local bookstores....

contact Carl Lennertz of Booksense (he's the organizer) and ask him if he'll include information on the circulars they send out. You could probably find his email at their website....

Contact publishers and see if they'd allow a link on their websites....

go to authors' websites and email them an invitation to join (they DO answer--for example, Dan Brown and Christopher Moore both personally answer their mail)...

[Royal Rother]

Design an interesting / unusual / humorous Chain email promoting BGO? Viral campaigns I think they are called?

I'd send it on to at least 10 people I'm sure as would most most founder members I'd imagine.

One has to be a bit cynical about the success of these things but as there would be no strings attached with the email there would be no good reason not to pass it on.

Could work?

[Lady Lazarus]

Just had a thought - make sure you submit the link to BGO to Yahoo, Google, etc search engines... I just did a search for "book group" and "online book group", but this site didn't come up.

Also - what about stickers? you could sell them / give them out for free / whatever, and people could display them in their car windows, in books they give away to friends or second-hand shops (a bit like the bookcrossing stickers)... or maybe this is going a bit too Blue Peter, but you could make bookmarks with the logo and web address, and slip them into library books! :)

[Dream Weaver]

LL, out of curiosity, I tried a search for "Book Group Online" "Lady Lazarus" and found you!

Plenty of mentions otherwise for "Book Group Online" under Google as long as the words are in quotes. I'm guessing there must be a lot of entries under "Book Group".

[Lady Lazarus]

LL, out of curiosity, I tried a search for "Book Group Online" "Lady Lazarus" and found you! ".

haha :D

[Abbynormal92243]

Also - what about stickers? you could sell them / give them out for free / whatever, and people could display them in their car windows, in books they give away to friends or second-hand shops (a bit like the bookcrossing stickers)... or maybe this is going a bit too Blue Peter, but you could make bookmarks with the logo and web address, and slip them into library books! :)

That's a really good idea! Have you thought of doing something in conjunction with bookcrossing? That'd be an excellent place to get the word out---just think of those two authors that gave away books----

[Bill]

Thanks for all your ideas so far. I have put some of them into practice. We submitted to Google before we even told people about it, and that has paid off. As an example, if you put the phrase "Fiction paperbacks top 50" into Google you will come up with us, and only us. The actual phrase "book group online" will come up with not only this site, but some of the other sites where I have left messages about it.

Library noticeboards are certainly a good place to advertise, and I will be looking into that in the New Year. I would love to get a link on the Bookcrossing website (I've given them one!). Media like the Guardian / Radio 4 will be approached when we go into 'launch mode' in the second week of January. (Thanks for the link in your weblog, LL. BTW, if you want to give yourself a signature with a link to your weblog, feel free: just go into Your Settings and click on Edit Signature.)

Royal Rother's friendly and humorous chain letter is a fascinating idea. It would be vital to get the tone right, as it would arouse immediate suspicions and could potentially alienate people. It would have to be clear from the first line that it was a parody.

So thanks for those. And if anyone has any further ideas...

[Just RY]

It's tough to promote a website - most online communities build up a life of their own once the word gets round, and as always, the word of mouth type of marketing tends to be most succesful.

If you don't mind putting money into it, get some bookmarks printed, and give them out to everyone you know and people you don't know as well (a little late, but they could have been put in with your Christmas cards for example), once enough people are involved, then the word of mouth thing will start to snowball.

[My Friend Jack]

Just wondered how the site promotion is going?

I've noticed that there are often more guests than members browsing the site recently - don't know how many are joining up, though. I've also noticed that a lot of people are joining, but not making more than a couple of posts. In fact, it sometimes seems like Rother Royal, Harriet, Fiona_1984 and yours truly are taking over! So I would urge any booklovers who are browsing the site to join up and get posting. The success of BGO is down to the people who use it.

[Bill]

Thanks for the stirring message, MFJ! Yes, it would be wonderful if every guest became a member, and if every member posted more.

