Feb 14th, 1999 America Online Chat Transcript
GraceMI: Welcome to the Biz Writers Chat
Session
GraceMI: Tonight our guest is
GraceMI: Will Piniarski, the author of
Launching Onto The Web:
A Small Business View
GraceMI: Will also owns a web business
GraceMI: Will, tell us a little about
your business, please.
LiveWebcs: all right...
LiveWebcs: I am the founder and owner of webcs.com, a web
design and hosting
firm out of MASS...
LiveWebcs: We serve clients from around the world and those
experiences are
the basis for my book
DarcieKY: sounds great
LiveWebcs: A wildly changing field where tomorrow is always
different.
GraceMI: How did you get the idea, then,
for your book? GA
LiveWebcs: Funny actually.
LiveWebcs: I was watching Dream On one night, and it was
about a new writer,
and suddenly I got this urge to write and the rest was history.
Unconventional I know...
GraceMI: How long did it take you to
write the book? GA
LiveWebcs: Initially about a year...although rewrites stretched
it to a year
and a half.
LiveWebcs: Technical info has to be updated constantly.
GraceMI: What has been the biggest hurdle
you went through in writing the book?
LiveWebcs: The ticking of the clock:
LiveWebcs: like every author I want my work out on the
streets
tomorrow...just need to be patient and
everything falls into place
GraceMI: did you self publish or use
a publisher?
MSACTUA: How hard to find an agent?
LiveWebcs: My publisher is Briarwood Publications out of
VA....
LiveWebcs: They are located at briarwoodva.com...I also
designed their
website recently.
LiveWebcs: Yes, I have an agent.
LiveWebcs: However, I did this book deal without an agent...which
has
many advantages obviously.
GraceMI: Our guest is Will Piniarski,
the author of Launching Onto The
Web: A Small Business View
GraceMI: Go Ahead Darcie
DarcieKY: Did you have previous professional writing
experience, or
was it just that urge that inspired you?
LiveWebcs: I have some writing schooling, but in large
part writing has come
natural to me because LiveWebcs: it is how I prefer to communicate
my deepest thoughts.
Sestina7: Have you any significant
sales (profits) or is this more like a
vanity publishing experience
LiveWebcs: Actually you're catching my on the release date...so
I can't
comment on the sales :)
DarcieKY: Does your book provide small business
owners with ideas for
marketing their site?
LiveWebcs: That's part of its primary focus:
LiveWebcs: I go through on-line and off-line marketing,
through
international law, on-line ethics
LiveWebcs: what to do and what not to do...it covers
the bases.
DarcieKY: What suggestions would you give a
very small business
owner like me whose site is
designed to promote freelance business writing services?
DarcieKY: My business is just me.
LiveWebcs: Well first get my book :)
LiveWebcs: Most importantly
LiveWebcs: don't be afraid to fail. Trial
and error is so important. On
the web you will fail and fail and fail. That's part of the
learning process and that is what
LiveWebcs: success springs from.
GraceMI: are all businesses
suited for the Internet, Will?
LiveWebcs: A lot of people can't handle the down
arrow and don't see the up
arrows.
LiveWebcs: Most are.
LiveWebcs: If a business has a project or service
which can be expanded
beyond a local area then that
LiveWebcs: business has a chance on the internet
if executed correctly.
LiveWebcs: Unlike the real world, the internet is
a level playing field for
large and small businesses.
Sestina7: We're not talking
about AMAZON.COM. We're talking about
the average business....
LiveWebcs: Exactly...good point Sestina
Sestina7: Is the internet
really going to be a huge sales factor?
LiveWebcs: Small business has an equal chance on
the internet because the
tools are basically the same.
LiveWebcs: As we have seen this Christmas, the internet
sales realm is
booming.
LiveWebcs: We are approaching a point where the consumer
is confident
about buying on the net
LiveWebcs: and that fact alone will propel net sales
higher and higher in
the next five years.
GraceMI: What advice do you have
for Darcie for promoting freelance
business writing services?
LiveWebcs: Make her website as understandable as
possible and focus on
the individual,
LiveWebcs: also expand her website to attract these
kind of people by
linking to
LiveWebcs: services that are related to freelance
business. Sometimes
LiveWebcs: people come into web sites looking for
something else and
then use your core business instead
Sestina7: Hey, I bought a
mouse from Dell and a book from Amazon.
That doesn't mean that I give my....
Sestina7: credit card number
out to everyone who has a good product.
