7 Reasons Why Every Writer Needs Needs a Website or a Blog
Almost every week I find myself having a conversation with one writer or another about why he or she needs to have a website or a blog. I'm getting a bit tired of the discussion, but I keep repeating myself for one reason: I know how important it is in this day and age for every writer to have an Internet presence. Plus, if a writer has dreams of become the author of a book, they almost have to be involved in platform building on the Internet. Additionally, for those nonfiction writers who want to become freelancer journalists or to sell ebooks, a website that showcases their work, credentials and products has become essential in the current marketplace.
To help me stress the need for writers' websites and blogs, I've asked my webmaster and friend Linda Lee to relieve me today and do the honors. Linda offers website and blog coaching and consulting services as well as custom website development. She's constantly coming up with new ways to do things with websites and blogs, and she's passionate about writers using the Internet and using it well. So, if you aren't going to listen to me, listen to Linda!
7 Reasons Why Every Writer Needs to have a Website or a Blog
By Linda Lee
Inernet and Website Coach and Consultant
Website Designer
The Internet has profoundly changed the way people communicate with each other. This has also impacted businesses and altered the way they do business. If you are serious about writing, you need an online presence. Here are seven reasons why.
1. Be easy to find
In today's world, people find you though the Internet. The Internet has become the yellow pages to the world. People now Google someone they meet or hear about to learn more. You don't want to miss those opportunities. Each time someone finds your website or blog, you have an opportunity to promote yourself and your product.
2. Showcase your work
Your website or blog serves as your portfolio. This is where you showcase your work and your talent. You can use your website like a resume. Have your biography and a section with samples. You can create your press kit for easy access. You can have your podcasts or any radio show appearances on your site. You also want to list all your contact information.
3. Branding
As writers our name is our brand. This is an opportunity to get your name out there 24/7. The Internet is always "on" and fresh content is a priority for search engines. With your site you have a palette to showcase and present yourself to the world.
4. Marketing
You will want to have your website address on all your written materials. Editors and agents can peruse your work in your sample section. Having you own website or blog gives you the opportunity to promote yourself online, submit your articles to online services like e-zine or join an article submission service for a small monthly fee. They will distribute your articles for you. Always place a short line about yourself and a link to your website in all your work. Internet marketers and website owners are starved for content, and as a writer you can provide it. This will stay out there online for years and reap you benefits and new customers or readers long after you have written the article. There are also services you can sign up for where people will hire you to write articles for them, such as elance.
5. Creativity and Fun
To utilize and enjoy your creativity, start a blog. Blogging is a great way to get traffic from the right audience for the right reasons. This is your chance to express yourself while attracting an audience who shares your interests and wants to hear what you have to say. When you add a blog to your website, you instantly will see an increase in traffic. Search engines love fresh content and blogs are an easy and fast way to provide new content.
6. Build a mailing list
This is critical if you want to begin to market and sell yourself and your product.You can offer a monthly or bi monthly newsletter. You can tell your clients and interested parties about products you recommend and you can do this as an affiliate to make money. This is also a potential list of buyers for your books and future books, teleseminars, classes, podcasts and any personal appearances or speaking you may be offering.
7. Monetize your site
Earn a little income back with your site. If you can begin to build some traffic and an audience for your website or blog, you can make money from your site. This involves joining some affiliate programs such as Amazon and Adsense.
Almost every company now offers an affiliate program where if you discuss a product and use your affiliate link to the company, you will earn a commission if the customer buys. Amazon actually will credit you for anything someone buys through your link for up to 24 hours. The commissions run from 2-5 percent.
Most people now use the Internet to find what they are looking for. Don't miss out by not having a web presence. You don't have to understand computers or be a techie. There are many great website designers and professionals available to help you get started. Click here for a free quote on a website or a blog for your business.
About Linda Lee
http://www.askmepc-webdesign.com
http://www.smartwomenstupidcomputers.com
By the way...how's the writing going? Only nine more days to go! Leave some comments to tell me how your nonfiction projects are panning out. With all this good advice, you should feel stimulated and inspired (and hopefully not overwhelmed) to keep going until the end, which is now in sight.
