With millions of websites being loaded onto the World Wide Web, “pretty” doesn’t help authors or writers capture their targeted audiences. It was reported in June, 2007 on SoftPedia.com, approximately 100,000 websites are added to the internet every day.
Competition on the internet is fierce, and every author must remove any road blocks that may be causing them disparaging results with their websites.
More often than not, authors take time from their writing or creativity to figure out website design by obtaining a free website from the many resources available. While wearing their many hats, authors must wear efficiently the Webmaster hat, which takes time and valuable resources.
When designing or putting a website on the internet, there are key elements required to help marketing a website easier for authors and writers. Even when utilizing the services of a web designer, the author must know what to ask.
Internet marketer Tom Antion teaches his students to ask a web designer one key question: “What plan do you have to work my keywords into the design of this site?”
Mr. Antion states that 99% of web designers don’t know these things–they just know how to make websites look nice.
So many authors have fallen prey to this type of thinking when it comes to their websites. Many have become stuck on a “pretty” website verses an effective website. There are several keys to success when creating a website.
Seven Keys to a Successful Website
1. Font Size – (10 to 11 point) Allows visitors to read the site with ease.
2. Font Type – (Georgia, Arial, and Times New Roman) Standard typeset alleviates any misreading from fancy, scripted fonts.
3. Font Color – (White or Black) Keeps the eyes focused. There are times to use blues, reds, or greens on headlines and sub-headlines to draw attention.
4. Background Images – (Solid and Clear) Just like a good book, make sure to remove any distractions from the visitor.
5. Keywords – (Include 5 to 7) Use these keywords throughout the website: Content, Meta Description, Website Page Header, and Alternate Image Text.
6. Media – (Videos, Audio, and Widgets) Eliminate unnecessary videos, music, and extra photo image widgets. These are distractions and drastically slow a page’s opening.
Per USAToday.com, there is still 14% of the population with dial-up internet connections.
7. Clarity – Provide the website visitor a thorough, step-by-step, controlled process.
Authors can implement each of these seven keys to success on their very own. Creating a website presence to capture new readers, new subscribers, more traffic, and growing a following can all be done by learning simple strategies and techniques that are practical and applicable.
One thing authors or writers must keep in mind as they attend their writing workshops or learn how to market a book is that everyone lands on a search engine. The top search engine is Google.com, followed by Yahoo.com, then MSN.com. The author must be included in the results of the everyday web surfer’s search criterion in order to be found.
Just an FYI: “pretty websites” isn’t one of the search criteria.
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Oh, dear! One the one hand, I can’t agree more that content/keywords reign supreme, as in “what if you build a beautiful site and no ones comes?”
However, once I find a site, in this world of billions of sites, it better be attractive! My new book addresses this point – and quite a few others (available at http://www.TerraPublishingHouse.com) . . . if you think attractive does not matter, why do Manhattan Avenue advertisers spend millions positioning cars, clothes, candy, cruisers, condoms, etc. with beautifully designed ads?
The real estate industry is ripe with poorly designed Web sites, or nicely designed sites with abysmal photographs of houses priced anywhere from $200,000 to multiple millions. Why on earth would anyone think it’s fine to market a $4 million home with pathetic photography? Wouldn’t you fire that agent? (Or do your homework and don’t hire them in the first place?)
The point: A beautifully designed, easy-to-navigate, content relevant Website is mandatory to sell your product whether it’s a widget or a wombat.
As a self published author, I found your piece very informative. Thank You!
Great article. I have been struggling with some of the same issues you addressed here. I’m sure other authors also appreciate advice when starting out. I have spent a considerable amount of time on my website, and it’s still not where I want it.
I have so much more to do on the publishing side of my business and I still have to dedicate quite a bit of time to fixing my website. I am working with a website company, which I thought would alleviate the burden of creating a website and working through the many issues. I was wrong.
It seems I am spending more time with my website working with the larger company than I would have just creating a basic website with a template. Not only do I have to work on design and talk to them about the updates that need to be made, but getting a hold of them and waiting for them to call me back and work on my issue is all together another task.
Although it has been educational and fun working through the process, I wish I had known a bit more about it before I started. I hope you keep giving aspiring authors good advice. I will watch for your other articles. Thank you.
David
Definitely some valuable reminders here, thanks.
I see people going for the aesthetics before the functionality because it SEEMS more tangible – but you are right, pretty doesn’t get hits on the search engine. You have to get people to your site before you have to worry what they might say about your design.
great now if only I could fit into any of these designer labels I would be most happy