Using Wikibooks/Attracting Readers

Advertising

A book is useless if nobody reads it. That isn't entirely true, there is some educational value in the editing process. However, books are meant to be read and can be the most beneficial to the largest audience if there are active readers. Since you've put in so much effort to write your new book, you want to make sure that these readers can find it. Also, you want to make sure that other editors and authors can find it, to help the book improve. Books on Wikibooks are never "complete", and they can always be improved. Often times the best way to improve a book is just to get a fresh perspective on it.

In short, you need to bring more people to your book. There are several ways to advertise your book so that people will be able to find it. Some of these advertisement methods are on Wikibooks, and can be used to attract existing Wikibookians to your book. Some ways require additional creativity, but can reach a larger audience.

Categorization Templates

Having a book listed in the organizational structure here at Wikibooks is very easy. When you first create a new book, add the tag {{New book}} to the top. This will give you some helpful information, and it will also cause the book to appear automatically in the list of new books. This list is displayed in many places around Wikibooks, and your book will be immediately visible to many users.

Add your book to an appropriate shelf category. To do this, use the tag {{Shelves}}. To determine which shelf to put your book on, browse the list at Wikibooks Stacks/Departments, or ask for help at the New Books Reading Room. If you categorize your book like this, people who are browsing Wikibooks will be more likely to find it.

Featured Books

Want maximum exposure? The best way to get your book promoted on Wikibooks is to get it featured. Featured status isn't just something you can ask for, or something you can just do in an afternoon. It takes a lot of work, and requires your book to achieve a certain level of quality. It's impossible to say exactly what the requirements are for a book to become featured, because community standards are continually being raised. As a featured book, your book will be featured on the main page, and listed at Featured Books.

Blogosphere

Have a blog? Write about your book. If not, there are several active Wikibookians who do maintain Wikibooks-related blogs, or Wikimedia-related blogs who would be happy to advertise your book. Blogging about a book is a great way to attract attention to it, especially attention from non-Wikibookians.

Forums and Chatrooms

The internet is filled with existing communities who discuss particular topics. If you have something to write about, there is probably a community of people online who are already talking about it actively. Search the internet for websites and communities that focus on the same subject as your book, and use them as a sounding board for ideas, reviewers, and potential editors. Remember that Wikibooks is open and free, and anybody can be invited to come lend their expertise. Wikibooks also make a great place for a community to store its knowledge and documentation, writings that would not have a dedicated home otherwise.

Schools and Universities

If you're writing about an academic sort of subject, and if your book has reached a high level of quality, it might be useful as a classroom resource. Wikibooks are great in these situations because they are free and can be used to supplement traditional texts in the classroom.