However, just a few points:
-Sometimes 'guests' are actually search engine robots or spiders. Which is why 'Most Users Online' currently says 267 (I'm getting that changed).
-Sometimes guests are members who haven't logged in - although if you don't actively log out, you will be automatically logged in next time you visit, unless you disable your cookies.
-Sometimes guests are guests, or 'members of the future' as I like to think of them.
-It might seem that only a few posters are dominating, but actually sixteen members have posted 20 or more times, which isn't bad at this early stage.
-You missed out such stalwarts as Abbynormal, Lady Lazarus, Deinonychus and Lei-Lei Jayenne, all of whom have done over 30 posts, and are ahead of Fiona1984 in the post count at the time of writing.

The site promotion only started up again this week, and has been successful so far. We had ten new members sign up yesterday, nine the day before. If that happened every day on average, we would have nearly 4000 members this time next year. This is discounting any snowballing effect, the increased prominence in search engines etc, and the fact that we haven't had our 'official launch' yet, which will be on January 17th, when the recruitment drive will hopefully bear fruit and gain momentum.

Can I just say how much I appreciate the input of our regular posters? Forums always need a core number of people to help drive them, and I'm very glad to see people have emerged already to play that role.

[My Friend Jack]

Thanks for the reply. Much appreciated.

And can I add how much I am enjoying the site?

Time to go now - the M25 and Genesis await.

[BrumB]

I have just released a book with the Bookcrossing label and I added Bookgrouponline to that. Other Bookcrossers might consider doing the same.

[Bill]

Great idea, BrumB. I've just released three books, and I wish I'd thought of that myself!

[Pirate Kate]

I've been telling people about it. My friend and brother have both joined! :)

[Deinonychus]

If you go to the very top floor of Foyles, there's a large information section that is apparently supposed to promote book-related initiatives. Well, ignore that, go to one of the windows behind it, lean out over Charing Cross Road and shout "visit Book Group Online!" extremely loudly...

[Harriet]

Now there's a good idea. I'll try it next time I can be bothered to take the tube up to London.

[Claire]

How about - designing a snazzy flyer or poster advertising BGO - putting it on the site somewhere, as a pdf file or similar, (so that it always prints out exactly as you intend, no matter what), and encouraging members to print off copies to stick up in their local libraries or book shops, or anywhere else they might have access to, with a public noticeboard. Getting people to print their own gets round some of the problems of having to distribute them to people/places somehow.

I can certainly think of a handful of places where I could put one, and I imagine other members would be happy to do the same. You could even start a thread for people to post up how many they had managed to find homes for, and where.

[Bill]

Claire, that's a terrific idea. I am in fact building up to the massive task of sending out a poster by email to all UK libraries, but giving BGO members the chance to print out a poster and put it up wherever they think best is an excellent plan.

The only problem is...I have all the artistic and design skills of a gnat. So are there any volunteers out there to put together an A4 poster for Book Group Online? It wouldn't need to be anything fancy, and I can write the wording.

[Pirate Kate]

Poster is a great idea. We could print them out and out them in local libraries, and I could put one in my school library, or even put a notice in my school newsletter! :D Ohh, I'm excited now! :D

[Harriet]

Claire, that's a terrific idea. I am in fact building up to the massive task of sending out a poster by email to all UK libraries, but giving BGO members the chance to print out a poster and put it up wherever they think best is an excellent plan.

The only problem is...I have all the artistic and design skills of a gnat. So are there any volunteers out there to put together an A4 poster for Book Group Online? It wouldn't need to be anything fancy, and I can write the wording.

I'll have a go....I've mastered the basic skills of Adobe Photoshop...just tell me what to do

[Bill]

You're on! Why not?

See separate PM for possible wording.

[Harriet]

Have just put a plug in the book thread off www.thelibertines.org.uk

[Obskua]

As well as a poster, how about a card bookmark to be given away by libraries, local bookshops, petrol stations, witches' covens, craft shops, galleries, TICs etc. ? If the design could be made available to us all, we could each download it and print it ourselves.

[Royal Rother]

Hmm, that's a good idea - laminate them, cheap to do but effective.

[Obskua]

Well, you could laminate the kids' ones, but the adult ones might go better with beer or whiskey.

