I'm going to start off by saying, I don't have a website. Personally, I don't think a website is necessary until after you have a publishing contract or are ready to epub. You use a website to promote your book, and if you don't have one a reader can get their hands on, what's the point? Again totally my opinion and you can disagree and I encourage you to. I would love to hear what you think about it.
But let's say you have that contract and you are ready to start your website. Now the problem. What do you put on your site? You want a website that is inviting. Something that will entertain while also promoting your book and yourself at the same time. This is where you need to be creative. Think of your reader. Think what it is they want to see when they stop by.
Instead of going on and on about what you can do, I'm going to link you to some great author websites I have come across.
First up, Susan Mallery. For those of you who don't know Susan Mallery, she is a New York Times Best Selling Author. You can check out her website here.
Susan Mallery has just released book 10 of her Fool's Gold series and for readers who have become invested with the characters, they can go on her website and find out even more about them. She has a tab for this series that includes a who's who of Fool's Gold. It has pictures and bios of all the characters and little snippets of their stories. You can go on and see what Susan envisioned while she was writing the characters. She also has Fool's Gold postcards you can send to your friends. Among other fun things. Check it out.
Another author who has a pretty kick butt website is Simone Elkeles. What I love so much about her site is that she has a fan page. Here you can submit artwork and photos that you have created based on her books. How cool is that! You can check it out here.
There are so many more great author websites out there. Before you start your own take a look at your favorite authors sites. Never copy an idea, but get inspired.
Are there any author sites you frequent or like the concept/layout? Do you have your own website?
I love Simone's website too. But she's a cool lady, so I don't expect any less.
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty, I rarely check out an author's website. I can find out on Goodreads if they've got a new book coming out.
I took a workshop on branding and we had to studied author websites. It's a good exercise.
She really is a cool lady!
DeleteI actually don't read many author websites... I read their blogs. Which I count as websites, lol.
ReplyDeleteI do too! I actually prefer the blogs :)
DeleteSimone's website is awesome! I think once you get closer to your book coming out it's really cool to do very character book oriented things that the fans will like. Before that I think a blog is enough.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!!! :)
DeleteI don't have a website yet. And probably agree with what you said. Wait until that book is coming out. Or at least until you're agented.
ReplyDeleteI don't go to author's websites often. And if I do, it's the first time to check them out. I don't go back. So I can't think of any I really like. But I'm sure I'll study up on them when my time comes!
See that's the thing, you check it out, but don't go back. If I had an author's website I'd want it to be one people would want to come back to. But that's the trick. Trying to find a way to get them to come back.
DeleteI've actually started putting together a website. Nothing too fancy right away. Just something for READERS as my blog is mostly for writers. But you are so right. There's no need to have it live until there are actually readers to visit it :) haha
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about my blog being for writers. It would be hard to make that switch. Having a website too would be like having the best of both worlds. A place for the writers and a place for your readers.
Delete