anytime boomer...anytime!

songbird, why don't you do a Google search on bilingual sites and see how they look. I spent weeks scouring other sites before creating mine.

Keep a list of likes and dislikes. These can include colors, buttons, placement of buttons, content, organization, ease of use, etc.

And since you are specifying bilingual you may want to make the site your name and bilingual.com. that way when people do searches I believe if they do a bilingual search your site would appear. that alone will give you more traffic.

Make a list of why you want a site and that should tell you how to get started.

just another suggestion for your website is to put an excerpt of first chapter of the book on the site. It will give people a feeling that they're "getting someting" even though the book isn't out yet. And, it should help stimulate more pre-orders.

Like JJ, and the others. Keep the site simple. Don't confuse them with too many directions or links that take them no where.

This is a do what I say, not as I do suggestion. Don't use my website as an example.

Peace.

Funny, Vicki... I WAS looking at your website . But the preview is a definite "Yes"! I believe it's a MUST! Thanks fore the reminder.

Dotise:
Researching bilingual sites...Good idea, will look into it.

When I first decided to make the book, I had NO IDEA of all the work envolved. But I have learned a little here and there as I go .

Re free sites:

DO NOT GO TO IVILLAGE! That's where my jewelry site is and it's been one headache after another. Even their online tech help says she'd never set up a site there. I didn't know better and will eventually set up a new site when I have the time.

No kidding! IVILLAGE is like getting lost in the Internet Bermuda Triangle!

Dianne, interesting comment. I've been searching that site because I'm leaning towards creating a resource page for women on my site.

I've gotten totally lost and can't quite figure out why. I guess it's overwhelming becasue they have too much to offer.

Meredith and Dianne: thanks for your words of caution against ivillage. Good to know what doesn't work out well!

Dots: I've been looking at some bilingual websites, although I haven't found many . I just hate when people advertise of being capable of constructing bilingual websites and I can find horrors in their spelling ! That just doesnt work for me!

Either I am just a weird perfectionist or ... I just think it's outrageous to claim you can write both languages and not be careful enough about your "First Impression", the ad itself!

Hopefully, my son will find some time to help me before he heads out for college... Hopefully, since HE IS SO BUSY! I Just pray that I don't have to hire one of those people whose ads I saw for bilingual websites!

When I was reading Beginner Website Help forum on ivillage, there were regular complaints from people who spent weeks or months setting their site up and IT JUST DISAPPEARED!! ...and 50% of the time, it never came back either.

If this alone doesn't discourage you, I have horror stories galore. Like, for starters, I haven't been able to update my site for over 2 months now

Yes, it is very good business to put up the site with a sneak peak to the book and by all means a nice excerpt. Pre-orders are a great idea - talk with your publisher on how to handle that.

I recommend an author's name site. Check out these established authors for some good ideas on the layout of your site so you are not hemmed in by one book:

Favorite Author Websites