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Catherine Nagle says:
Website Designer
Thank you Nina!
Exactly all the information I need for getting me started ..with the help of Linda Lee.
I read your blogs everyday, and send them out to all my friends as your valued information is so inspiring and service to us all.
Thank you again, and again!
Blessings,
Catherine Nagle
Nina Amir says:
WIth Great Gratitude...
Thank you, Catherine, for your kind words. I can see people are reading...more some days than others, and people are also going to the site of origin (www.writenonfictioninnovember.wordpress.com), but it's nice to actually hear the words, "I'm reading what you wrote," and, even better, "What you write is of value." So, again, thank you! You make me want to keep writing!
And...are you writing a Write Nonfiction in November project? Maybe your website copy should be that project....
Blessings,
Nina
Shumit DasGupta says:
The dark side....
....being that I have a blog, and become so wrapped up in it that I rarely write anything else, and "blogging" is quite a different beast than "writing". Technically it's writing, but for the ADHD/Disposable cutlery midset. Something to muse on. For all of 1.4 seconds.
Nina Amir says:
Blogging is Writing!
Blogging is most definitely writing! In fact, a variety of writers have been discovered via their blogs and become authors. I met a women just the other day whose niece just had a book published based on her blog about raising a coyote pup. It got coverage in People magazine. So, keep on blogging! I blog a lot and love it. I wish I could do it all the time. And it's helped me develop my voice. Maybe I need to write a whole post on this topic...
Anyway, thanks for reading and commenting.
Gary Cooper says:
Here We Go: THE GREAT DEBATE /IS BLOGGING WRITTING
WHEN AND IF YOU SIT DOWN WITH ALL YOUR WRITTING SKILLS AND TOOLS IN PLACE, THEN IT'S SAFE TO ASSUME THAT THE RESULTS WILL BE SOMETING SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO AT LEAST BE CONSIDERED 'A WORK IN PROGRESS' .
YET, IF YOU'RE IN THE PRACTICE OF 'SAYING THINGS' ON PAPER WITHOUT REALLY HAVING 'ANYTHING WORTH SAYING ' THAN I WOULD GUSSE THAT YOU ARE CORRECT.- YOUR.________ YOUR BLOGS ARE PROBALLY NOT "WRITING"
Nina Amir says:
Drivel or Writing
Yes, Gary, some blogs are drivel about nothing at all. And some are worth reading. NaNoWriMo, however, considers its contest about writing -- but not good writing. It can be very, very bad writing. It can be drivel. So, I supposed it all depends upon what you define as writing. In the drivel-blog writer's mind, they are still writing, even if you just see it as a bunch of worthless words, or, maybe better said, words not worth reading. They may even have a big readership!
Nina Amir says:
Drivel vs. Writing
Gary,
I think what you are trying to say is that if someone is writing "drivel," something really not worth reading (in your judgement), then they are not writing. I agree that there are lots of blogs consisting of drivel...just bits and pieces of nothing too important. However, that person "writing drivel" may actually have a large readership. And those readers are reading that blogger's writing.
NaNoWriMo doesn't ask fiction writers to write well or to produce good writing; they are only asked to write. It can be 50,000 words of drivel, and I understand that sometimes that's what the writers turn out. But they are writing. They are sitting down and turning out words.
Are those words saying anything worth saying or reading? That's a judgement call. Only readers can decide. A blog with no readers...well, that says it all, doesn't it? That's probably the deciding factor...or course, just to be the Devil's advocate here, if you don't blog often enough you also won't get readers!
Sue Glasco says:
Writing is Writing, and a Blog is Published Wrting
While it is true that much writing is not worth reading, it is still writing. Whether is is a blog, letter, article, or whatever, writing is writing. As most of us writers know, it is difficult to produce good writing. Usually the content of what we write is what counts when its worth is evaluated. However, some styles are so much fun, that we enjoy and value them for the style. (Think Dave Barry.) If you want to share your writing, a blog is the perfect way to be published. Once you are published, others will evaluate the quality of what you write. If you write misinformation or destructive stuff, you deserve to be criticized. If you don't want your writing critized (or praised), keep that diary/journal on your desk or in your closet.