Friday, September 18, 2009

Author Websites

Don't click away! I know the term "author websites" is scary, scary, scary!

I used to get wobbly knees, icy fingers, and a bad case of the shakes at the thought of setting up an author website.

What is it about websites that terrify us so? I don't know about you, but I felt completely inadequate. I couldn't even figure out how to research various ways of obtaining a website without getting nauseous.



I've written on this topic before. You can check out my article Five Things to Consider Before You Design Your Website for information on getting prepared to have your own site.

For those of you who are interested in designing your own custom website using a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) design program, I've written a Basic Website Design Guide. All of my articles are available at my website http://www.jillkemerer.com/. They are also linked in the sidebar of my blog for easy access.

Every day, more website templates crop up, so writers don't even have to customize to have a professional looking site. I, however, wanted complete control over the colors, the layout, and the pictures in mine, so I learned the basics.

My biggest fear was that I'd design a site and it would end up looking cheesy and unprofessional. My first website design was very simple. It had a Home page, a Biography page, a link to my blog, and a Contact button for anyone to e-mail me. About six months after I published the site, I decided it could look better. I changed the background and the layout and I added a few more web pages.

Why am I telling you this? Because I don't want you to feel your site has to be perfect, especially if you aren't published yet. You can tweak it and upgrade it as you learn more. I would never recommend anyone putting up a sloppy, unusable site, but I think many authors are so intimidated about having a great site, they don't have any site.

Please keep in mind that editors expect published authors to have a website. It's a terrific promotion tool. It's okay to have a free, template-style website as an unpublished author, but when you get "the call" your editor will probably suggest you get a professional site. I can think of a few reasons for this: many free websites do not utilize a http://www.com/ domain name, and many free websites do not have a function for readers to e-mail and contact the author.

If you're the do-it-yourself type on a tight budget, hold off on spending big bucks to hire a professional website designer. Ask your editor or agent for examples of author sites they feel are appropriate. Spend time planning your site based on their suggestions. Study the layout, content, and appropriate web pages.

Build your own custom website using a web-hosting service such as Yahoo! Web-Hosting or GoDaddy. They offer easy to use design programs. Beware of less prominent web-hosting sites. Their design programs can be difficult to use. You can also purchase design programs, but they are expensive.

If you set up a site and your editor is still not loving it, or maybe you feel updating it is too time-intensive, you may have to pay a professional. If this happens, don't consider the effort of designing your own site wasted. You have to determine a clear vision for your website whether you design it or someone else does. Why not do it now?

Have a wonderful weekend!

30 comments:

  1. Hey Jill. I'm not skeert of doing up a website, I just don't have ANY time to do it. For now, the blog's all I need, but if a future agent/publisher says different, I'll whip up one then. :)

    Thanks for the kudos about getting the guest gig at Rachelle's blog.

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  2. PS Your site looks really nice. Real clean and easy on the eyes. Maybe a future sideline career?

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  3. Your site looks beautiful!

    But I am skeert of making one of my own. It's on my list, but I'm not ready just yet. Maybe when my current WIP is ready to query.

    I'll use all your advice. Thanks!

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  4. Angie: Time is an issue. When you're ready, there are many great web-designers to do it for you. The nice thing is, they're listed at the bottom of most author's websites. Easy advertising--and easy to find a good designer! Congrats again on the guest post! Let me know when you have a date so I can link it!

    Janna: You can do it after you get the call too. No rush!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. I love my author website! And now that I'm getting into web design I count myself quite lucky. I can only imagine how difficult it is to create one yourself without knowing what you are doing.

    BUT I do think author websites are important and think every author should have one! :)

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  6. Jill,

    I NEED to finish mine! I'm almost done, but just need to fill in all of the writing part of it! Just takes time! But I have to get going on it again. So thanks for that reminder AND YOUR FABULOUS HELP!!!!!!!

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  7. I remember your posts about websites. It actually stirred me to get on it and though it sits in bones, it's there.
    ~ Wendy

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  8. My request is to keep it simple. And include excerpts. I get so frustrated, going to authors' websites to look for some samples of their books. Just part of the first chapter, if they're worried about copyright issues. Something to give me an idea for what each book is.

    Blogs are nice...but only for authors of which I'm really a HUGE fan. Most of the author websites I read, I look at only maybe the bio and what books are coming out soon.

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  9. Part of creating a website involves really taking a good look at our credits, bios, plans. It's a good way to really pull together a visual synopsis of who we are.

