by Harriet Hogdson

I have had a Website for several years. Unfortunately, I am not a computer whiz and when I wanted to update the site I had to hire a technician. After my 26th book was released I realized it was time to re-design the site. You may have come to the same realization.
editor's note: Be sure to check out Where do I get a Website  for resources

Patrice-Anne Rutledge discusses Internet marketing in, "Online Book Promotion: Your Competitive Edge," an article on the American Author Website. According to Rutledge, "An online campaign has the potential of reaching any of the one billion people worldwide who use the Internet." Talk about power!

Website promotion is cost-effective, Rutledge continues, cheaper than print ads, brochures, and media kits. Best of all, your Website attracts notice. She thinks every author needs a Website, "but to generate true book buzz online you have to extend beyond the basic Website." My first site was pretty basic and it was time for an upgrade.

I turned to the graphic designer who had created my book cover. He incorporated the cover design elements into the Website design. What changes did he make? First, he removed the cutesy clip art. It did not look professional and no clip art was better than poor clip art.

Next, the designer created a template for the site. This template includes the book cover and its soothing pale green color. Viewers see the template with every screen change and also see a sentence that appears on the journal and calendar I wrote to go with the book. That sentence: Life is a miracle and I'm so glad to be alive!

The headings that used to be on the left were removed and replaced with tabs at the top. Tab options: New Grief Resources, EzineArticles, Media Releases, Writing Track Record, Published Books, Book Reviews, Q & A (questions and answers), Education (also includes honors), and Presentations.

The Write and Publish Fiction Website has posted an article about getting book publicity, "Book Promotion ideas for a Fast Paced Fiction Market Place That will Help Market Your Books!" You need more than a two-page Website, the article notes, "You need a way to put information out to your prospective customers quickly and efficiently." So the publisher's toll-free phone number and email address appear on every screen.

This helps visitors to get information fast. The publisher was so pleased with my re-designed site it published my Website address in its 2009 catalog.

Website experts say you should give visitors free information. I followed this advice. Visitors may click on a quick link to the dozens of EzineArticles I have written about grief. A list of the symptoms of anticipatory grief also appears on the site. There is a link to an Internet-only radio interview, too. I am very pleased with the newly designed site and traffic has increased.

According to "7 Book Promotion Methods for Your Nonfiction Book," an article by Bobbi Linkemer on the Write and Publish Your Book Website, "A Website showcases your book, highlights the cover, introduces you as an expert author, delineates the main points, tells where the book may be purchased, and provides a space for testimonials." Oops. I do not have space for testimonials, so it is time for another update. I also need to post printed articles and add links to television spots and radio blogs.

Look at your Website from a potential buyer's view. Does it sell your book? If not, it is time for a re-design. I think you will find, as I have, that it is money well spent.

editors note: For Do-It-Yourselfers, we recommend 1and1.com.  Lots of easy to use templates for websites and blogs, even with the start packages AND a anti-SPAM compliant newsletter program with the middle grade packages.  Check them out.  1and1  We use 1and1 ourselves.

We've also heard that Lunarpages is a good choice.  We don't have personal experience with Lunarpages, but it's worth a click to check them out.  Here is the link .Lunarpages Web Hosting

If you want to hire a professional, we recommend Writers Web Works as our designer of choice.  They designed this site.

Copyright 2009 by Harriet Hodgson