By: Jordan McCollum
Nathan has blogged about author websites, and everything he says is spot on—but, as he freely admits, professional opinions on author websites vary even within the publishing world.
But so far, I’m on the outside of the publishing world. My day job involves learning how to get the most out of your website. So from the perspective of Internet marketing, here are the top seven things every aspiring author’s website should have.
7. A blog. All right, all right. I’m a little partial to blogs, but not everyone likes blogs or is good at blogging. And that’s okay. If you want to call it an “announcements” section, or call it your “articles,” that’s fine. But do have at least one section of your site where you can post your news—anything from finishing your latest work in progress to selling a short story. This is also a great place to start gathering a following, especially if you like to connect with other people, share your research and discuss the process of writing.
Free advice: If you already have a blog, you can integrate it with your website. Check out Blogger’s Custom Domain feature and host it at https://blog.YOURWEBSITE.com to make sure everyone linking to you is pointing those links to your domain.
6. Social media. This doesn’t mean you need to run out and join every social networking site you’ve never heard of. But it’s always a good idea to give your website visitors potential ways to connect with you. So if you’re already on MySpace, Facebook or Twitter, or any other large social network, list those somewhere on your site—somewhere easy to find.
5. Search engine presence. Unless your name is John Doe or Mary Smith, it should be fairly easy to find your website by searching for your name in the major search engines (Google, Yahoo and Bing). One good way to start with this is to buy YourName.com. If YourName.com (and YourName.net and YourName.org) is taken, experiment with middle initials, maiden names, hyphens, etc. Still nothing? Maybe you should consider a pen name that would be easier for your readers to remember, too.
Free advice: If you have some competition for your name in search results, put in a little extra legwork to find places to get links back to your site, especially from related sites—guest blogging, article writing, etc. I mean, we are writers here, aren’t we?
4. Professional design. For real. This doesn’t mean you need to run out and hire a $10,000 website designer, or that your website has to look as awesome as J.K. Rowling’s. You don’t have to dress like a fashion model to pitch to an agent at a conference.
At the same time, you’re not going to wear your ratty jeans and wife beater to a business meeting. Just like your nice pleated khakis, your website needs to look professional: clean, polished, easy to read (spell checked!), easy to navigate. Make it easy for your visitors to find the important stuff on your website (see #1, 2, 3, and 7, at least).
3. An about page. Most of us have an urge to list our friends, spouses, pets, children, favorite television shows, other hobbies, and small collectibles in our query letter. Hopefully, if you’re reading Nathan’s blog, you’ll forbear and omit this paragraph from your query. But your website about page is exactly where you should put all that information. After all, if someone visiting your website wants to know more about you, why not tell them?
2. Your work. No, you probably shouldn’t slap your whole manuscript on your website. But you should at least have a short summary of your work on your site. You might also consider a short excerpt—a chapter or less—in addition to your extremely engaging summary. This is also a good place to put your writing credentials (if not under #3 already).
1. A contact page. You’d be amazed how often both aspiring and published authors forget (or don’t want) to give their website visitors a way to contact them. Now, odds are low that a literary agent, editor or publisher is going to use your contact page to send you a desperate “Please, please, work with me! Your brilliance makes me cower in inferiority, but I cannot bear the thought of anyone else tainting your work!” note—but there’s always the possibility.
Free advice: Use a simple web form instead of listing your email address to avoid spam email harvesters.
What do you think? What else should an aspiring author have on his/her website?
In addition to being an aspiring author herself, Jordan McCollum works in Internet marketing. She is the editor of an Internet marketing news blog, Marketing Pilgrim, as well as the author of a blog on finding fulfillment in motherhood, MamaBlogga. She blogs about writing technique at JordanMcCollum.com. If ever she says anything about starting another blog, please shoot her!
Photo credits: Microphone—RAWKUS; binoculars—Joël Dietlé; telephone—Maria Li
Kathleen MacIver says
This is a very nice summary! I'm a web designer, and I have two thoughts/comments.