LiveWebcs: True...but then again a few years ago
those two transactions
you made would not have been
DarcieKY: When you say "by linking to services
that are related to
freelance business" do you mean me
LiveWebcs: made...security on the web is now available
for even the
smallest merchant and is very inexpensive to setup.
DarcieKY: having links to freelance business
stuff? Right now, I have links
that I think would be
DarcieKY: of interest to business owners.
LiveWebcs: Yes that is part of what I mean Darcie...also
DarcieKY: okay
LiveWebcs: you may want to create a separate website
that doesn't relate
directly to your core business, because with that you can drag
in people who are interested in other topics related to that core
business. Kind of like doing an advertisement for one website
with another website.
GraceMI: I think you are talking
two diff things. Darcie is saying she has
links of interest to people who come to her site.
DarcieKY: I was trying to think of what would
attract the most business
owners and get them to come back.
GraceMI: You are suggesting she open
another site to draw people...right?
LiveWebcs: Correct....
LiveWebcs: Because a lot of people and business owners
that don't think
they need her services
LiveWebcs: now may change their minds when they see them
offered in a
different context.
GraceMI: Can you give an example?
LiveWebcs: An example:
LiveWebcs: A site sells science fiction video tapes...
LiveWebcs: they open a site dedicated to UFO phenomena and put
ads for
their core business on it.
LiveWebcs: The UFO page isn't a business but its a billboard
that allows
free ads to be placed and also gives customers access to
information free of charge which makes them feel good.
LiveWebcs: So those users searching for UFO material, who weren't
looking
to buy anything, might be drawn in....
GraceMI: ok. Assuming she develops her site
(s), what's the timeline for a
successful site? How soon does that usually happen? Immediately,
3 months, what?
LiveWebcs: Usually one year or more...success WILL NOT come quickly
because on the internet exposure builds...but once that exposure
is there it seldom goes away.
Sestina7: Isn't this the P.T. Barnum
principle? (There's a sucker born every
minute.....)
LiveWebcs: If you offer someone something they want for free
and then flash
an ad along with it...then everyone is happy....a recent example of
this principle
LiveWebcs: is in the computing industry where they are thinking
of giving
away PC's
LiveWebcs: for free as long as they can place an ad on your screen
for the
life of the machine.
DarcieKY: I do not like banner advertising, and I don't
click on banner ads.
Do you think they are absolutely necessary?
LiveWebcs: I don't think any browsing user likes banner ads however
DarcieKY: I mean for a business owner who wants to
promote themselves
LiveWebcs: they are not going to go away because website owners
need to
support themselves...an interesting story is
LiveWebcs: when the internet was first developed business web
sites were
illegal...what a difference a few years makes...
LiveWebcs: As far as promotion...yes they are necessary.
GraceMI: What skills do you need to create
a good website? GA
LiveWebcs: (1) The ability to accept trial and error like I stated
earlier
LiveWebcs: (2) Knowledge of uploading and downloading files
LiveWebcs: (3) Knowledge of basic HTML (web programming).
LiveWebcs: Everything beyond that will come slowly and naturally
as your
website builds.
LiveWebcs: I always recommend using raw HTML code for the first
year instead
of using a
LiveWebcs: website graphical editor because it helps you understand
what is
happening underneath.
GraceMI: Will, how did you find your publisher?
LiveWebcs: I found my publisher through an intense search of
the internet,
sending out my samples to
LiveWebcs: whomever I could and then narrowing down the offers.
LiveWebcs: It's amazing how they vary!!!!
WOCAS: What level did you assume your readers
were at...
WOCAS: did you assume they'd already explored
the web?
LiveWebcs: Novice....if you understand how to use AOL and have
experimented with the internet, you can
LiveWebcs: use my book. It was writing in very simple language.
GraceMI: What should a new writer look for
when selecting a publisher?
LiveWebcs: yet it would also helped the more advanced.
LiveWebcs: Well a good contract wouldn't hurt :) But most
importantly
LiveWebcs: a publisher should be willing to answer all
questions you ask and
LiveWebcs: participate fully in the writing process.
Some publishers
LiveWebcs: make you sign and then let you do all of the
work. That is not
fair.
DarcieKY: I did my web site without any HTML knowledge
by using Claris
Home Page. Isn't it becoming
DarcieKY: easier for novices to "design" sites? And
are you worried that it
will be so easy to do, "designers" won't be necessary?
LiveWebcs: EXCELLENT POINT DARCIE!
