New FREE service for my fellow bloggers...

Calling all newbie bloggers...!!!! (And bloggers too busy to design your own work or those who don't care to be "typical" or default in appearance). If you dont' want to use a default banner provided by your blog provider, then please, keep reading...!!!

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One of the great aspects of being "independent" at anything--books, music, art, photography, etc.--is the freedom to learn--and the dire necessity to learn--every aspect of your trade. For me, being an independent author, this means learning how to market and promote my work effectively (which takes time....lots and lots of time...). I can say marketing comes pretty easily for me. Coming up with creative ways to tell people about my work is easy as is posting a new blog every three days. When I started this publishing journey, I was green, very green. I had the ideas but didn't have the know-how much less the resources for getting started. I viewed other blogs, generated ideas from others and what they said worked and didn't work and went to my friend Jeff Sneed (Onsite Computer Repair) for help with the design and implementation of my website: BobbyOzunaOnline.

We worked together diligently (as I am a very impatient man) and often to come up with a look that was unique to my character. I didn't want to have the general author appearance, which is commonly drab and plain. I felt I brought more to the table. When we finished I told Jeff I wanted to know what we did and I didn't want to bother him anymore with the technical aspects. I wanted to learn how to do it myself...and for the most part...I did.

With Jeff's help and direction I began updating and changing the look and feel for my website. From there I wanted to start customizing images and doing some of the graphical work myself. And like everything else I have ever done in my life...I picked up a book, spent some time on Google and slowly, very slowly, I started to become more comfortable with creative digital design. That takes me to the point of this blog.

I recently offered a service to my fellow authors to have their books online profile changed from the standard dimension look to a 3D image (see, 3D book cover design here). I am offering this service at a very low rate in comparison to other professional design guru's because I need the practice and I want the business. My next service I am going to offer--FREE for now--is my banner design for websites & blogs.

Below is a sample of my latest work I created for poet Jessie Kamp of South Carolina. I created this blog completely free to her, asking only that she post it on her blog and tell others about my work. Like any grass-roots campaign I am starting at the bottom but offering the BEST of my abilities to anyone who is looking for a custom banner for their blog.


If you are interested, please use this blog to contact me. Send me a link to your blog site and I will collect some pictures--of yourself, book cover, etc--and implement a blog banner you can post and share for absolutely FREE. If you have images you wish to incorporate (please be considerate of copyright laws when submitting images) into a blog banner, I will follow-up with an email address where you can send them and start work on your banner.

I look forward to hearing from you...and please...by all means...spread the word!!!

~Bobby Ozuna

"Marketing 101"--Turn your book cover into a 3-Dimensional image

Add a 3-dimension look to your book's cover art...

Another way to add more flare to your book's online appearance is to create a 3-dimensional "box" cover. There are various vendors who offer products to produce such a look and they retail anywhere from $24.99 to $99.99 (and up depending upon your desire to create 3-dimensional videos that accompany your books image).  You can also hire a graphic artist to produce your book's 3-dimension look for a nominal fee. Do a Google Search for graphic artists...that's a good starting point... 


*Disclaimer*

It's a great way to promote your book's cover image, but can be cost (in-effective) when considering you may only have one book cover and the cost of such applications do not justify the return for making one image for your single title. Something to think about...

The idea is to create a virtual image of your book that gives your novel a living impression online. Anyone can create a book cover in standard dimensional rates--as they are all over the Internet. But the idea of presentation--and the fact [that] you care enough about your product to go the extra mile--speaks a lot about how much you believe in your finished product.

I have compiled a quick list of vendors and applications below; some I have found along the way.  Again, they are not cheap. I have learned a lot about Adobe Creative Suite these past few years so I was able to compile the images on this blog using what I have learned at home. I think it's a great way to promote your book's cover (front and back) in a manner that sets your work apart from others...

Each of the box shot (application) vendors will require a front, back and spine image to complete. If you created your own book cover, you should have those files on hand and ready to use. You will want to use the highest resolution (quality) you can.  


Read the note below about my new graphic design SERVICE I am offering other independent authors. If you want to see your book cover turned into a 3-Dimensional image, please, continue reading...

*TruBoxShot Cover Editor 
*Insofta Cover Commander
*3D Box Shot Maker
*533 Soft Box Shot Maker

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If you are interested in hiring my services...I can create replica images as the ones I posted for Proud Souls (above)--one front and one back cover image--for as little as $20USD (total). 

Feel free to contact me here: bobby@bobbyozunaonline.com. Be sure to put "3D Box Cover" in the subject line; I will get back to you as quickly as possible to discuss payment arrangements via PayPal if you wish to hire my services.

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Best of luck to you!!!


~Bobby Ozuna
"Drawing Stories...With Words"