1) Having a form does NOT keep your email address from harvesters. Even the most secure form usually has your email address embedded in the form code. However, you can "encode" your email address. As of right now, the spam harvesters still haven't found a way around that. Just google email encoders to find sites with the free little encoders.
2) If you're wondering what content to put on your author website, or what to blog about, try thinking of things that your potential readers will be interested in. Do you write true crime? Include a page or blog posts about crime detection techniques that you find fascinating, or famous cases in history. Do you write Western Romance? Share neat facts about the old west. Is your fiction based in India? Share Flickr photos of India that you find inspiring. Sci-fi? How about linking to really cool technological advances that other sci-fi readers will find fascinating.
All too often, author blogs are geared toward other authors. That's fine, to a point, but that's not going to help you gain readership, and ultimately, isn't that what an author website is for?
https://www.KathleenMacIver.com
https://www.KatieDidDesign.com
ClothDragon says
Alright, I haven't tried this yet, so I can't really recommend, but I hear that google is doing free website hosting now, except there will be a google footer or ad or something on the page. I think google and blogspot are linked, so many of you probably already have a google account. Just click on the "site" link and poke through. I'd love to know if it's as easily created as the rest of the google pages, but I haven't had time to do it.
Anonymous says
Nathan,
If by any chance you are checking in, I hope your week is going well.
Thinking of you, as we enjoy the bloggers you've left us with.
Marsha Sigman says
This is great! I just started my blog and I am having a lot of fun with it. I don't think I am ready for a full blown website yet but this is great advice.
I think I am one of those people that will struggle to stay on topic though. I tend to ramble.
Danyelle Ferguson says
This is an excellent posting! Thank you, Jordan! I'm going to be emailing you later to pick your brain further!!!
Kristi says
Great post – I finally sucked it up and joined Facebook after reading multiple things stating the importance of social media for writers. In addition to researching agents as a means of procrastination, I can add finding out useful information on Facebook like what my friends ate for breakfast.
Rick Daley – thanks for that SEO info. As someone who has only been blogging since March, I'm not very familiar with search optimization and loved your tips. You've inspired me to do a new post tonight! 🙂
Marnee Jo says
Jordan, great advice and great blog! 🙂
I know you're who I'm going to talk to when I'm ready for all this stuff.
Jordan McCollum says
Kathleen—Dang. I just knew someone was going to call me on that. I actually use form generators to avoid that. Great ideas on what to blog about—that's exactly what I mean when I say blogging your research!
@Kristi—LOL. Yeah, social media can be a serious time suck. But I also know of an editor who found a friend's website through Facebook, read a summary of her work and requested pages.
@Danyelle and Marnee—looking forward to it, ladies!
Marybeth Poppins says
Thanks AM! I am glad everyone is enjoying it!
Jordan McCollum says
@ClothDragon—I believe another of the guest posters actually just used Google sites to make her website. Steph, are you out there?
Jordan McCollum says
@Kathleen again—how would you answer Dawn Maria's question?
I think I would add that web designers can create something custom to match you and your works, and do it more easily and prettily than most of us can.
Noble M Standing says
Jordan, excellent advise. I'm so glad you made the cut!
I have a simple website I built at yolasite, it's free, and you have the option to "buy" your domain for under 20.00 bucks a year. The thing I liked the most was the ease of design, it was mostly click and drag.
Michelle
Chrissy says
I always laugh when people who want to write for a living gripe over blogging and networking because they "don't have that much to say."
Do you open your query letters with that line? I prefer books with um… stuff in em.
Victoria Dixon says
Thanks, Jordan! Great blog. Now I just need the website. Sigh. I think I'll see if my bionically enhanced and computer graphic-obsessed husband would like to help with some of that. At least then we can both have a page!
Anonymous says
I guess I'm in the minority here, but I disagree that aan "aspiring author" needs a web preence at all. Apsiring authors need to learn how to write well enough to sell their first book, that's what they need! Forget everything else.
The time to start setting up a web presence is the day after you sign your first contract. There's a long wait time between signing and publication, and that's the perfect time to get the web stuff going, in between editing. Until then, an aspirant doesn't need the web, s/he needs to sell their first work!
Forget the web and write. Then, when you sell, forget the writing and market!
