How quickly can you perform a basic task:

* When does the next volume of a given series come out?

* How quickly can I order something from their online shop?

* Show me a sample of a given series?

To me, the first one is the opportunity for maximum fail. It’s the primary draw for a lot of visitors– who have external fansites for fandom, and local shops for buying

“I look at a website in a more of a “Should I avoid this website” view.”

Agreed on this point – there’s definitely some sites that don’t take long to give you that vibe too. If the site’s going to stress me out, there’s several other places that can give me the information I need for less headaches, though it’s a shame when that’s not the publisher’s site.

Great point about the online outlets. It’s not as useful for me as I’d like because of shipping costs to Canada but the convenience of being able to buy directly from a publisher is a great option (especially if it means getting books a little early!).

I agree with you that a nicely designed/organized site can promote more purchases – I make a lot of my choices based on books I see on publisher websites and how they present them to me. A site being well-tended does also show a certain level of respect for consumers I think, especially because in many cases it serves as the first impression – no one wants to receive a rude hello after all!

Thoughts on the Tokyopop website do seem pretty consistent among fans – it’s more a social networking type site now than a hub for their publishing work. Hopefully one day we’ll see more focus. Admittedly I’ve spent so much time avoiding it that’ll be interesting really taking the time to navigate it for my review.

Design is something that’s really a factor of utility – can I find the information I want and does it make me want to tear my hair out to navigate the website? For some companies, particularly Tokyopop, this is an immediate turn off. If I can’t stand the basic structure, it’s not going to get used.

Up-to-date information is important because there’s no point in visiting a website that is rarely changed. At that point, if I want to get a release date or new title solicitations I look at this website, The Right Stuf’s website or if I’m really desperate, Amazon (which is sometimes off on release dates depending on the publisher).

Finally the online outlet is important if the other two elements are present and acceptable. There are a couple of publishers from whom I will order directly because their website design is good, up-to-date, have fair shipping pricing and offer their own titles first or cheaply.

Thanks for putting your reviews up, I look forward to reading them.

Thank you for posting this entry, I think it brings up a very important subject, that even some publishers might have underestimated, unfortunately.
For me, Publisher Websites are very important. A nicely designed and organized page always makes me want to check out all the titles the company publishes and eventually buy more books than I had originally planned.
While a site that seems abandoned even by its own creators (has outdated information, errors, titles are missing, or just because the design is not very attractive) can always drive me away. I makes me think that the company doesn’t respect the customers.

Personal ranting: This is one of the reasons I don’t visit Tokyopop’s website anymore. I absolutely loathe everything about it. I can’t even call it a “Publisher’s Site”. It’s more like a “Horribly-Designed Fansite, for Manga & Comic Lovers”.
So when I want to know the release dates of the few Tokyopop titles I still buy, I visit Amazon instead. And when they announce new licenses I’ll buy only titles I already know and like, and ignore the rest.
I wish the old site would return.. ;_;