Forum: Author Hangout

Where is author spotlight page on the "new" Lulu?

Bondi Beach 🚫

On my first visit to the new Lulu website I cannot find my author spotlight page. You know, the one that tells the world I'm a Noble Literature prizewinner, NYT bestselling author, etc., etc.

Nor can I find my sales history. Perhaps this is one of the glitches Lulu says it is working to resolve, but I'd like to be able to bask in past sales and total up my progress towards that villa in Tuscany.

So, author spotlight? Sales history? Perhaps I'm missing something obvious, but I welcome any help in finding these things.

Cheers,
~ JBB

Ernest Bywater 🚫

If you've been keeping up with the notices they've been sending you'll see there are still some issues with data transfer. Sales History transfer is still an area they have significant issues with migrating. The spotlight pages were another, but they are mostly available now. However, the URL has changed from http to https - so try again with the https. I had trouble finding mine until I tried a search for a book of mine on the new site and then following the internal links to the new spotlight page and bookmarked it. On comparison I saw the difference.

Replies: Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach 🚫

@Ernest Bywater

Thanks very much, Ernest. I'll try your strategy. Not impressed with the redesign so far, but I'm sure it will get better.

Cheers,
~ JBB

Replies: Ernest Bywater

Ernest Bywater 🚫

@Bondi Beach

Not impressed with the redesign so far,

Same here. However, it is clear it's aimed at pocket sized mobile devices and ignoring computers. I've already made some suggestions about adding option buttons to pages like the Spotlight pages to make it easier for computer user access.

Replies: Dominions Son Bondi Beach

Dominions Son 🚫

@Ernest Bywater

However, it is clear it's aimed at pocket sized mobile devices and ignoring computers.

Instead of trying to make one website work on both computers and mobile devices, why not build an app for the mobile devices?

Replies: Ernest Bywater Keet

Ernest Bywater 🚫

@Dominions Son

Instead of trying to make one website work on both computers and mobile devices, why not build an app for the mobile devices?

Good idea, but I don't run the site involved.

Since they appear to have taken the mobile device first route I've suggested small changes that make the new layout perform better on a PC. The first was for the Author Spotlight page where the default system shows only 4 books with a button to show more, which then displays another 4 books for each time you scroll to the bottom and click the button. I suggested a button to display all books for the author. Another was to have only a single image for each title instead of the current image for each project, thus having an image for the ebook and another for the print book. With the single image I suggested it links to a page where the ebook and print book options and their prices show together, and thus reduce the resources for displaying the spotlight page. I'm sure other ideas would help too.

Keet 🚫

@Dominions Son

Instead of trying to make one website work on both computers and mobile devices, why not build an app for the mobile devices?

You do know that 'an app' is basically just a website packaged in a container and copied to the phone? This means that there's little difference in how you would see the site. An app mostly gives some advantages to the app developer/owner like easy access to specific phone functions like location and personalization options. Since the app works is local on the phone and not on a webserver they can be faster and in some cases can work completely off-line. The problem is that it takes extra effort to create the app. It's much easier to have a single code base for both mobile and desktop. That's why most new sites are created using the 'mobile first' approach. If done right you wouldn't see much difference on the desktop. Lulu managed seems to have put little effort in the desktop view. I looked over the site and it's nothing but scrolling, scrolling, and more scrolling to see parts that should have been visible without any scrolling. In a mobile view it's even worse. If you have to swipe 10+ times to see all options your design is wrong.

Replies: Ernest Bywater

Ernest Bywater 🚫

@Keet

You do know that 'an app' is basically just a website packaged in a container and copied to the phone?

Ayep, I know that. However, I have a Luddite's phone which doesn't do the Internet at all. Thus no apps work on it.

Replies: Keet

Keet 🚫

@Ernest Bywater

Ayep, I know that. However, I have a Luddite's phone which doesn't do the Internet at all. Thus no apps work on it.

I've got a CAT B26, you can't get them much dumber :D
I should have had my Librem 5 by now but that damn corona shifted delivery to September (if I'm lucky).

Bondi Beach 🚫

@Ernest Bywater

I can't believe I'm going to have to access what I want using my phone. Yikes. So far no luck with Ernest's strategy on my desktop. There's simply no link anywhere to my own or anyone else's spotlight. Ernest, will you post the link to your spotlight? Thanks.
~ JBB

Replies: Ernest Bywater

Ernest Bywater 🚫
Updated:

@Bondi Beach

Ernest, will you post the link to your spotlight? Thanks.

I access on my desktop computer as my cell phone doesn't handle that app crap.

https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/ernestbywater

and check out this page

https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/joebondibeach

edit to remove fish for more appropriate spelling.

Replies: Keet Bondi Beach

Keet 🚫

@Ernest Bywater

and check out this page

They made a major programming mistake. If you click the "More" button the items you had disappear and everything is re-loaded with an extra line/book added but starts at the top again. You have to scroll down again to get to the added items. What should have happened is that a new item or row of items is added before the location of the "More" button and you can scroll again to see the newly added item(s) until you see the "More" button again.

Bondi Beach 🚫

@Ernest Bywater

Thanks, Ernest. Couldn're ember the URL. ANF F*** the autocorrect

Keep those fish off your phone, too
JBB

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Forum: Author Hangout

Where is author spotlight page on the "new" Lulu?

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