Victoria Dixon says
I wonder if Nathan will consider doing this again? Hmmmm.
Sara Ohlin says
Jordan, extremely helpful advice! Thank you so much for the information. I will definitely reference your post again, as well as some of the helpful comments.
Jordan McCollum says
Anon @ 1:53—I used to think the same thing. And yes, if you don't have a website, there is plenty of time between contract and launch to create one.
However, I have actually seen an editor request pages from an aspiring author's website. I've seen many agents, Nathan included ( https://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/2006/11/anatomy-of-good-query-letter.html ), impressed by the fact that an aspiring author has taken the time to create a web presence. It shows that this person is serious about this career, that they're in it for the long haul.
Nathan himself said a while back ( https://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/2008/08/author-websites.html ), "every author out there is doing themselves a disservice if they don't have some sort of a Google-able web presence with an e-mail address." I agree.
@Katie—Thank you! Well said. And as for links affecting your rankings with your blog hosted on another domain—more links for your domain are almost always better than having some of your links pointing to the blogspot.com domain. Like I said, the Custom Domain option in Blogger can take care of that.
Word verification: Mints. An actual word!
Kathleen MacIver says
@Dawn Maria (since Jordan asked)
First, you asked about having your blog and website on the same domain.
My answer: I'm honestly not sure what difference it will make in your rankings, if they're on different sites. As far as your readers are concerned, however, it is DEFINITELY an advantage to have them seamlessly integrated, design-wise. For example, The Knight Agency's website. http://www.knightagency.net You'll find "Blog" in their navigation menu. When you click on it, it LOOKS like you're on the same site. You even have the same navigation menu. But a look at the URL shows that you've been moved to Blogger. I did this with my inspirational website, integrating a website, a Blogger blog, and my myspace page through design. http://www.HopeIsCalling.com It takes skills in HTML, CSS, and graphics to do this, though.
Second question: What goes into a $1000++++ site that I can't get from iWeb that I need right now if I've got everything on your list?
Very few authors need a $1000++++ website. Yes, there are designers who are so extremely skilled in multiple programming languages, that they charge high dollars for even simple sites, simply because their time is worth that much. But there are plenty of us who are perfectly willing to design an author website for a couple hundred dollars, or less.
For some authors, the value is in the eye that a good designer will have. Some authors aren't good with colors and balance and can't use iweb as successfully as you have. Let's take your site as an example.
You've done well with color and balance. I don't know if you just selected a template, or if you chose those yourself, but they work well for you, as long as you are pleased. However, they don't give the visitor that instant impression of what genre and style of book you write. An unpublished author might not have or need that yet, but a published author definitely needs that. Imagine your site as a book cover…what if you wandered into a bookstore where all the book genres were mixed up. That's the Internet. What would you use to search for books you'd like to read? The covers first. If you like sexy romance, then you'd look for covers with "that look." If you like horror, then you'd look for those types of covers. When you found the type of cover that reflects the genre you like to read, THEN you'd turn to the back blurbs and a sampling of text from the inside.
So, for an author who wants their site to reflect their writing, what do they do if a template isn't offered that reflects those, and they don't know enough about website design to customize one that is offered? A professional is their own choice.
Next, layout. You've also done well in this area, with one exception. Your home page has almost all of your information "below the fold." Very few viewers will scroll down to see what's down there, unless something "above the fold" has already captured their attention enough to make them reach for the scrollbar. You're not a professional, so you most likely haven't thought about that. Many authors might unwittingly make many more "mistakes" that might make their website ineffective. For an unpublished author who isn't trying to drive sales for their book, this might not be an issue worth spending money to fix. For a published author, however, this is crucial, and is well worth spending two or three hundred dollars to make sure those errors aren't driving visitors away and ruining all their promotion efforts.
(To be finished in another post, since I've exceeded blogger's comment limit.)well worth spending two or three hundred dollars to make sure those errors aren't driving visitors away and ruining all their promotion efforts.
(To be finished in another post, since I've exceeded blogger's comment limit.)
