Image Credits: Most images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. One image directly from Pixabay. Screenshots taken by me, Allison Symes.
One key aspect to marketing for any writer is the author website. It is the writer’s “shop window” to the outside world.
The good news is they don’t have to be “all bells and whistles”. They do need to be interesting, varied, and updated regularly. There needs to be material on the website which will draw people back to it time and time again.
Websites with Blogs
This is one reason why many writers, including me, deliberately have their blog entwined with their website. I update my blog twice weekly so my website is updated twice weekly. Regular followers will know when to expect posts. Updating your blog like this is an easy way of keeping your website refreshed.
Your website can also be a great way of showing others what you do writing wise and, naturally, advertising your books. Some authors sell directly with an online shop on their website. I remind people through my blog posts they can buy directly from me as well as from the usual outlets. At some point I will probably get a simple shop set up online here.
The nice thing about websites is you get to decide what to have on your own and you can build it up a bit at a time. It’s exactly what I’ve done.
How I Started
I started out with Weebly and a free plan and I found this a great way to find out what it was I wanted on my site. I got into the habit of posting regularly but I then reached the point I needed to do more things with the site. For example, I like to share plenty of pictures. I sometimes share audio clips. There is a limit to what you can do on any free plan. On the occasions when I had technical errors, I found Weebly were helpful when I could get hold of them!
I then went to where I am now – WordPress with a paid plan. I’ve gone for the “medium” plan as I don’t need the top end one yet. Should I get to that point, I can easily upgrade. I’ve found WordPress easier to use than Weebly too though I am grateful for the experience my first website gave me there. I’ve mentioned before nothing is wasted in writing and that is true here too.
You do learn, over time, what you need your website to do and it is then a question of working out who would be the best to provide it. There was no way I was designing my website myself. I use WordPress templates to create the look for my site and those are easy enough to do.
Oh and I’ve had no trouble contacting the WordPress “happiness engineers” as they like to call their tech team. While, like Weebly, WordPress are based in the States, I’ve found they’ve come back to me quickly when I have queries.
Keeping It Simple
I’m no fan of acronyms but do quite like KISS though I prefer to think of it as Keep It Simple, Sensible (One). Keeping your website simple makes it more attractive to followers. On mine (https://allisonsymescollectedworks.com), I have the following:-
- An about page (which is my landing page which is where people can sign up to my monthly newsletter).
- A contact form page. (I’ve had bookings for workshops through this, would welcome more though!).
- My blog
- My books page
- An author services page (where I advertise the fact I’m an editor as well as a writer).
Whether you self publish, are published through an independent press, or are published through a much bigger publisher, you will need a website. It is a great place for publishers and agents to see who you are and what you do. It also shows commitment to writing and an awareness of the need to be involved with marketing.
Once you are published, you will need a place to direct readers to so they can find out more. I make it a golden rule to only share my work on my website.
My posts sometimes refer to my dog but the overwhelming focus is on my writing as it should be. Mentioning the dog sometimes does generate “human interest” stories and I can then usually tag an aspect of writing to that. It also helps prove this writer is human! (In an age of bots and artificial intelligence, this does matter).
Research Other Websites – What Could You Do For Yours?
It pays to have a look at the websites of authors you like to read. See what they do. What would be useful for your own website?
I sometimes share specially created stories in my newsletter and/or on my website. These count as being published but I see this as part of my overall marketing to draw people into what I write. Hopefully they then go on to check my books out. You can never prove figures for that but I do know if I didn’t do this kind of thing, I wouldn’t be getting any followers.
I try to make my blogs on my website (which are a round up of my Facebook posts, and links to my CFT work and other blogs I write for) interesting. I ask myself what is in this for a potential reader? With that view in mind, I can tailor what I write so people will hopefully find it useful and entertaining and they will want to visit my website regularly.
I now have over 300 followers for my website which I’m thrilled about. It takes time to build an audience though but having an interesting website is a good “magnet”. Your audience needs to have something to visit after all.
Start Small
I would suggest start small and work up. Start with a free plan and only upgrade to a paying one when you are (a) at the point you need more features you need to pay for (fact of life going on here I’m afraid) and (b) you are comfortable with what you are upgrading to and you’ve taken your time to reach this decision.
Keep your website to a few pages to start with. You do need an About You page and something about what you write. Then it is a case of working out how you will engage with potential readers. This is part of your marketing and every writer needs to do this but it can be fun. I factor in time during the week to do this. I see it as part of my overall writing time.
Conclusion
There are some things no writer can get away with. We do all need to have a website. We do need to all be able to send in submissions by email. And those are just two examples. But your website is something you can tailor to your requirements.
I try to think along the lines of what would I want to see on this site if I were a visitor to it? As with our writing, it pays to keep your audience in mind. You are far more likely to come up with material for your website which is of interest if you think of their requirements here.You are also your own first audience. If your website interests you, it should interest others. If it switches you off…. Fill in the dots!
Websites should be fun and interesting. You want to draw your readers (potential as well as actual) in. Websites are also a good place to share material, such as pieces about your writing journey, or how you came to create Character X, or what you found the most helpful when trying to submit your work. You are engaging with your audience here. This kind of material is always timely for someone. When they read that on your website, they may well check out what else you do. Result!
Related Posts:-
Read interviews with Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes: Part 1 and Part 2.
Read blog posts by Allison Symes published on Chandler’s Ford Today.
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You’re telling me to get a website. Maybe I will.
Meanwhile, I have read that over 1600 books have been banned from American libraries this year. I would love to be able to write a banned book. There would be no need to do any marketing. I recall how the popularity of Lady Chatterly soared, once it was proscribed. The banned books are on LGBTQ+ themes, books on racial relations and books about Rosa Parkes and Michelle Obama. Books about Trump are OK at present.
Websites, are far as I know, are not banned.
Many thanks, Mike. It is pretty much the case if you’re aiming to get work out there via a publisher, they will ask you about your website. I found having one useful before being published as it got me used to the discipline of keeping it updated with what I hope is interesting material. Once the books came out, I also then had somewhere to share the news about publication dates, events etc.
It is true about banned books though. P.G. Wodehouse sent this concept up in his book, Cocktail Time. A great read!