Do Author's Need A Website?

 

I like to think of my website as my home. Only I live there. It’s about me, my books, the information I want to share, the place where my readers can find me and connect.

Do you need to have one?  No. There are authors who have only a blog or use their Facebook page as their home site.

 

Only you can decide if you want a website – but remember you do need a web presence.

So if you decide to set up a website.

• You need to decide on a domain name. Most author’s use their name.

Example – http://www.tinagayle.net/

.net  - network providers,  .com – commerce,  .edu – education, etc.

First, you need to see if the name you want is available. Most Internet companies will have a place where you can type in a name and it will tell you if it is available. (Or search “domain name.”)

Authors have been known to purchase domain names long before they are published so they can secure the site name. Also, some have purchased both the .net and .com sites.

• Who should you get to build your site? This is up to each individual—skill, cost, preference, recommendations can all play a part in your decision. (Search “website builders.”) Also, talk to other authors, they may be able to recommend someone.

a.  There are low cost sites where you can build your own.

b.  Take a HTML class or other programming classes and build your own.

c.  Pay someone to do it.

•What to put on your website?

 

Most sites have a number of pages.

1.  Home Page / Welcome page  – is like the entryway to your house.  It is an introduction to you. It should include things like author’s picture, available books, a welcome note, brief biography and links to all the other pages on the site.

2.  Books Page – as an author you want people to find your books. This page should contain all the books you’ve written with either blurbs, excerpts or reviews. Or links to this information.

3.  Bio Page – a page to tell people about yourself. Who you are, what you write, more about your personal interests and other information you want to share.

4.  Links Page – this page gives visitors to your site links to other places on the Internet where they can find you. Also, it can include links to your friends and publisher. This is important because links to other sites that link back to you increases your rating on the Internet. (This also increase your SEO rating—see definition below.)

5.  Other Pages – the possibility for other pages are endless. Here is where you make your site your own.

6.  Picture page - share pictures.

7.  Contact page – where you give fans your email address.

8.  Excerpt pages – giving excerpts of your books or the ability to read the first chapter.

9.  Video Page – to display video you’ve made. (A great way to connect with readers.)

10.  Some sites have chat areas.

Your site depends on what you want and how much you are willing to pay to have it built.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Tina