Kathleen MacIver says
(Continued)
The decision in when to hire a professional is going to be different for each author. It's going to depend primarily upon three things: 1) Her finances 2) Whether or not she's published, ie: how important that website really is. And 3) her familiarity and level of comfort in using the Internet and designing anything. There are plenty of people who are overwhelmed by the mere prospect of matching two colors up. There are also people who are the design equivalent of preschoolers, even if they think they could pass the GED test. These people need someone who knows the answers to questions they don't even know need to be asked.
Very few people really need a $1000+++ site, though. If you want an example of who might, check out
Sherilyn Kenyon's: http://www.dark-hunter.com. She has a very defined brand and millions of fans who probably inundate her with email and demand more from her than a simple website. They want a forum where they can meet each other, maps of her world, email loops for news, profiles on each character in her world, dark-hunter t-shirts and who-knows-what-else, and plenty more. Nothing other than a custom-designed website can provide all of that, graphically-tailored to fit with her look. But it pays off for her…the fans visit, become even more immersed in her world, and that much more determined to buy the next book as soon as it comes out, catapulting yet another story onto the NYT list.
Does that answer your question?
I'm reading more of the comments, so I'll add a bit more.
Q. Does anyone ever buy a book because of a website?
A. An Anon asked this, and yes! Lots of us do! In fact, when I hear of a new-to-me author, the first thing I do is check to see if they have a website. If they do, I look for something about their books and a writing sample. This is the online version of what we do in bookstores when we read the back of a book and open to a page inside. Anyone who asks this question evidently doesn't realize just how wired and digitalized millions of us are. I haven't gone inside a real bookstore for anything other than to pick up a book I found out about online or from a friend in…uh…six years, maybe? How do you think today's kids, who LIVE on the internet and cell phones, and who are going to colleges that are now starting to use e-textbooks, are going to find out about your book?
Q. Is it necessary for an aspiring novelist to have a website?
A. IMO, you need to start a website when your book sells, at the very latest. So no, it's not necessary when you're still writing your first (or eighth) unsold book. It can still help with networking, though. Having a website that people can visit is kind-of liking having a dorm room you can invite your new college acquaintance over to. The more your website, blogger avatar, live journal avatar, WordPress avatar, and forum avatars match and work together, the easier it is for others online to get to know you. And since networking has led to 90% of my writing and publishing related knowledge, many peoples long-term critique partners, and since it helps a large percentage of book sales, it's a good idea, whenever you can manage a good one. (Bad websites help no one.)
-Katie aka: Kathleen MacIver
https://www.KathleenMacIver.com
https://www.KatieDidDesign.com
beth says
Nathan: So many agents have given very helpful advice on critiquing queries and synopsis and first pages…ever thought about critiquing an aspiring author's webpage or blog? (You can use me if you want! But honestly–I'd love to see an agent's take on a webpage blog on anyone)
I've asked before from other agents on Twitter, and I get a lot of the same information I can find on the web: what NOT to do (such as bash agents or whine about not being published or post pics of the cat), but there's so little out there about what DOES work.
I LOVE the advice that Jordan's put forth here—but I'm a visual girl and could really use some examples.
Jordan McCollum says
Oh, Kathleen/Katie—Threw me for a loop there. But like I said, well said!
Jordan McCollum says
@Beth—You know, that's a great idea! I'd love to do that, but of course we'd only want to do this on a volunteer basis.
Any takers? And Kathleen, I'd love to have your input, too!
AM says
Anon @ 1:53 –
I agree that an aspiring author should focus on learning and developing his craft. Too much time can be spent (e.g. lost) on websites, blogs, etc.
However, when an author is ready to submit his manuscript to agents, then he should considing taking the time to develop a simple but professional website.
Jordan McCollum says
@AM—That's what I should have said. Thanks!
Carol/Careann says
Jordan, after I left my comment earlier today I went on to other things, but your blogging and Rick Daley's comments stuck with me. I finally went to my own blog and made some changes. It's still a blog, not a professional website, but hopefully the changes will help it serve me better. The help that is available here is awesome! Thanks again to you and the others who offered useful suggestions.
