BookStack Updates V1.1
BookStack is getting a version 1.1 update? What does that even mean??
Hey everyone, recently I sent out a form to get some feedback on the way I’m running BookStack— along with an idea for a thing I want to try.
Before we get to the changes though… I know, I know. I’m holding out on you all, but trust me. It’s pretty fun stuff. Let’s take a look a look at something interesting.
When asked what they subscribe to BookStack for, 72.7% of people polled answered with our Spotlights! Personally I love those too. Admittedly we only had eleven respondents, but it was still fun to look at this data.
I’m also happy to see that pretty much everything we post here is getting some love, too! The Podcast especially because that’s probably the most infrequently posted here at the moment… Probably because it only has one episode and I really need to start working on the next.
Anyway, I just thought that was a fun tidbit to share. Let’s go ahead then and dive into our actual updates— and am I really calling this a V1.1 update for the blog? Yes. Yes I am.
1. The Email Posting Schedule:
Normally emails for posts get sent out every-time a new post comes out, with the exception of book catalog posts. This can be frustrating for some— especially those who only check their inbox a couple times a week.
Reponses when asked “Would You Prefer Emails Less Often? If so, how much less?” were a bit mixed to say the least. But ultimately, I’ve come to a decision.
My Verdict? Emails will go out on average 2 - 3 times a week. One on Sundays as a “round-up” covering everything posted throughout the week. The next one on Thursdays, notifying readers to cross-posts to the blog. What are those? We’ll talk more about that in a moment.
The last email will be designated to either Spotlights, Indie Release Radar Posts, or our Bi-weekly newsletter. The dates for those one’s fluctuate, so there’s no set day.
2. Cross-posts.
This is something I learned about from
— who posted a note referencing cross-posting on Substack. Apparently this is a under utilized feature here, which makes sense because I never knew it existed.But what is this thing? Cross-posting is a way for you to post other people’s work on your blog, without losing them any views, shares, or engagement.
You can also use this as a chance to send that person’s post as an email to your own readers, which is really beneficial if the poster’s work aligns with your and your reader’s interests.
So once a week on Thursdays, I’ll be posting a cross-post here on BookStack to highlight other authors and writers. Hopefully you guys like it!
3. Small Changes to the Catalog:
Enabling Comments: In the catalog comments have been turned off by default. The reason for this was to keep out spam, but I wasn’t really sure if it was necessary. Ultimately in the survey I sent out, over half of those responding asked for them to be turned on for everyone.
So, while it’ll take time for me to make the necessary changes, I will be turning on comments for all posts in the Catalog. This means if you want to post reviews of books there, or tag a friend in a comment, you’ll be more than able to!
Alt Text: An accessibility feature some folks may not think about— and I am definitely guilty of this. However, I have been working to try and start implementing Alt Text into any images used in my posts. Both in the Catalog itself, but also all of my other content too.
This is something that helps those with visual impairments issues, and may not be able to see the image clearly. I highly recommend using it whenever you can.
4. A Physical & Digital BookStack Catalog?
This one might sound a bit confusing at first, and honestly I wouldn’t blame you for it. We already have a “digital” Catalog, so what is this nonsense? Let me explain, starting with the concept.
A BookStack Catalog Monthly Edition: While the Catalog on our blog is forever evolving, it can be hard to keep up with everything. This version would allow you to receive a monthly round-up of our content and listings, in a form which serves your leisure.
You’d be able to get this in paperback form or a digital copy. Monthly Editions of the Catalog would also be available as a subscription, or as one-time purchases over on my Ko-fi.
However, It may take some time for me to get started on this project, but I’ll keep you all updated. Some of you who participated in my survey gave suggestions for the price of this Monthly Catalog— and while I’ll keep them in mind, they may not reflect the final pricing.
Though of course, those of you who upgrade your subscription here at BookStack, will be able to get the digital version for free. And the physical would be available to you as a 50% discount. You have my word there.
I know that still probably sounds a bit confusing, so here’s a photo of a catalog.
I don’t if mine will look quite like that, but it’s fun to imagine how things will turn out. That being said, we’re not yet done here. There’s one more change happening.
5. Mini and Regular Spotlights:
Mini Spotlights: Recently I’ve been testing the water with these for Pride Month. Though that water has run dry and I haven’t gotten many Pride oriented Spotlights to go through. This being said, I really enjoy doing these. So if you’d like to participate in one, click here to fill out the form.
These are a smaller, more social media focused version of my Spotlights— and will get posted once a week on Wednesdays.
Regular Spotlights: Right now these are still closed, but I am please to announce they’ll be opening for new sign-ups on June 20th. I’ll be making another post or email about it when they re-open. Thanks for baring with me here!
Yup, okay! That’s everything. Thanks for joining me for Version 1.1— hopefully this one contains no bugs. With that being said, I’ll see you all in the next post… or email. Haha. Buh-bye now.
