The neutral colours, subtle details, and clean design of Between the Lines’ (BTL) website initially conveys the image of an intellectual publishing house that focuses on serious books for academics and thinkers. The website allows users to sign up for a newsletter and search for book titles and authors with the use of a search engine. Important information pertaining to the publishing house (ex. their mandate, company history) is easy to locate at the top of the homepage. Genres/topics/headings can be found to the left of the homepage, while images and descriptions of recent book releases are featured down the middle of the homepage. The clean and simple design makes the website easy to navigate.
However, the website’s look is rather dull and boring, and does not offer users an interactive experience (due to the lack of bookmarking tools and social networking tools). The website sells the company’s message fairly well. The website states that “at BTL we strive to embrace critical perspectives on culture, economics, and society. Our timely and evocative books acknowledge the complexity of living in the 21st century”. BTL also claims that their books “are written by some of Canada’s leading political and cultural thinkers”. The website’s no-nonsense look projects the idea of a serious house that publishes evocative, intelligent, and well-written books. The website seems to appeal to an academic market and audience.
The website provides browsers with a telephone number and e-mail address for direct orders, at the bottom of the homepage. Some of the books can be purchased online through the use of a link. Browsers are then directed to a retailer’s (these tend to be independent bookstores) or university’s website. However, users can not directly purchase the books online from BTL. The website also instructs browsers to request a BTL book at their local bookstore, if they are unable to locate it.
Many improvements should be made to BTL’s website. I feel that the design should be edgier, fresher, more modern, and bolder. The design should still remain simple and clean; however, bolder colours and more interesting design elements should be incorporated. I would like to see colour added to sidebars and headings, as well as variety in the fonts used (this would then add contrast and visual interest). However, I think it is important that the website remain easy to navigate.
House of Anansi Press is a similar publishing house with a better website. I would like for users to be able to easily order all books directly from BTL’s website. The website should be informative as well as interactive. The website needs to be updated and made into a 2.0 website. The addition of social networking tools, bookmarking tools, widgets, blogs, videos, and forums for discussion would all improve the website. Social networking tools (ex. Facebook) and bookmarking tools (ex. delicious, digg) would ensure that users receive daily BTL updates. These updates would inform users of new book releases, book signings, and BTL events. An editor’s blog and video would allow browsers to become more familiar with the publishing house and its employees. This may lead to browsers having a more personal relationship with BTL, as they would be exposed to the writing style and thoughts of an editor. Forums for discussion would allow browsers to post reviews or rate books. Browsers would then be able to discuss and compare books amongst each other.
How often do you purchase books online? What website do you purchase them through?