Minnette Meador says
What a wonderful post.What is your opinion on blog vs. web page? It seems that people are gravitating toward doing blogs rather than informative web pages and I would LOVE to only have to maintain one. Thoughts, anyone?
Beth Terrell says
Thank you for sharing this, Jordan. It's invaluable information. I plan to update my website this weekend, and I plan to use this post as a reference when I do.
Rick, Kathleen, thanks for adding to the excellent advice.
CathrynG says
@Jordan – I'd love to volunteer my blog, flash fiction blog and website for critique.
My WordPress blog & Flash Fiction blog link off my site: https://www.cathryngrant.com
Trish says
Great, this makes me feel better about my blog. I use it to get my character Molly Mavis Gumnut out there. I don't post chapters, but add the titles of my many Molly Gumnut chapter books.
I also show pictures of the place where Molly lives, the river where she goes fishing and the bush track where she rides her bike. The valley and all the critters and the Australian wildlife in the stories.
This is aslo my world and I add the wildlife surrounding me. I voluneer for a wildlife rescue, so I add links to animal welfare and links to exotics vets.
And of course Molly's guinea pigs too.
Thanks so much, Jordan. This is great advice. It helps heaps.
Trish.
annerallen says
I agree with AM and Anon 1:53. Jumping into a website before you're REALLY ready can 1) waste time you should spend writing (and reading!) 2) embarrass the hell out of your older and wiser self.
Jordan McCollum says
Carol/Careann—Awesome! Glad to have helped!
Minnette Meador—Blog vs. webpage—it depends on your desire and ability to update, I think. If you're not going to blog at least weekly, stick with a regular website. On the other hand, if you're willing up update the site, some blog software is set up specifically to cover the capabilities of both a website and a blog, especially WordPress. I use WP for my blog/website—I get to post blog posts and I also have permanent pages for my contact, about, works, etc. For me, they haven't required a ton of maintenance.
Beth Terrell—Good luck! Hope we helped!
CathrynG—I'll put you in the queue for next month on my blog!
Trish—Sounds like you have a good handle on what to blog about. I bet American readers would find that especially informative!
Jordan McCollum says
@annerallen—You can always update your website. I sincerely doubt people are going to dig through archive.org to see how ugly/amateur/etc. your website used to be. This list is designed to help make sure that you don't embarrass yourself. You can't start building your search engine and web presence on nothing!
Note that I never said you have to spend 200 hours building a website from scratch instead of writing and editing. You can get a good-looking website together in under a week.
After you've spent all that time polishing your work and your query, why not take a few extra days for that added extra? It may not take a bad query to a good one, but it can help to make a good query even more impressive and make an author look more committed and professional.
Rachelle says
Jordan,
Thanks for all the great advice. I'm going to have to keep reading all of these comments too because I'm learning all kinds of great things. Thanks for keeping us on our toes!
Laura Martone says
Hi, all!
I just got home from a long day at the Cherry Festival, so I'm completely pooped… but I just wanted to say "Thanks, Jordan!"
Although I already have a writing-related website (with a blog, contact info, novel excerpts, etc.), I found this post quite helpful. Especially Thing #5 – right now, my website address is the main setting of my novel (www.rubyhollow.com) – mostly, because I hope to write other novels about this place… but I have plans, as you suggest, to create an author website, using my full name.
So, thanks again, Jordan. This is very good advice – I'm simply too lazy (I mean, busy) to implement it at the moment. Another task for the not-too-distant future. 🙂
–Laura
P.S. I visited Marybeth Smith's website, and I agree with you, Jordan – it looks great!
Laura Martone says
Oh, and I just checked out Alexis Grant's website (which is also terrific) and discovered we both graduated from Northwestern. Cool! Go, Wildcats!
jo says
Thanks Jordan, this was very helpful!
Victoria Mixon says
Jordan,
Thanks for putting the information so simply and clearly. It's just like a query letter, isn't it? Make it interesting, make it complete, make it easy to find you.
Great job!
best,
Victoria
annerallen says
Jordan, I found this post full of incredibly valuable information. Thanks much.
