Internet Domain Name for Your Book

An Internet domain name for your book is a part of some of Wheatmark's book publishing packages, and a question I often hear from authors is, What's it for?

Let me explain.

When you publish your book with Wheatmark, your book will have its web page on the Wheatmark online bookstore, as well as on most major online bookstores. Here is an example of such a bookstore page for the title, Transplanted: A Love Story:

http://www.wheatmark.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BS&Product_Code=9781587368974

This is quite a long web address, isn't it! At this point, when you set out to market your book, you can either tell people, "Go to Amazon.com or the Wheatmark website and search for the title Transplanted," or you can email them the complete web address to click on.

It doesn't have to be this hard, however.

You see, an Internet domain name for your book can serve as a shortcut that will take your audience straight to the bookstore page selling your book. Generally, the domain name is the same as or is similar to your book's title.

Here's how it works:

Click on transplanted-alovestory.com. You will see that it takes you directly to the same page as the long address above. Now all you have to do is mention the domain name and people will no longer have to search for your book. Print this domain on your bookmarks, postcards, business cards, and add it to your email signature so that everyone you contact knows about your book.

When you get a domain name for your book, it doesn't have to be pointed to your book's page on the Wheatmark bookstore site. You can set it to go to your book's Amazon.com page, or to any other web address.

Another great destination for your domain name is your book's online press kit. When you are targeting the media, you may want to set up a domain name that takes them directly to your electronic media kit. For example, the book Rangers in Combat has an online press kit located at:

http://www.bookflash.com/press_kit/lock/rangers/

The Internet domain www.rangersincombat.com takes you directly to the book's online press kit. Now you can tell journalists: "Go to www.rangersincombat.com to view my press kit."

It's that simple!