Why Writers Need Websites
Why do writers need websites? Let’s face it, publishers put their promotional $$ behind big time authors. That leaves the rest of the authors of the world.
There really is no valid reason for a writer not to have a website. People google you…be there for them. Afraid of all things techie? Well, stick around and we’ll offer you help in that area in future posts, but for now let’s just talk about the whys of having a writer’s website.
If you’re not the above mentioned big name author, the reality is most promotion will fall directly on you. If you take your writing career seriously, you want to promote it. A website is there 24/7, even while you sleep. The site is available for people to find the information they want–anytime. It provides a place for people to find out about your writing. (whether you are published or not) A web presence helps develop name recognition. The potential exposure is endless.
I’ll be honest, creating and maintaining a website takes time. It takes time even if you hire a designer. Suzanne and I suggest using Wordpress for your website. Wordpress–it’s not just for blogging anymore! Wordpress is a highly customizable system that can be used for a website, blog, or both. There are hundreds of free Wordpress themes available for download. There are so many available themes, your website doesn’t have to look like a cookie cutter of the other sites out there–change the header image, change the font, change the color. You can install themes yourself or hire it out. Using Wordpress will allow you to have a uniformed look throughout your site. Once it’s installed you don’t have to know anything techie. You open up a page on your browser and change information on your site without knowing a lick of HTML coding.
You can hire a designer to create a website for you, and pay for updates. The fees for this range all over the place. Remember that paying more does not always equal a higher quality website. Look around at writers’ websites that you like and see if you can find a “designed by” on their site. Go to the web designer’s website and see what they charge for their work. Ask for recommendations from your writer friends. There are a lot of good web designers out there to choose from.
But what if you don’t have the money to hire someone to do your website? With a willingness to Google some information, read the Wordpress forums and documentation , you can do a site on your own. Don’t let cash problems prevent you from having a valuable marketing tool–your website.
At the very least, get a website that tells a bit about you and provides an easy way for your readers to learn about your books. But if you’re serious about building traffic and providing an interactive site, we’re here to help you.
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