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  10. Marybeth: I know you've been working on one. Is it published now? I'd love to check it out. Leave the URL for me so I can see it!

    Jody: Can't wait to see yours!

    Wendy: I remember your site--it suits you perfectly!

    Stephanie: That's funny because I usually skip excerpts. I'm afraid I'll get hooked and then won't have the book in front of me! I believe there are legal issues about when published authors can post excerpts--not too far ahead of the release date, but I could be wrong.

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  11. Joanne: Good point. If an author has any publishing credits--magazine articles, e-zine articles, book anthology, anything--she should list them. This is where editors and agents can stop and get a better idea of an author.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  12. Jill
    great blog, and I'm one of the technically challenged who struck out on my own, but I use a site builder, one web hosting. I have it all; email, guestbook, etc.
    And I was able to customize so that it has the look I was after. It's a work in progress, but what I like about doing my own is that i can update when I want rather than having to ask someone to update for me.

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  13. Hi, Jill!

    I do plan to build one when the time gets closer. I've just been trying to focus on one thing at a time. But it would definitely be cool to have a website! I really like yours!

    Have a great weekend!

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  14. Your post about websites really got me encouraged to make my own, so thanks! That's definitely good advice. Don't be scared to try it. It wasn't that hard to do mine, though I did a very basic template and it's very simple. Sure one day I know I'll want to update it and definitely make it look more professional, but right now it's okay. Thanks again!

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  15. Marybeth- I love your website. It is very awesome.

    I think authors and aspiring authors alike should get their own website. It is important to have that professional web presence. It does not have to be too elaborate at first. I think we should all make sure to own our own domain www.ourownname.com

    Thanks for this post Jill!

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  16. Brenda: Welcome!! (Brenda is a fabulous author of Steeple Hill Love Inspired books, currently hard at work on a three book series.) I, too, found web-hosting with the service's design program to be an inexpensive yet professional-looking alternative to hiring it out. I agree, I like having the freedom to update it myself.

    Kristen T: I can already picture yours with your bubbly personality--good luck!

    Cindy: It seems as if the process gets easier every few months--there are so many terrific resources available to design a site. Congrats!

    Regina: Yes, especially when authors are submitting. It's a great tool for agents and editors to have access to.

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  17. Thanks for the tips. I'm getting ready to start working on my own website, and this info is very helpful.

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  18. What timely information! When I stopped by your site the other day, I was wondering how you were able to place your pix and have your text flow around it...now I know how to get the answers without spending my writing time on research!! Thanks for the post!! Have an incredible weekend!

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  19. LazyWriter: Please let me know the URL when you finish--I'd love to see it!

    Maria: The Basic Website Design gives the nitty-gritty. I hope you find it useful. Feel free to e-mail me with any questions!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  20. We had a lot of fun putting together our site. One of the most important things for us was making sure that it was extremely easy to update so we can keep the information current.

    If you're interested you can check it out at:

    www.lisaandlauraroecker.com

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  21. Wow, thanks for all the tips. This helps. I'm not ready yet, but will be soon, I think.
    Happy Weekend,
    Jen

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  22. Lisa and Laura: Oh goodie! I love checking out websites--I'm so glad you left your URL. And I agree that a sight has to be easy to update. No one has time to waste.

    Jen: You're welcome! Have a great weekend too!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  23. It was that other post of yours that prompted me to do one at Wordpress. It isn't the greatest but it tracks traffic and I am pleased to say that I've had traffic there:) If I ever get published, I know I will have to do something better than that but for now it gives me a place to showcase some work.

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  24. Terri: I really like your site. All those great writing credits--you can't fit them in a query! It's perfect!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  25. Jill, another great blog with links to put in my notes for later. I'm not ready now for anything like this, but your archives and lincs will help when I do.

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  26. This is a good reminder, thanks! For now, my blog will have to count. But, I do plan on creating an actual website if my book ever makes it to actual publication.

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  27. Nancy: Every bit of info helps make it less terrifying, in my opinion!

    Tess: What's this "if"? It's only a matter of time!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  28. I personally love to check out musicians, writers, businesses, etc online. Having a website today really is important. I am grateful to have a husband who can do the website stuff for me! :)

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  29. Nice! Aren't talented husbands the best? :)

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  30. Hi Jill,
    I particularly appreciated your comment that so many authors want to have a GREAT site, they don't have any! That it's okay to tweak/refine as you go. Kind of like a good first draft that keeps getting better. Thanks for that insight. Patrice

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