We expect business owners to have a website. As a writer, this is no different for you.
Here are a couple of thoughts for you to consider.
1.) Register your YourName.com. Fiction readers find an author they love and stick to them. Don't depend solely on your agent or publisher to host you on their site—though it's nice that they feature you. You need a site where all your books, with all your publishers, are listed.
2.) It's a wise idea to purchase your YourName.com when you first start to cause some ripples. There are those who register names and then squat on them. I know someone who paid $150 to get their name back from an otherwise empty website.
3.) If you're best-selling, I suggest registering YourName.org and YourName.net too. This will prevent people from using your popularity. You can always have those sites directed to your dot-com.
4.) Keep it simple. Make it easy for media to find: bio, photo, reviews, interviews, etc. Below are some good examples.
http://www.tashaalexander.com/
http://www.karenkingsbury.com/
http://www.lizcurtishiggs.com/
5.) Brand yourself. Your website should match your genre. Click on the sites below and you'll under pretty quickly what these authors write.
a. http://www.austinboyd.com/
b. http://www.stephenking.com/
c. http://www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/koontz/index.html
d. http://www.robertliparulo.com/
e. http://www.interpretationofmurder.com/
f. http://www.lemonysnicket.com/
g. http://www.gregorymaguire.com/
h. http://www.jonathanstrange.com/
6.) As much as possible, keep it simple. You're trying to balance die-hard fans, people who have never read you, and media interested in featuring you. I think the best website I've seen balancing all of these is Tracey Chevalier's. Her opening page doesn't necessary brand her, but follow the links to each one of her books and you'll see how no matter who you are, you'll find what you want.
http://www.tchevalier.com/
While we're on the topic, anyone have more suggestions, or know a good designer?
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Friday, October 20, 2006
A Word About Websites
Great tips and thanks so much for the suggested websites. I have a blog, but ahve wondered when I should get a website. You've given me somethings to think about.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jess. I'm working with Natalie Jost as we speak. She designed Novel Journey, need I say more? No, but I will. Ha. We've been having some back and forth about what she sees as a fit and what I do. It's uncomfortable to make suggestions to someone who knows what they're doing but the whole branding thing is really sticking out in my mind.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we'll have Natalie on to talk more about this when she has time.
Natalie, you reading this?
Then again, when you get published, you just may have to change your pen name and get a new domain. LOL It happens.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. I like Chevalier's site, it's great. I have a very simple web page right now, with a link to my blog. Once I'm published, I'll jazz it up good.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice
These are such interesting sites. I'm trying to remember all this Jessica. Brand myself. OUCH!
ReplyDeleteOkay, had to say that.
I know there are really smart ways to use the internet and I'm trying to learn them. Thanks.