[Bill]

Thanks for the plug, Harriet. Let's hope BGO lasts longer than The Libertines! (Yes, I know, they'll live forever etc.)

I have the poster which BrumB gave away on her Bookcrossing stall last weekend available for everyone. It is in the form of a Word document, which I can email to anyone who knows of somewhere they can put it up without being prosecuted (along with Bill Stickers). Given the positive response I have had from many libraries, it is likely that your local library will be happy to put it up on a noticeboard. It is A4 size and looks best printed out on a colour printer. Just send me an email via Contact Us and I can send it straight back as an attachment.

Anything like this will be heartily appreciated. I'm sure there is a way for me to put it up as a downloadable file on BGO, but I must admit I have no idea how to do it. Anyone got any ideas?

I like the idea of the bookmark, but this would either need a different design or for the design to be adapted. Distribution would also be a problem, so again, if anyone has any thoughts on how to solve this, I would be grateful.

[Deinonychus]

Have just put a plug in the book thread off www.thelibertines.org.uk

Oh no, pleeease don't tell me the place is about to be invaded by loads of little 'Doherettes'!!

[Obskua]

Anything like this will be heartily appreciated. I'm sure there is a way for me to put it up as a downloadable file on BGO, but I must admit I have no idea how to do it. Anyone got any ideas?

I like the idea of the bookmark, but this would either need a different design or for the design to be adapted. Distribution would also be a problem, so again, if anyone has any thoughts on how to solve this, I would be grateful.

Any downloadable files might need to be hosted on someone's web-site, for ease of access - any volunteers ? Don't all rush. Same for Bookmarks - then each of us could print off as many as we feel necesssary at any one time, to avoid too much environmental damage. I suggest dimensions of 1 9/10 " x 8 3/10 " for the BGO BMs - that means six per A4 sheet, or 5000 per ream.

[Harriet]

Have just put a plug in the book thread off www.thelibertines.org.uk

Oh no, pleeease don't tell me the place is about to be invaded by loads of little 'Doherettes'!!
Ha, no not likely.....the people on that forum are a little more....ermm....i dunno what the word is....mellow? than me...no screeching teeny-boppers, I promise.

[Deinonychus]

'Mellow' Pete D fans, eh? I had no idea such an entity existed! ;)

[Bill]

Have you mellow doubt now, Deino? Or should I be addressing that question to Royal Rother?

(With apologies to Teenage Fanclub for nicking their pun.)

[Deinonychus]

And what a very fine song that is, too. (Ooops - displaying musical preference there! Steady on!)

[Cathy]

I have just plugged the site on http:www.pemberley.com *blush* so expect the hoards of janeites and colin firth devotees any time soon...

[megustaleer]

Time to resurrect this thread, I think.
It usually gets a bit quiet here during the holiday season, so some more active members would be welcome :D

[nospacesallowed]

Well, now we've got MySpace, which is good, getting more members, and subscribers.

But Google, our very best friend...Book Group Online...is first for the words 'Book Group Online', unsurprisingly.

[megustaleer]

I have been trying on and off to register with dooyoo (http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/internet-sites/) so that I could put BGO in their 'book' section and then give us a wonderful review...only I don't seem to be able to complete the registration. (http://members.dooyoo.co.uk/my/new/)

Is anyone else a member, and can point me to the button I'm not clicking?

[Adrian]

I just registered OK. Some of the fields when you sign up are mandatory (those flagged with an asterisk) though I would expect any left unfilled would have been highlighted.

And as is usual these days you have enter a 'live' email address as they send a confirm message to it. So in conclusion: :dunno:

[megustaleer]

I filled in all the fields. My iMac automatically completes the email address, so I can't get that wrong. I ticked the "yes I've read the terms and conditions" box (perhaps they could tell I was lying?).
Then - nothing. I couldn't find a 'submit', or 'send' button...and I still can't :o

[Krey20]

As a fellow mac user I've had this problem before. Usually it's down to the web browser you use. I have to use two or three depending on the sites I have to visit. I'll try visiting the site and see if I can see the submit button.

Is there anything else obviously missing from the web pages?

