PUBLISHING AUTHOR
What you should include on your Published Author website…
1. First things first! You need an awesome masthead on your website. The masthead, or banner is simply a graphic at the top of a web page containing basic information about your website. Your website is a part of your branding tool. We recommend that you create an original masthead for your website that would be similar to the branding that you use for platforms.
In print publishing, a masthead is a list of the editorial board and staff writers, while a nameplate is the logo at the front of a newspaper. For a web site, you want to create a banner or nameplate that identifies your website including elements such as a slogan, logo, or links. Make sure that your masthead contains a tagline. Your tagline is usually your motto or short mission statement. Your tagline needs to communicate what you write so that visitors who like to read what you write will poke around a bit more. Make sure that you can identify what it is you want to write about.
2. An informative “About” page. The About page is where site users go to learn more about the site they’re on. No, we don’t want your life story, but five or so paragraphs of your journey as a writer or any experiences that are related to you being a writer; you want it to reflect your writer’s voice. Your About page should answer the Five Ws:
Who are you?
What do you do?
When did you start doing what you’re doing?
Where are you?
What is your mission?
3. A “Contact” page. How is someone going to get in contact with you if they are interested in what you have written? Time to drop your online privacy inhibitions! A ‘contact’ page just isn’t complete without contact information. So, your email address is a must. Now, if you’re a nonfiction writer, then you really need to beef up this page. Include your postal address and even a phone number for booking speaking events.
4. A great author picture.Some don't like to put their pictures up online for whatever reason. It could be that they are ashamed or shy of the way they look. It could be that they want to keep the focus off of themselves and keep it on their writings. You may even feel that it’s self-serving to promote yourself instead of your work. Whatever the reason to not wanting your photo up, we have 4 words for you..JUST DO IT ALREADY! And don’t put up photos that were taken 20 years ago when you were thin. We want the present day you. And we want it in high quality. Not some cropped shot that you took with a group of friends at the neighborhood bar. Being able to see your face can be what an agent, editor or potential reader needs to feel comfortable with working with you.
5. A blog. Ok, so you have the crucial information covered. But where do you get to show your skills? Linking your blog to your website (or even having it live on your site) is a great way to allow industry professionals and potential readers the chance to scope out your writing talent. "word of mouth" is one of your best tools for a popular blog, so it goes without saying that your blog needs to be updated on a regular basis, it needs to hit your target readership, and it needs to be well-written.
1. First things first! You need an awesome masthead on your website. The masthead, or banner is simply a graphic at the top of a web page containing basic information about your website. Your website is a part of your branding tool. We recommend that you create an original masthead for your website that would be similar to the branding that you use for platforms.
In print publishing, a masthead is a list of the editorial board and staff writers, while a nameplate is the logo at the front of a newspaper. For a web site, you want to create a banner or nameplate that identifies your website including elements such as a slogan, logo, or links. Make sure that your masthead contains a tagline. Your tagline is usually your motto or short mission statement. Your tagline needs to communicate what you write so that visitors who like to read what you write will poke around a bit more. Make sure that you can identify what it is you want to write about.
2. An informative “About” page. The About page is where site users go to learn more about the site they’re on. No, we don’t want your life story, but five or so paragraphs of your journey as a writer or any experiences that are related to you being a writer; you want it to reflect your writer’s voice. Your About page should answer the Five Ws:
Who are you?
What do you do?
When did you start doing what you’re doing?
Where are you?
What is your mission?
3. A “Contact” page. How is someone going to get in contact with you if they are interested in what you have written? Time to drop your online privacy inhibitions! A ‘contact’ page just isn’t complete without contact information. So, your email address is a must. Now, if you’re a nonfiction writer, then you really need to beef up this page. Include your postal address and even a phone number for booking speaking events.
4. A great author picture.Some don't like to put their pictures up online for whatever reason. It could be that they are ashamed or shy of the way they look. It could be that they want to keep the focus off of themselves and keep it on their writings. You may even feel that it’s self-serving to promote yourself instead of your work. Whatever the reason to not wanting your photo up, we have 4 words for you..JUST DO IT ALREADY! And don’t put up photos that were taken 20 years ago when you were thin. We want the present day you. And we want it in high quality. Not some cropped shot that you took with a group of friends at the neighborhood bar. Being able to see your face can be what an agent, editor or potential reader needs to feel comfortable with working with you.
5. A blog. Ok, so you have the crucial information covered. But where do you get to show your skills? Linking your blog to your website (or even having it live on your site) is a great way to allow industry professionals and potential readers the chance to scope out your writing talent. "word of mouth" is one of your best tools for a popular blog, so it goes without saying that your blog needs to be updated on a regular basis, it needs to hit your target readership, and it needs to be well-written.
