Sporting a new look, and introducing its interactive community for readers and writers, the Polka Dot Banner is pleased to honor Liana Laverentz, author of the bestselling novels "Thin Ice" and "Jake's Return". Laverentz recently won the coveted Golden Leaf award, which is presented annually by the New Jersey Romance Writers, a large branch of the national Romance Writers of America.
Says Laverentz, "I feel the Polka Dot Banner has helped me to have a positive and professional presence on the Internet, a place where readers can go to find out more about me, my books, and the books of my fellow authors."
The Polka Dot Banner, also known as the "PDB," is a site that utilizes the power of numbers to increase attention to its members' books. "Not everyone is Stephen King, Jackie Collins, or John Grisham," says Jamie Saloff, fellow author and site owner. "Authors have to work harder today to capture their market."
In the old days, authors could rely on their publisher to do the sales and promotion work for them. Not anymore. Those days are gone for all but a chosen few. Today, most publishing houses expect their authors to have a ready-made platform and to generate sales (or exposure) on their own.
Unfortunately, most writers, many who are specialists in their field of expertise or even bestsellers in their genre, don't know the first thing about sales and promotion. They've focused all their talents on honing their craft and writing the best book they possibly can.
The goal of the Polka Dot Banner is to guide authors with simple self-promotion steps they can easily complete in five to ten minutes, and to create an overall cooperative of authors who will help each other to generate sales.
The PDB's founding principle is "there is strength in numbers". And it's working. "I had great sales this month!" writes Mary McGovern, author of The Reason We Are Here - The Truth. "Thank you for all the work you're doing with the PDB." McGovern, who has little time to promote her book, is grateful for the help offered by a multi-author site.
A long-time web designer and Internet marketer, Saloff knows that a one-author website can only garner so much exposure amid a sea of billions of other websites. However, she is proving how a multi-author site, where everyone works together promoting their books, multiplies an author's exposure times the number of all of its members. "Even if each author only does a little," says Saloff, "it benefits all of the site's members when their blog, press release, website link, or forum posting brings visitors to the site. Every little bit helps, and the member's efforts have led to the site's growth causing site hits to double month after month."
"The Polka Dot Banner has been a great promotional boost for my first thriller novel, "Unholy Grail," which reached number 9 and 8 on the National Nielsen Bookscan ratings behind Nicholas Sparks, Stephen King, and Danielle Steele," says author and PDB member D. L. Wilson.
"I like PDB's aura and its simplicity," offers Perry Foster, author of "Hands Upon My Heart: My Journey Through Heart Disease and Into Life." "I clicked on my picture, copied 'my book,' 'about me,' and 'my reviews,' and sent it to our local newspaper. It got me my first feature story." Perry's book received the most author votes by visitors to the site in October which won him a featured position on the site.
The author listings provide quick information to viewers about members and their books including, speaking engagement availability, links to their personal blogs and websites, as well as awards and reviews they have garnered. "I wanted to make the site as easy as possible to use, while keeping a professional look," says Saloff. "I love the exposure gained from sites like MySpace and The Author's Den, but the blinking ads and self-created designs often do not lend a look of professionalism to the author."
The PDB offers different plan levels based on author need. The cost ranges from $ 10 per month for a basic listing, to more expensive "we do it for you plans" where listings are built for the author who either doesn't have time or the technical know how to create and maintain an Internet presence.
The PDB can also serve as an inexpensive, starter website for authors looking to get on the web fast for little expense. "That's what I did," says "Thin Ice" author Liana Laverentz. "I knew I had a book coming out and no clue about how to build a website. The PDB has given me a comfortable home for my links, reviews, and book news until I can find the time to create my own website. And when I do, I'll still be with the PDB. You can't beat the exposure."
For more information about Liana Laverentz and her award-winning novel, "Thin Ice," visit the PDB's "Featured" link to read an in-depth interview, or visit her profile listing on the PDB. To learn more about the PDB, visit http://www.polkadotbanner.com.
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