[Krey20]

Yes. I was right (doesn't happen too often), the site doesn't like Safari ( I assume that's what you're using). Try again in a different browser like FireFox. I tried with internet explorer and which doesn't format the text very well but you do get a submit button. Hope this helps.

Give it a try, if you have no success I could do it for you when I have time. I've never heard of Dooyoo so you might have to message me to explain what you would want me to do-for-yoo! :D

[megustaleer]

As a fellow mac user I've had this problem before.Ah, yes! I've given up trying to register with eBay for the same reason! (but shh, don't tell any pc users :o )

[woofwoof]

I think I heard somewhere that a good way is to make the link to this website your signature on other boards that you visit. As well as people seeing it every time you post, it also gets picked up by the search engines. I have to say that I must have spent years looking for a website like this one (i.e. an "alive" books discussion board - most websites I came across were either dead (i.e. very few posts apart from requests from high school students for information for their essays and spammers) or completely off-subject. For a few years I used to be involved in a books discussion board at killdevilhill.com, populated mainly by some very intelligent and well-read Americans. From time to time they would have these enormous arguments (usually about politics) and people would storm off like prima-donnas. Eventually they had one spat too many and they all left and now it's like a ghost ship floating off into the distance, sad really - when you're involved in a forum like that, it almost becomes part of your life and I often wonder about the people who had become like close friends. That is the trouble with being over-involved in the "cyber world". You meet people and make friends, but they're not like friends in the real world. People disappear and you never hear from them again.

[megustaleer]

I think I heard somewhere that a good way is to make the link to this website your signature on other boards that you visit.I've taken to doing that, and using the same user-name. If anyone 'googles' it, the first 'hit' is to BGO.

I still haven't managed to register with dooyoo (http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/internet-sites) but anyone who is registered can write about BGO on that site.

Try and balance the basics of describing the BGO with as much personal experience. Sell the site! Make people know this is a site that could be what they are looking for and will want to join! Why you like it, if you find it easy to use etc.

To see what type of info is required for better ratings take a look at what is already written and at similar reviews with 'Very Useful' ratings.

[Momo]

... I have to say that I must have spent years looking for a website like this one ...Same here. I am not a member of another online book group right now but I am in a RL one with people moving all the time. I always point out this group, especially when someone is leaving. So far, nobody has taken up the invitation. I hope the day will come. :)

[Hazel]

My sister had just set up her own book group in Dundee and asked me to become a remote member - dundeebookgroup.co.uk - I will post a message there about BGO as soon as it gets started.

[Flingo]

Building on the success of MySpace, it seems to me that more people are using Facebook these days. I'm not sure whether BGO can join, but if we could find some way of promoting on there, it might help!

[Bill]

I have now started the process of sending out friend requests to book lovers via MySpace.

I've also successfully registered with Dooyoo, but can't find how to write a review of Book Group Online, since it's not on there yet among the book-related websites. A FAQ says there's a way of getting to a link called 'Suggest a product', but I can't for the life of me find it. Some might say that it's not for me to review BGO, and they'd be right.

Bookmarks. Does anyone have any idea of the costs likely to be involved in creating a Book Group Online bookmark? Or have any idea how I can find out?

[My Friend Jack]

http://www.totalmerchandise.co.uk/proddetails.php?id=2436&gclid=COv104HU5YwCFRI-EAodiVohzw

Not cheap, I'm afraid.

[megustaleer]

Bookmarks. Does anyone have any idea of the costs likely to be involved in creating a Book Group Online bookmark? Or have any idea how I can find out?You don't want to go with Obskua's idea? Any downloadable files might need to be hosted on someone's web-site, for ease of access - any volunteers ? Don't all rush. Same for Bookmarks - then each of us could print off as many as we feel necessary at any one time, to avoid too much environmental damage. I suggest dimensions of 1 9/10 " x 8 3/10 " for the BGO BMs - that means six per A4 sheet, or 5000 per ream.

[Bill]

No, I had forgotten that suggestion. What would these bookmarks be printed on? It would need to be some kind of card.

