As you may or may not know, I'm participating in the Platform Building Challenge at My Name is Not Bob for the month of April. Every day we're given a task to help us build and improve our platform. (A platform is your potential readership, your audience, your niche). Today's task? Do a google, bing and yahoo search for our own name and see what comes up.
Now, what should come up is your website/blog and your twitter, facebook, LinkedIn account, etc. All that came up for me was my twitter handle, and not too near the top. According to My Name is Not Bob, my blog really should be at the top of the list, but I understand why it isn't. My name isn't even in the url. When I originally set up this blog, I had no idea what a platform even was. I just wanted something quirky and funny. Unfortunately, it also equaled obscurity and I'm realizing now that I need to upgrade and present a more professional image. Plus, it doesn't help that some of the top search results were for an old figure skater and a woman who killed a man with a bottle. Obviously, neither one is me.
Which brings me to today's query. Should I start a website? I've pretty much already made up my mind that I will, but I'd like to hear the pros and cons of anyone out there that has one. What are the must haves for writers? What are the dos and don'ts? Please feel free to weigh in with your opinion in the comments section.
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I think you should, I don't really see a down side to it! It'll give you more exposure and would probably allow you more flexability!
ReplyDeleteHi, your question was part of the inspiration for today's post over at my website. I answered your question and gave your blog a plug, but if you don't want to read my ramblings, the answer is yes. You should definitely invest time and resources into your own domain.
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie -
ReplyDeleteI think you should have a website especially if you are a writer working on a book(s). You will want to have a separate page listing your books (and where to buy them)& WIP; a separate page for your bio with its own tab; other ideas that you would like to do on a website, etc. Do a google search for writers w/their own website & blog. A website gives you more flexibility than just a blog, such as you want to blog about other things than writing. Definitely buy your own domain (Around $10-$15); I even would suggest moving to Wordpress (see the following, but do your own homework also: http://page.ly/wordpress/)
And I think you should have your name in the url - such as www.melaniecoleauthor.com. I didn't do it because the focus of my website is different. Also, it may be a while before I get the writing thing going.
THESE ARE JUST SUGGESTIONS ONLY, even though I seem to be telling you what to do. SORRY! I'm writing too fast because I have to go back to writing my own post :)
And ask the #MNINB crew also!
All the best to you -
Monique
I had the same dilemma. Mostly I was wondering what heck I could/should include in a website. After talking with my husband I decided to go for it. It's one of my goals for this weekend. I have some links to sites that seem user friendly for creating your site. They are mostly templates that you can play with and edit. I believe there are links to servers that will store your domain. Let me know if you're interested.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck,
Claudine