eBooks-On-Web Index

Webrings for Website Traffic

If you have your own author or book website you can gain some visitor traffic by joining a couple of webrings. Webrings require that you put a navigation code on your website, so some small knowledge of HTML is needed. Once the ring code is in place and you have been accepted into the ring by the ringmaster a webring requires no other maintenence.

While webring traffic is not huge it can be very high in quality because the visitors are pre-qualified by the subject matter of the ring they are following.

There are three major ring hosts that I recommend, and a number of specialized hosts.

Webring.org - Webring is the largest and probably has the easiest ring code for a beginner to place on your website.

Ringsurf - Ringsurf uses an older HTML type code. It is a little more complicated but it has it's advantages. Ringsurf is a favorite and I always check to see if a ring is available there.

Bravenet Sitering - It looks like Bravenet wants you to register before you can even search for a ring. Therefore I do not recommend them.

Ringlink: Ringlink is a good place to find specialized ring hosts on a specific topic.

Choosing a Ring

First determine who you want to reach. As an author, I presume you want to reach readers more than other authors. So your priority might be choosing a ring about 'mystery ebooks'rather than 'ebook authors'. It is persumed that somebody navigating a mystery ebook webring: 1. knows how to read an ebook, 2. is interested in mysteries. The more narrow you target the subject the better.

Pay attention to the requirements for membership in the ring (if the ring is only about sites with free ebooks and you do not have a free ebook to give away then don't waste your time.) Also look at the other ring members and see if your site will fit in. Look over the other ring members to see if the websites look active and current or semiabandoned.

Finally be sure to follow the rules for placing the ring code on your site and place it there promptly. If you have enough time to apply to the ring you have enough time to place the code on your page.

posted by Brad @ 8:24 AM