[lucyb]

How about spreading the word via Libraries? Is there a central organisation or would we all have to speak to whoever's in charge of our local one and see if we could put up a poster/leave the bookmarks being discussed above. Our local library has a website - don't know if they'd allow an on-line advert but I could ask if you wanted.

Local Councils do 'What's On' Websites. I'm sure you could persuade a few members to send in your info. I know ours has advertised actual book groups, so why not a virtual one?

Or you could look at people who can't get involved in a non-virtual book group due to mobility/transport issues (Carers, the disabled /elderly etc) and get in touch with umbrella groups representing them and see if they would put up a weblink/advertise for you.

You could ask all the authors who post adverts for their books on our website to return the favour.

Have a BGO party day - PM all members to spread the word, do any/all of the above and try and get as many members on line that day as possible to welcome any guests that have come to look around.

Any good???

[My Friend Jack]

No, I had forgotten that suggestion. What would these bookmarks be printed on? It would need to be some kind of card.

That would be up to each of us, I guess. I usually have a few sheets of photo paper waiting to be used, so I'd go with that.

[megustaleer]

No, I had forgotten that suggestion. What would these bookmarks be printed on? It would need to be some kind of card.It would depend on what our individual printers will take.

[David]

I just wanted to post public congratulations to Bill for his MySpace initiative. This has clearly been successful with a number of new members joining lately after receiving his request. A really good idea that's added considerably to a pretty good recruiting period.

Cheers, Bill!

:beerchug:

[Hazel]

My sis has put us in her "links to related sites" on her new Dundee Bookgroup.

I think the bookmarks idea is a good one - especially as so many of us ebay/bookcross/greenmetropolis/risi/Amazon marketplace - we could print these off and stick them in the books that we are posting? Bill? Or just leave them about libraries/schools that we visit on our travels?

[Bill]

Thank you, David. Although the idea originally came from Top Cat, and was then suggested independently by laurasilver when she was at Penguin, as she is one of the thousands of TC's friends in his various MySpace guises as publicity for The Lost Tribes Of Pop (http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/showthread.html?t=2610). It shows it works, as she ended up buying the book. I will take credit though for the hard work it takes to acquire all those friends on the BGO MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/bookgrouponline) page! I have 463 at the last count. Sorry, make that 466.

laurasilver's initiative has also led to two tie-ins with the publishers Penguin, one of which subscribers will know about already if they read their emails - and will know even more if they go into Central Library at around 4pm. The other is a Penguin-sponsored quiz open to all members, with one main prize and five runners-up prizes. Watch this space - or watch the space that is Central Library.

I am also - as I think I've mentioned somehwere - about to write an article for Newbooksmag.

Back to bookmarks - it certainly would help if people print them out themselves. So the question is - is there anyone out there who can design one? Krey20, I hear you're in the design business - hint hint.

Thanks too to everyone, especially lucyb, for all their suggestions, all of which I will consider very carefully, although I'm going to see how the current initiatives pan out first. Unless of course there are any volunteers out there to do some of the spade work.

[Hazel]

Back to bookmarks - it certainly would help if people print them out themselves. So the question is - is there anyone out there who can design one? Krey20, I hear you're in the design business - hint hint.



We don't even have to have extravagant bookmarks for the books that we are posting out - many of us sell a lot of books through the various methods online and if we all put a strip of paper in the said book with just BGO's internet address and maybe 'Invitation to join" written on them - think of how many we could reach?

[Krey20]

Back to bookmarks - it certainly would help if people print them out themselves. So the question is - is there anyone out there who can design one? Krey20, I hear you're in the design business - hint hint.
I'd be delighed to put something together.
I have no idea about the logistics of downloadalbe files etc, but I'm sure we could have a bit of a range. From a simple invitation slip as suggested by Hazel to various arty efforts a la bookcrossing. What do you think?

I could make up a simple layout containing all of the important info (suggestions?) than a blank space that can be filled by anyone. Do you draw, paint, doodle, take photos anything. We could make this quite interactive, chose a few to vote on etc.

I would like as much input as possible from all of you. Is there a standard size? Would you like the choice of a black and white print to save precious ink? What is the best, most universal file format for download (pdf)?

