Authors and writers of all kinds need multi-media websites dedicated to their work. It’s all about creating a brand.
This may seem obvious to self-published authors, but it is also true even if your book is published by a big-five publisher. You may think that if a traditional publisher buys the rights to your work, you’re home free, but that is not the case. Publishers’ budgets no longer stretch to a lot of publicity or advertising.
This foundational building block of brand creation is essential in today’s world where if you want your work to find an audience, you have to roll up your sleeves and do the bulk of the publicity yourself.
This is true for writers of all sorts. Whether you write fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children’s books, or magazine articles. The Internet is now the first place your audience or prospective publisher will turn when they want to find out about you and your work.
A great example of a multi-media writer’s website is Ann Handley’s. It has everything and is a perfect model for all the unique marketing possibilities you will only find online, i.e. video, email marketing, and blogs.
You’ll want to have a website even before you sell your book. It’s ideal to include a link to your website in your signature for query letters to agents and publishers, for example.
Build Credibility With Your Audience
Have you ever clicked on an ad for something you wanted to purchase only to discover that the website appears outdated? When your website presents you and your work in a professional manner, people are likely to buy your products or services and engage with you as an author.
Provide Direct Links to Purchase
A website makes It easy to sell your products directly on your site.
Your Primary Real Estate on the Web
Some writers point to their profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or some other social media site. There is value in social media profiles for some writers, but it is fleeting. Social media platforms come and go. Once you have your own website, you own your own real estate. No renting!
Quite often the argument I hear is that authors can use social media platforms such as Facebook to keep in touch with their readers. It’s easy and simple and the audience is already ‘there’.
There are a few reasons why this is a risky long-term policy, and why nothing really surpasses having your own corner of the internet, dedicated to your writing career.
PR Coverage/ Testimonials
A website is the only place to display all your testimonials and any PR coverage or reviews you’ve had. It’s a great way to archive coverage that might be lost elsewhere.
In this way your author website acts as your online CV, listing all your achievements and accolades in one convenient place.
Having all these together is great ‘social proof’, and allows potential readers to see exactly what you’ve achieved in your career.
Your Website is Your Online Home
First and foremost, your author’s website is your online home, a place to showcase everything related to your career. It’s the only place online over which you have full control, and the best way for readers to find out what else you’ve written, plus links to buy your books, more info about you, and behind-the-scenes stuff.
If I think of a business or brand I’m interested in and go to Google them only to discover they don’t have a website – maybe they just have an Instagram page – I’m instantly more suspicious and feel that the brand doesn’t take their business seriously.
If you are an author, you know it is a serious business, and you are the business owner. It’s your career. If you run any other type of business, you would have a website for it! Especially if you wanted to be seen as established and growing.
My Newest Website Design for Authors – sandragurvis.com
Built with the Navigation Pro theme by StudioPress, the website showcases Sandra’s varied and storied career as a writer, editor, and author. The homepage is a complete and elegant read with links to all of Sandra’s many accomplishments.
Be sure to check it out!