I didn't mean to discourage anybody from a putting time and money into a website if they have it–but if you're a beginner, your writing will (I trust) improve. Posting the opening chapters of that fledgling first novel for all to see at this point may make you cringe later on down the road.
Been there; done that.
FinePrint agent Janet Reid has recently blogged about how a first novel is generally not ready for the query process. I think that goes for posting it on a website as well.
Vacuum Queen says
I agree about the important content listed in this post, but I have to say…I follow many blogs, and I have no need for them to have a website. Their blogs have contact info, general personal info, updates on what's new with their projects, and updated entries. Seems to me that it functions like a website.
Yes, since I've got a bakery in my mg novel, I suppose it would be fun to get a site with a bakery in it and if you click on the snoozeberry muffins you'd find out where my character sleeps. But unless it's a huge hit, it's probably more than I will ever need. But, Hmmmm…. um, now I want that interactive bakery.
Kia says
Yay, I get 7/7. Though, the 'professional design' is subjective, plus I update the blog so rarely, it barely qualifies…
Thanks for a great post, Jordan.
Oh, and my site is here:
http://www.kia-abdullah.com (purely for verification purposes you understand – not a shameless plug at all).
Kia says
PS. And it's great being called 'Kia Abdullah'. The closest search engine competition is King Abdullah of Jordan 🙂
Eileen Astels Watson says
Thanks so much, Jordan. This is very helpful!
Etiquette Bitch says
Jordan – great advice!
Another tip-talk to potential readers/clients/friends to find out how they would google/search for someone like you or your writing. use those terms for SEO.
I was mistakenly thinking people would search for my blog by its title (see my name) until a reader told me that he googles "manners" when he wants etiquette advice.
Etiquette Bitch says
I also agree with the need for professional web design. I finally found an excellent designer in Chicago, if anyone is interested. Eat Paint Studios, http://www.eatpaintstudio.com
Anonymous says
As you say "Think carefully about everything you post and what message it gives about you," I am really surprised that you use the words "tatty jeans and wifebeater". This is demeaning to both men and women, in the image it brings up. Attention to language is vital.
Lori A. May says
Great post, Jordan.
This is a great reminder of why web presence is key and I really like your ideas on how to work the web to your best advantage, even when doing your own website, blog, etc. It really does take little money and effort to put ourselves out there in a professional manner. Great work!
Lori A. May
http://www.loriamay.com
https://loriamay.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/loriamay
Robena Grant says
Thanks, Jordan. Great post. Also thanks to the other "guest bloggers" I've caught up on all of the posts for the week and found them very interesting. I can see why you were all chosen.
Jordan McCollum says
@annerallen—Oh, I thought you meant the whole website! Yeah, definitely hold off on posting an excerpt until it's in at least decent shape. (I had my first five pages fairly polished for a context when I was getting my site ready for a conference, so I went ahead and posted them.) Like I said, though, you can always update it. (And I have.)
@Vacuum Queen—These "must haves," of course, can be applied to a blog. I think I'm spoiled by my blog/website—it's all at the same place!
@EB—Another great point that goes right along with Rick Daley's advice! I started out in SEO, so I can attest to its effectiveness!
@Anon @ 5:40—If I've offended, I apologize. Where I come from that phrase the term "wife beater" is used so often as clothing that it's lost its association with its true meaning. I didn't care for the word for many years myself. (I assume the "ratty jeans" part isn't what's bothering you?)
BookEnds, LLC says
I could make a list and since I didn't read the comments it's quite possible others have already added, but here are a few additional thoughts:
a high resolution, downloadable jpeg of your author photo in both color and b&w and your most recent cover or even a picture of all of your books together. this makes it easy for journalists to pull information/photos at the last minute if they need to
make it obvious what you're selling. the home page should feature information about your books and easy to find links to other pages.
KISS–Keep it simple stupid. don't get too hung up on fancy graphics or tons of information on one page. web sites that work for me are very simple and easy to navigate
update, update, update. I can't stress the importance of (reiterating what you said) adding 'news' notices of what's going on. this is really what fans love if you are active on facebook have your status updates link to your web page
good article!
–jessica faust