I think this could be a lot of fun and. as Hazel so rightly said, think of how many people we could reach.

[Bill]

Krey, this all sounds rather wonderful. I'm totally ignorant as far as sizes and logistics are concerned. Anyone else got any thoughts.

I can do words but nothing else useful really. Obviously it needs 'Book Group Online' and 'www.bookgrouponline.com'. I tend to use the line "for book lovers everywhere". I have also been known to call it "the friendliest forum on the web".

[megustaleer]

Obviously it needs 'Book Group Online' and 'www.bookgrouponline.com'. I tend to use the line "for book lovers everywhere". I have also been known to call it "the friendliest forum on the web".My 'signature' on other forums is:
Talk about books - any books - at BookGroup Online (http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/index.html?)

[lucyb]

Krey, this all sounds rather wonderful. I'm totally ignorant as far as sizes and logistics are concerned. Anyone else got any thoughts.

I can do words but nothing else useful really. Obviously it needs 'Book Group Online' and 'www.bookgrouponline.com'. I tend to use the line "for book lovers everywhere". I have also been known to call it "the friendliest forum on the web".

I like the friendliest forum on the web :)

[Momo]

I like the friendliest forum on the web :)Me too! :yup: :yup:

[Seraphina]

I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned but does BGO also have a Facebook site? They're pretty easy to set up and I've discovered loads of groups of librarians there, mostly from the US so it seems like it might be a good place to set up. Then if you're doing anything on MySpace you can just do the same thing at the same time on Facebook.

[Flingo]

Having just started to get into Facebook (and count Cathy and Seraphina amongst my much valued friends already!), I second the idea of a Facebook group. Since facebook, I haven't been back to myspace until today (to add Jen as a friend), and can't see too many reasons why I will.

[Bill]

What's so addictive about Facebook then? It seems a bit limited. From what I know, I'm not sure it's the best way to promote BGO, but I'm happy to be persuaded.

[Flingo]

To be fair, it is less promotion-centred than MySpace, and therein lies a lot of the reason's that I like it more. It's about real people who I know, rather than randoms. But that said, I've found the groups fascinating - and when you search, it lists other similar groups which you can then click through to.

[Momo]

It's about real people who I know, rather than randoms.What do you mean? We're not real people? :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Flingo]

What do you mean? We're not real people?Not at all! You are real people (well I hope you are or I look very foolish!), but the "randoms" I refer to are the bands and publicity stunt sites.

[Momo]

Oh, don't worry, Flingo, I was only joking.

[Rowena Cherry]

What's so addictive about Facebook then? It seems a bit limited. From what I know, I'm not sure it's the best way to promote BGO, but I'm happy to be persuaded.

I'd like to add my tiny vote to the Facebook. It's probably best done both individually and as a group as well. What you need is an eyecatching avatar, then you write on walls. Or, Bill puts in his status remark "Today... looking for mystery authors"

(Or maybe he has a theme... Today, looking for Faery Romance authors... Tonight, looking to be swept away by alien romance authors etc etc

We all agree among ourselves to accept each other's friendship, and the word then gets out exponentially.

Another way to publicize is to join Twitter.com. Then, in a coordinated drip of "What I'm doing" posts, booksellers mention: "Selling men in kilts" (or whatever is currently exciting).

:-)

[megustaleer]

I What you need is an eyecatching avatar, I've been thinking that about the BGO photograph on MySpace. I think it needs something more 'bookish'.
Bill in a bar is all very well, but doesn't quite get across what this site is about.

Unless there's things going on that I'm not invited to :(

[Momo]

Bill in a bar is all very well, but doesn't quite get across what this site is about.You don't think so? :confused: Weird. ;)

[Bill]

I've been thinking that about the BGO photograph on MySpace. I think it needs something more 'bookish'.
Bill in a bar is all very well, but doesn't quite get across what this site is about.

Unless there's things going on that I'm not invited to :(

I take your point, meg, but perhaps I can explain why there is a picture of me there rather than something 'bookish'. It's not ego I can assure you, as I don't really like seeing pictures of myself particularly.