DarcieKY: thanks
LiveWebcs: I cover that in my book:
LiveWebcs: The problem is that if something goes wrong
with your program
you will
LiveWebcs: have no idea what happened underneath in the
raw code. Also
LiveWebcs: editors are not interchangeable and do things
slightly different.
If you
LiveWebcs: use raw HTML and understand it you can simply
do more and
protect yourself from program errors...which do occur.
GraceMI: I used Front Page and you can
look at the raw code in it.
GraceMI: Will, have you written other
books for publication?
LiveWebcs: Grace: You can always look at the raw code,
but my point is
that you should understand it.
GraceMI: yes, and I learned HTML first.
I think that Darcie's point is
well taken.
GraceMI: It's easier to start off with
a friendly program.
LiveWebcs: Yes, it is easier but a lot of people (this
may not include you)
are too scared to try the raw code. I applaud you if you know
both.
LiveWebcs: I just finished a science fiction novel called
Saturn's Rings
which is in the editing process now. Look for that one to
come out by late this year if all falls
into place.
GraceMI: So you write technical stuff
AND fiction. That's an interesting
combo. What process do you go through with tech books
vs. sci fi?
LiveWebcs: Good question Grace.
LiveWebcs: With a technical book there are a lot of rewrites
because info
changes on a dime.
LiveWebcs: With a fiction book what you put down on the
page first is
probably what stays.
LiveWebcs: All in all though the work load is pretty close.
GraceMI: What about secure sites and
internet payment systems?
LiveWebcs: Huge topics and they are covered in my
work:
LiveWebcs: I believe the future of internet payment
systems will be the end
of complex systems
LiveWebcs: such as digital wallets. An extension
of the credit card will be
LiveWebcs: what we use now and forever on the net.
The only thing is the
credit card will get smarter.
GraceMI: What is the next step
in Internet law?
LiveWebcs: As part of my writing, I was in contact
quite a bit with the
United Nations. They are concentrating on two areas: contracts
and commerce.
LiveWebcs: As far as contracts go, there will soon
be a way to make
agreements fully legal over the net, without having to physically
sign them.
LiveWebcs: And the world is working, slowly, toward
standards in currency
and in the ways we use that currency.
GraceMI: Interesting! What
is in the near and distant future for your
writing?
LiveWebcs: My writing:
LiveWebcs: As I stated Saturn's Rings, a science
fiction novel which I am
very excited about is in the editing phase. Currently, I am taking
LiveWebcs: a few months off because Launching and
Rings were written at
LiveWebcs: the same time. Then I will do a
follow-up to Rings, which is
already
LiveWebcs: planned out and may do another sci-fi
work which I am currently
LiveWebcs: throwing around my head.
GraceMI: Do you have the same publisher
for both books?
LiveWebcs: No.
LiveWebcs: Just a different book with different needs.
GA
GraceMI: How will your publisher
market your Launching book?
LiveWebcs: They are going to tackle the major markets.
They have major
contracts with Borders, Ingrim, Amazon.com, and other major
clearinghouses. It's my job to hit the smaller areas.
GraceMI: I forgot to ask whether
you used an agent for either book?
Did you?
LiveWebcs: I do have an agent but only use him when
I have to. Since I
am a business man I do everything myself whenever possible.
These books, so far, I have not used the agent directly.
LiveWebcs: Ask away Annie
AnnieHawk: I missed part of this discussion... Who
was your publisher for
the LAUNCHING book?
LiveWebcs: Briarwood Publishing (you can get
info on them on my website
http://www.webcs.com/author if
LiveWebcs: you would like it.
AnnieHawk: E-Pub?
LiveWebcs: No...traditional paper publication.
LiveWebcs: Actually due to some legal issues
this particular book could
LiveWebcs: not be a E-publication. Because
of screen shot rights.
AnnieHawk: Strange Contract.
LiveWebcs: Well, when you write a book like
mine that uses so many
web sites you have to please everyone
LiveWebcs: including AOL I might add :)
GraceMI: Will, thanks very
much for a most interesting session. We
wish you the best of luck with both pubs....come back and
tell us how you are doing.
GraceMI: Good night, all.
And thanks again, WOCAS, for greeting.
LiveWebcs: Thanks for a spirited forum...I
enjoyed it and hope to come
back here some day to talk with you all.
WOCAS: Thank you, Will and
Grace!
LiveWebcs: My personal thanks to you Grace
and everyone...
LiveWebcs: Thanks for the work WOCAS
GraceMI: This session of
the Biz Writers Chat closed at 9:58 p.m. EST.