How to Create an Amazing Author Website

Without a website, an author is unknown.
Without a website, an author sells fewer books.
Without a website, an author has limited web presence.
Without a website, an author has limited media presence.
Without a website, an author can't maximize his or her creativity, expertise and talent.

You get the point. An author website is crucial. But too often, authors are simply told to set up a website, yet rarely are they given specific tips on how to make it AMAZING. This article will offer several key elements for successful author websites, in addition to various links to existing author websites that personify those elements.

But before you begin designing your website, remember WHY authors create websites:

*To sell books and/or products
*To be viewed as experts
*To accumulate fans
*To maintain a baseline of all marketing communication
*To be easy to get in touch with
*To maximize their web and media presence

While there are many other goals specific to each author, each of the above goals is paramount in ALL author websites. And if you want to accomplish these goals, consider some of the following tips.

URL
Obtain a domain name such as www.yourname.com or www.yourtitle.com. It should be easy to remember and, more importantly, consistent with you and your work. Also, when you get the website up and running, use the email address yourname@yourname.com. Anything else doesn't look professional. And for the love of God, don't use an AOL or Yahoo account.

AMAZING AUTHOR WEBSITE #1: www.sethgodin.com

Pictures
Let's face it: people judge books by their covers. In fact, according to Amazon.com, customers are four times as likely to purchase books if they can see the cover art. So be sure to include images all over your site. And, include a few high resolution, downloadable pictures of YOU, as well. Book buyers love putting the author's face with the book. And this will make it easy for other people to cut and paste those pictures on their sites and promote you, your work and your website.

AMAZING AUTHOR WEBSITE #2: www.gitomer.com

Payment Options
Make sure your books are available for purchase on Amazon.com. Even though the friendly people at Amazon take a whopping 55% of every book you sell, there IS a credibility issue there. Customers like the idea that your book is available on Amazon. Also, consider having Paypal or a shopping cart as additional payment options. It may seem repetitive, but it does make your books easier to buy.

AMAZING AUTHOR WEBSITE #3: www.antion.com

Related Writings
Most authors write articles, special reports and other publications related to their area of expertise. On your site, make these publications FREE to the public for reading and downloading. Be sure to include a quick byline and reference to your books at the end of each publication. Now, many Internet experts will disagree with this idea. They say "never give anything away for free." I say: give value first, show people your work is incredible and turn them into fans. Then you will keep them around forever.

AMAZING AUTHOR WEBSITE #4: www.hellomynameisscott.com

Community Builders
You need to create community via your website. This is the number one way to accumulate fans. Publish a blog, ezine, a newsletter, message board or link exchange on your site. And make sure people see a link to your "community builder" on every page.

AMAZING AUTHOR WEBSITE #5: www.bob-baker.com

Media Room
This page will include most of your downloadable pictures, biographical information, press releases, media appearances, personal FAQ's and possible interview questions. The purpose of this page is to make it easy for people from the media to interview you, promote you and write articles or reviews about your work.

AMAZING AUTHOR WEBSITE #6: www.parapublishing.com

Testimonials/Reviews
Have you ever purchased a book solely based on a review? I know I have. And third party endorsements show ? don't tell ? that your work is valuable to the reader. So, try to spread these testimonials throughout the website, or even consider having a whole page of just reviews.

AMAZING AUTHOR WEBSITE #7: www.jeffreymagee.com

Contact Information
Readers like the idea of emailing, calling or contacting the author personally. Even if you can't respond to every single inquiry, it's still important to be accessible. Too many authors are stereotyped as being unapproachable. So, make this contact information visible in the same spot on every single page.

AMAZING AUTHOR WEBSITE #8: www.drphil.com

Samples
Excerpts from your books and sample chapters are perfect ways to share your writing with people who come to your site. This is an especially effective way to sell books, because after reading a snippet of your work, people will want more. I suggest offering the first chapter or two of your book(s) as a downloadable PDF. And don't forget to include a short note with a link to the sale page at the end of the sample!

AMAZING AUTHOR WEBSITE #9: www.fredgleek.com

Related Services
Most authors are also speakers, workshop leaders or seminar hosts. This occurs for several reasons. First of all, books don't pay the bills (unless you're JK Rowling). Secondly, speaking validates the author's expertise and promotes his or her books. Thirdly, speaking has the potential to pay significantly more money that writing; especially if your work is well known. So, spend some time organizing your writings into modular speaking programs that offer additional value beyond a book. Then position those speaking services on your site on a page called "Speaking Engagements" or "Public Appearances."

AMAZING AUTHOR WEBSITE #10: www.life-after-college.com

It's a lot of work to create an amazing author website. But the bottom line is, if you don't exist on the web, you don't exist at all.

© 2005 All Rights Reserved.

Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, "The World's Foremost Expert on Nametags" and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps people MAXIMIZE their approachability and become UNFORGETTABLE communicators - one conversation at a time. For more information contact Front Porch Productions at http://www.hellomynameisscott.com.

---

Quiz: Will Online Book Marketing Help Sales?

Most authors sigh a sigh of relief when they finish... Read More

Are You Ready For The Publishing Revolution?

Writing has traditionally been considered a solitary craft. You wrote... Read More

Promotion - Credibility Extras

For many of us, marketing our titles is one of... Read More

Top 5 Book Selling Tips

TIP # 1Online reviews are paramount in importance when it... Read More

How to Schedule a Book Signing

How would you like to sell more copies of your... Read More

Book Talks: What to Say and How to Say It

Great! The Chamber of Commerce, or a similar group, has... Read More

Make your Book Stand Out From the Crowd: Know your Audience

Most authors say, "Everyone will want my book, and when... Read More

Publicity Through Philanthropy For Writers

I am twenty three years old, have sold over four... Read More

Do You Long To See Your Books Published And Selling From The Major Chains?

To have your work accepted for hard copy publication is... Read More

Does Your Book Cover Pass the ?Ignore? Test?

Your book cover is the first impression a potential client... Read More

Sell Your Book At Book Fairs, Festivals & Trade Shows

Play a bigger game with your book sales by expanding... Read More

How to Sell Your E-book - (or other information product) - Through Quickie Seminars

I've been selling my own self-published information products (mainly e-books)... Read More

Increase Book Sales: At Book Fairs, Festivals and Trade Shows

Play a bigger game with your book sales by expanding... Read More

How to Self Publish and Promote Your Own Book

If you are reading this article then you have already... Read More

The Book Signing

Tomorrow night is my first Local Writers Fair. I've been... Read More

Promote Your Books on Talk Shows and Make More Money

Successful authors are convinced that radio interviews are the very... Read More

How to Grab the No.2 Spot on Amazon for Advance Book Sales

When my first book was published way back ten years... Read More

Top 10 Tips for Book Titles that Sell Well

A clever title is great if it is clear, but... Read More

Attract More Buyers to Your Book: Use Metaphors

Surprise your potential buyers. Give them chocolate frosting!After we entered... Read More

Book Events - Make Yours Successful

A book event (a book signing) is a popular way... Read More

Five Tips To Consider When Choosing A Publisher

Choosing a publisher probably seems like a complicated task, however,... Read More

Five Book Back Cover Mistakes and How to Solve Them

Did you know that your back cover information is, after... Read More

How To Market A Suspense Novel In An Online Multimedia Format

If you haven't heard of the author C.F. Jackson or... Read More

Book Signings Are Pure Gold

So you've written a book, had it published by a... Read More

Extend Your Books Life With a Sales Letter

Authors, publishers and business owners are great at getting their... Read More