Having received many friend requests now, as well as sending out so many myself, it puts me off when there doesn't appear to be a human face to the page, or if it looks like they just want something from me. I could have a picture of something bookish and anonymous, but I think that would send out the wrong message, and be potentially alientating. It is really my MySpace page, I am the only one who can edit it, and so I think it should be a little more personal than BGO itself. When I sent messages and comments to people, I now include my name for a similar reason.

There may be no excuse for me drinking though, so perhaps I should change the picture. That was about the only usable recent one of me that I had though.

[Jeremy DEagle]

Have you registered with faceparty as well? That site is a lot more about groups and networking...

[David]

There may be no excuse for me drinking though, so perhaps I should change the picture. That was about the only usable recent one of me that I had though.
I thought it was an interesting point that meg raised - I'd never really thought about it, to be honest.

Whilst I understand what meg says, I think Bill has a strong point about having a human face - it does make it seem more welcoming.

As for being in a bar, well, that also to me conveys relaxed and sociable informality, which is very much in the spirit of this site. We're not really about showiness, quasi-journalistic reviews or shop-front posting - we just chat about books or whatever else seems interesting. Sometimes we get animated about it, occasionally we might get caught up in the spirit and say something we regret next day. We have a laugh and occasionally share some sadness.

Pretty much like a pub, then!

So I for one am happy with it, but then I do enjoy a drink and in the current culture we're all being made a bit more wary about that, so I appreciate I might be a little subjective on that front.

Open for discussion, I'd say. (Whoever's shout it is next, I'll have a bag of cheese 'n' onion with mine...)

[megustaleer]

I do see what you mean about having a human face on the BGO MySpace page.

I posted after wandering around MySpace for a bit, just clicking on various 'friends of friends' links, and had found myself drawn to clicking more on pictures of piles of books etc, than on photos of blokes in boozers.

Now, a phpto of you in this chair (http://www.style-files.com/2007/05/21/bibliochaise-with-matching-stool/) would be just the thing :D

[Momo]

I've said it in another thread. I really, really want this chair. :D And I agree with meg, this would be the greatest picture.

[Krey20]

With the correct pictures I could Photoshop that together. :D

[Volvican]

Does it have to be free?

opps - just noticed the bookmarks suggestion - that was what I was going to say.

[Jeremy DEagle]

I suggested faceparty before. I meant www.facebook.com. Its a lot better than myspace in my opinion.

[Volvican]

It would be helpful if I and other could put a banner or the like on my Myspace page for the site. Is there such a thing with a ready-to-use code to place into the page?

[Bill]

That would be great, Volvican.

Here is the BGO logo via Photobucket:

<img src="http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d114/Billilu/Logovbulletin3_logo_whiteresized.gif" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

This is a link to BGO:

<a href="http://www.bookgrouponline.com" target="_blank">Book Group Online – the forum for book lovers everywhere</a>

These work in comments, bulletins and blogs, so should hopefully work within the body of a MySpace page.

If you click on 'Quote', you should be able to see what need to copy and paste. Alternatively, for the logo, right click your mouse, go to Properties, and copy the URL.

[Volvican]

That would be great, Volvican.

Here is the BGO logo via Photobucket:

<img src="http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d114/Billilu/Logovbulletin3_logo_whiteresized.gif" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

This is a link to BGO:

<a href="http://www.bookgrouponline.com" target="_blank">Book Group Online – the forum for book lovers everywhere</a>

These work in comments, bulletins and blogs, so should hopefully work within the body of a MySpace page.

If you click on 'Quote', you should be able to see what need to copy and paste. Alternatively, for the logo, right click your mouse, go to Properties, and copy the URL.

Cool - I've added that banner and link to my books section now.

[Bill]

The banner looks excellent, and works as a link. Thanks again.

[megustaleer]

www.facebook.com. Its a lot better than myspace in my opinion.I see that Babbling Books now has a Facebook page (although we seem to be doing pretty well for new members from MySpace at the moment).

I have copied the BGO banner into iPhoto, and am trying to turn it into a bookmark that I can send off with RiSi swaps.

[megustaleer]

By sending a message in a bottle (http://www.oceangram.com/)