Tips for Establishing A Successful Website
- Try to use your name as the domain name for your website; this makes it easy for followers to find you through search engines.
- The design should express your theme. Look at your site, can it answer specific questions? Will people easily know your subject matter? Are the tone, attitude and mood of the site relevant to your reader?
- If self-published, consider including a sample book chapter because readers will get a view of your writing style and (hopefully) will be enticed to see what happens next. If using a publishing house, check with your publisher before doing this.
- Include an email sign up/subscribers page. Fans can then receive updates and news about upcoming events on your site.
As an author, your name is your brand, and for any brand, a website is an essential element to promote you and it is often considered to be the resume. Provide links to articles you’ve published, blogs for your current books, a ‘previous works’ page and an ‘about page’. It’s never too late to promote a book and as fans find your site, they’ll find publications which will interest them, and hopefully entice them to purchase your products.
Five Basic Pages That Must Be Included To Ensure Website Success
Biographical Information
Where and when were you born? Where did you grow up and does this influence your writing
- Inspiration – What inspired you to become a writer in the first place? Where do you get inspiration today?
- Major Accomplishments – Have you won any awards? This section is also a good place to include a list of published works.
- Present Status – Where are you living now? Do you have another job?
Contact
Contact details are an essential part of your website because you are connecting yourself with the literary world and countless opportunities to get your writing career exposed. Your local library may ask you to do a book signing, or you might be asked to inspire children at your local school and use your book. A film company may contact you about purchasing the rights to produce your work on screen. A publisher may contact you about publishing your manuscript, or you may get offered freelance work. The possibilities are endless but nothing will happen if people cannot reach you.
You do not have to list your phone number or your residential address. Your visitors will reach you via a contact form. Your visitors fill in the required fields, and without even seeing your email address, can send a message to your inbox.
Blog
Publish small samples of your writing to build your audience. Display links to articles or stories you have published on other websites. Many writers talk about the writing process, provide inspiration and create a published version of their writing journey over time. For established writers, a blog is also a good place to display information about events, like author talks, book signings or launches. You can display your blog on your actual website or create a link to a blog set up elsewhere.
Benefits of blogging?
- Blogging attracts a larger audience. This is an excellent way to keep your fans informed.
- Blogging can lead to further publishing opportunities, i.e., a publisher might come across your blog and see some potential in your writing.
- Your blog may read like a story – this is a good springboard for a longer published piece.
- Blogging improves your writing because you are frequently writing new articles.
Shop
Make certain that your book is available on your website; this is very important, especially for self-published authors. If you don’t set up a shop, there should be links to sites where your book is available for purchase. To sell your work – it needs to be readily accessible. Readers should be able to buy a print copy or an eBook with ease.
Sample
Give readers a glimpse of your writing. If self published- publish at your discretion. Check with your publisher when posting samples of a work that is under contract. Your sample should impress upon readers your style, your talent and your voice. It should show them what you’re all about, like a preview for a movie. Think about what your writing sample says about you as an author. Who knows? A potential reader may buy your book, or a magazine may hire you as a freelancer based off the sample seen on your website.
Building an author platform can be time consuming and overwhelming. Always remember that Exousia’s expertise will make this necessity an easy choice.
