Time to Design — or Redesign — YOUR Website?

I’ve had a number of authors ask me to recommend a web design and hosting service that focuses on author websites, particularly since I no longer offer web design services myself. Last week I had a conversation with Lars Clausen of American Author, who gave me a behind the scenes look at their site-building tools targeted specifically to authors. The system is easy to use and customize, and the price is affordable. Best of all, the features are suited specifically to your needs as an author (templates for an author bio page, book feature page, press kit, and so forth). To learn more, visit the American Author site or call Lars directly at 877-700-2519. He’s an author himself and understands the type of site you need to help sell your book and promote your career.

November 13, 2006 | Filed Under Author Websites, Online Book Promotion | Leave a Comment 

Get Personal to Get Sales

One of the biggest benefits of online book promotion is its ability to create a “from me to you” relationship between you and your readers. Interactive websites, blogs, and podcasts are all great ways to create this connection online. In terms of traditional book promotion, autographing books is one of the most common ways to personalize the interaction between author and reader. You don’t need to limit yourself to in-person autograph opportunities, either. If you sell books from your website, offer to autograph them for your readers.

Another good sales opportunities is to work with a website such as Autographed by Author, which links you to potential readers who are looking for autographed books.

Even if you don’t sell your own books directly, you can offer readers signed book plates. Many authors let their readers know via their website, blog, or ezine that they’ll be glad to send an autographed book plate, often in exchange for a self-addressed stamped envelope.

So start thinking of ways to increase the personal connection between you and your target audience, and see the benefit in your sales.

November 13, 2006 | Filed Under Author Websites, Beginner's Corner, Online Book Promotion | 2 Comments 

Choosing a Web Host

Choosing a web host for your writer’s website can be a daunting task. Here are two web hosts that I’ve had success with:

November 18, 2005 | Filed Under Author Websites | Leave a Comment 

What a Writer’s Website Can Do For Your Career

The web is where you want to be if you’re serious about promoting your books in the 21st century. More than one billion people worldwide use the Internet and over 200 million of them have bought a book online. From basic techniques such as author websites to emerging technologies like podcasting, RSS, videoblogging, and web multimedia, there’s a way to attract attention and publicity for your book online.

Here are some examples of what a writer’s website can do:

My own website has opened doors to a number of writing projects that I never would have found on my own. Here’s a sampling of opportunities I’ve been offered by editors, clients, and others who found me through my website, mostly by way of search engines, listings, or other sites linking to mine:

So get into a marketing mindset and take a look at your site. Is it doing its job to market you and your book?

October 14, 2005 | Filed Under Author Websites, Beginner's Corner | Leave a Comment 

Seven Sins of Web Design

In no particular order, here are seven web design sins that make me cringe:

  1. Too much flashing text
  2. Use of frames
  3. Under construction signs
  4. Too many banner ads
  5. Lack of a title (do a search on Google for “No Title” and you’ll see how many people forget this important step)
  6. Lots of text in ALL CAPS
  7. Outdated dates and content (”coming soon in April 2002!”)

July 29, 2005 | Filed Under Author Websites | Leave a Comment 

Getting Flashy … or Not

When I first started using Macromedia Flash I was excited about the possibilities of this unique multimedia tool. I created what I thought was a cool, cutting-edge intro for my website that was designed to excite readers about my books and demonstrate to editors my skills in multimedia development. Then a funny thing happened. People kept telling me that they were skipping my intro because what they really wanted was to read the content on my site. After seeing my Flash intro once, repeat visitors didn’t want to see it again. I still love Flash and its capabilities, but I don’t have that Flash intro on my site anymore. I may introduce Flash again, perhaps in an on-demand tutorial or in a more subdued way. The bottom line lesson here is that when creating websites less is sometimes more. Focus on the content and not on the flash.

July 27, 2005 | Filed Under Author Websites | Leave a Comment 

Are You a Web-Savvy Writer?

Are you making the most of the latest technologies that can help take your writing career to new levels? What do you know about websites, blogs, RSS, ezines, podcasts, search engine optimization, online media kits, virtual book tours, book trailers, and web marketing campaigns? Take the Web-Savvy Writer quiz and find out.

July 26, 2005 | Filed Under Author Websites, Beginner's Corner, Blogging and RSS, Media Relations, Podcasting, Virtual Book Tours | Leave a Comment 

← Previous Page