[The world would be prettier with more zebra strip]

Edited: See latest post about Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/indieartcovers and the group blog coming soon. It is the same idea as the FB group, but artists will have more control.

I have created a group page designed just for showing off premade covers. Whether you have one or a thousand premades, this page is here to bring them all together. All genres, and all artists that want to be involved.

Besides making, I have always enjoyed premades. Two in particular I actually designed my books around. As a buyer, I have always wanted a place to see all kinds at once. Not just one artist. I used to search three sites daily. I am hoping if this takes off, this could help people that want to look at different artists at the same time too.

To join just go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/109608535879458/. You can post up to three premade covers each day. I have an album in the photo section for the biggest genres. If your genre isn't there, then you can put it in the general album.
Don't forget to add your pricing, site, and any other information you want to add.
Feel free to introduce yourself in the group threads too.

 

[cvwriter]

You should create a Page not a group. There's no way to promote groups because they are hidden on profiles and they are private activity. People can't Like a group, they have to click to join and you have to approve them. Plus, people have to click through folders and it's not as visually interesting as a Page.

I create pre-made covers and would be interested in participating on a page. I wouldn't guess that there'd be too many designers. You could make them administrators of the page. I share several joint pages. It's not that big of a deal. It would be a showcase for covers with links to sites, not a place where people buy them, so I don't share the same concern as Humblenations. I wouldn't put up every cover on there. Just a a few a week to show my range.

 

[ElHawk]

I would definitely be interested if it were a Page and not a Group, too!  Would be much easier to use that way. 

 

[Rene Folsom]

I agree that I would also participate if it were a page.  It's definitely a great idea because I often wonder what authors do if they don't see what they want in my pre-made gallery (I would hope they'd contact me and let me know what it is they're looking for).  But, if all us artists get together and post our work in a central environment, it would definitely help all our sales.  However, I agree that a page would just make more sense and be easier to maintain.

However, I just thought of something... you're able to search groups, but are you able to search pages too?  I have never attempted to search through a group, so I'm not sure what data it pulls up, but if it pulls data from the images, then the search tool might make the group better than a page.

I'm joining the group, but if there is a way to search through a page's contents too, then I would suggest a page.  Otherwise, group it is!

Great idea and thanks for sharing!

 

[cvwriter]

I agree that I would also participate if it were a page. It's definitely a great idea because I often wonder what authors do if they don't see what they want in my pre-made gallery (I would hope they'd contact me and let me know what it is they're looking for). But, if all us artists get together and post our work in a central environment, it would definitely help all our sales. However, I agree that a page would just make more sense and be easier to maintain.

However, I just thought of something... you're able to search groups, but are you able to search pages too? I have never attempted to search through a group, so I'm not sure what data it pulls up, but if it pulls data from the images, then the search tool might make the group better than a page.

I'm joining the group, but if there is a way to search through a page's contents too, then I would suggest a page. Otherwise, group it is!

Great idea and thanks for sharing!

The search features just gives posts, but it doesn't show pictures or links. I will look into it and see if a search tab can be added. I just read in the Help section that search should be on a page, but I'm not seeing it.

 

[Patty Jansen]

Not only that, but once the image is on Facebook, you can't remove when someone buys it. And I don't trust Facebook with my images.

 

[cvwriter]

Not only that, but once the image is on Facebook, you can't remove when someone buys it. And I don't trust Facebook with my images.

If every designer is an administrator, they can edit or remove photos at will. Every designer would be responsible for removing their own photos once those covers are sold. You could watermark your images and use low-res. That way it's useless to someone who downloads it.

 

[cvwriter]

How about it not having their name or title on the cover - that usually works!

I was mostly referring to Patty's stuff. I understand her concern. She often has the title and name at the top and bottom of her pre-mades. I'm sure she doesn't want people cropping the characters and 3D images she takes the time to create.

 

[The world would be prettier with more zebra strip]

Wow. What a great response so far.

Well, I have that you can only post three covers a day. It's not a full blown place for every single image. The FB group isn't exactly a 'sells' page, it's more of a become aware of page. If people find something they like, they can find the artist and visit their site to find the cover they saw. But, this also works for non-premade. I know it's the style of how other books are styled that let me know 'I want that artist'. It could lead someone to an artist's front door to look at all their premades, or maybe even consider them for custom design.

The group versus page thing is interesting though. Make everyone admins, or no?

I have approved everyone that joined. I have my daughter's bed coming today, but I am going to look into what else we could do. I have a couple of other ideas I will post through the group page, but I still like having facebook in the center though because facebook is fun and social.

 

[cvwriter]

I like having Facebook as a central spot too. I agree that it's fun and social. It's not meant to be a secondary space to a website, it's just a spot to highlight the styles of different artists in a casual way and provide links to main sites where there people can buy and browse around. I like the idea a lot. I just prefer a page over a group because people can see nice big pictures as soon as they come on, and they don't have to go looking through folders. And comments are right there. And a page is easier to follow. Pages come up in search engines. We can put buttons on our sites for Liking.

I already have ten pages. I'd rather have a joint page than my own, solo. It's easier to build a following with several people. And it's also cool to see what others come up with.

I would make all artists who want to post admins, yes. I don't think anyone would be so immature as to remove the posts of others.

 

[ruecole]

I would join if this was a FB page.

Rue

 

[RuthNestvold]

If you guys can get something like that to work it would be a great resource for writers. But I find it hard to imagine how it could work on Facebook, given the limited organizational capabilities. A group blog might be better. It took me a number of tries to find anything  on the Facebook page posted. I find web pages so much easier to navigate.

 

[Rene Folsom]

After posting some covers in the group, I'm going to reiterate that maybe a page that is managed by designers will be more effective and easier to navigate.  Authors could follow as a fan without having to be approved.  I doubt you will ever have an issue with designers deleting images that are not their own.  I don't think any of us are underhanded enough for that.

Let me know if you decide to make it a page instead. 

 

[The world would be prettier with more zebra strip]

I am going to be reposting some of this through the group page, and it's already on the new facebook page. The more detailed versions will be at the facebook page.

This was a tough one. I felt like I was in The Man, the Boy and his Donkey. This still isn't going to please everyone, but I feel satisfied with it and it should feel better for some.

I have created a page for it here. http://www.facebook.com/indieartcovers. Artists who I know through KB will be able to get admin access. (I don't mean personally, but if you've had a business thread and I've seen you around.) Artists I don't know will have to give me some simple proof they are an artist. This should keep the page safer, but there are no guarantees.

I am also in the process of creating a beta group blog at http://indieartcovers.com. Artists are approved once and then gain author status. This means they can post/remove/upload their images, but can't touch other users work. Images are also watermarked automatically before being published.

The drawback is no erotica covers on the group blog. I don't want to play decider for whether a piece is too sexual or not, so I've got that firm rule. (That way my host doesn't want to zap me.) However, the FB page can feature erotica covers, no problem. I guess it's the 'hotter side'.

People can choose to be part of one, both, or a mix. Just use whichever one feels right for you.

It's not a perfect solution by far. Maybe the FB will turn completely into the hotter side. Maybe the group blog flops and the FB goes strong. Maybe the group blog will show to be the strongest. It's tough to guess just how great something will work until you try it out.

But, if we all knew where success lied, we'd be counting the money we make on all our bestsellers all day.

If you are an artist that would like to be a beta tester for the new site too, then just let me know.