Now that authors can promote their own books on the World Wide Web, the greatest challenge facing their online promotional efforts is getting exposure for their books. The Internet Authors Network provides a suite of services intended to help simplify the task.

The first services offered include a banner button exchange whereby authors may promote their individual books through 125 x 125 pixel banners. Each banner links to a special promotional page the authors set up for individual books. The exchange is unique in that it does not require member sites to earn credits. The sites are given continuous equal exposure across the network, so low-traffic sites will get as much exposure as high-traffic sites.

The network has also created two Webrings through Yahoo! and Ringsurf. Membership in the Webrings gives sites added exposure through the special directories these services provide, as well as through their navigational networks.

The network provides tips on Web page design which should help authors' pages place better in search engines for generic searches as well as for searches on their own books and names. Many self-published or self-promoting authors make the mistake of not mentioning the genre of their books on their pages, omitting valuable keywords which are used by surfers searching for information about books on the Internet. Other common design mistakes are also addressed in the tips.

The next service to be provided is a book announcements tool. Authors will be able to submit the title of their book and the URL of their promotional page for inclusion in a self-updating headline service. Authors will also be able to include the headlines on their own pages through Javascript.