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Why SEO Is (Usually) a Waste for Novelists
SEO, or search engine optimization, is a crucial piece in website development. A site that is not properly optimized will rarely show up on people’s search results. As a result, that site can lose a...
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Author Social Media Tip: Know Your Audience!
I was on the phone with an author yesterday who asked me a question: “What’s the best social networking site for authors?” My response? There is none. Now, that doesn’t mean that social networking...
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5 Types of Author Website Homepages
I tell every client the same thing: each and every author website is different. And an author’s homepage is no exception. For example, compare the website that belongs to a doctor who writes and speaks...
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The Most Ridiculous Myths About Writing and Writers
Image courtesy of Feelart/FreeDigitalPhotos.net I came across a really interesting conversation on LinkedIn this morning. The question: What are the most ridiculous myths you’ve heard about writing and...
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20 Things NOT to Do With an Author Website
I’ve helped build websites for hundreds of authors. I’ve seen the best and the worst. And while I could list a whole lot more than 20 “don’ts” here, I’m going to limit the damage to just the most...
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10 Ways a Reader Can Find Your Author Website
Okay, so you’ve built an author website. Congratulations! But just because the site is live doesn’t mean that people will find it. Here’s what you need to know about all the ways people can and will...
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New Author Marketing Tools from Amazon!
Look out! Amazon continues to innovate …. and (hopefully) authors can benefit from these latest new offerings. Case #1: Kindle Countdown Deals Here’s how Amazon describes it: Kindle Countdown Deals is...
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The Importance of an Author Tagline (and How to Write One!)
Picture this. You go to an author’s website. Or you end up on the website because … well … you’re not quite sure how. The homepage of the website includes the author’s name in huge letters, on top of a...
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Website Acronyms That All Authors Should Know
I’ve worked in the web industry for 15 years. I’ve been talking about SEO and ROI for as long as I can remember. But what I often don’t remember is that most people don’t know exactly what those...
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Beyond Facebook and Twitter: Social Media Avenues for Authors
Oh Facebook and Twitter … they’re so 2012. But seriously, we all know that those are the two most commonly-used social networking tools in the digital world. But that doesn’t mean authors should be...
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5 Things CoverCake Has Taught Me About Books and Social Media
For the past few months, Publishers Weekly has been printing a monthly report from CoverCake about the most talked about books in social media. And these lists (and the corresponding analysis) have...
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9 Ways to Get Book Reviews (Not All of Them Ethical)
Remember when getting a book review involved a pre-pub copy of your book being sent to the NY Times, Publishers Weekly, etc…? Boy, how times have changed. And while those reviews are still golden,...
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5 Things That Have Changed Author Websites in 2013
This is my last blog post for the calendar year! And what a year it has been! We have built more than 50 new author sites, redesigned/rebuilt dozens of others, and added a variety of social networking...
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An Interesting Observation About Bookstores…
This blog post is very much off the topic of my usual posts (author websites), but I had a realization over the holiday break that I had to share with all my author friends. You see … I took a day to...
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5 Signs an Author Is Ignoring His/Her Website
An author writes a book. An author builds a website to promote that book. A year or two passes. The author starts ignoring the website. It becomes like a “portfolio” — somewhere that he may send people...
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What Is Your Goal for Your Author Website (and Your Writing Career in General?)
It’s probably the most important question I ask authors before putting together a proposal for them: What are your goals for your author website? Generally, there are three overarching goals that an...
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Should You Create an App Spinoff of Your Book?
It’s hard to believe, but the word “app” has become an essential part of the English language. Nearly every person with a smartphone uses apps in one way or another; from the app that helps you find...
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5 Reasons You Should Never Take Down Your Author Website
I have had multiple clients over the past few weeks ask me to take their site down — either temporarily or permanently. Now, for those who have asked my opinion, I have been happy to offer it: DON’T...
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The 3 Most Common Author Website Myths
In honor of this great pieces I just read on Book Promotion Myths from my colleague Sandra Beckwith, I have decided to present … three common author website myths. 1. An author’s website needs to be...
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8 Secrets to an Effective Author Email Campaign
You know that email is an important marketing tool for selling your books. But how much do you really know about how to use it effectively? Here’s what you need to know about common email mistakes, and...
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