I love interacting with my blog readers! We enjoy great discussions and excellent questions. Last week I responded in the comments section of the post “What Makes an Agent Say Wow!” and realized later that the answer constitutes its own blog post. This was not the first time I’ve been long-winded, nor will it be the last! I’m posting my response today because the question was posed later in the discussion and was likely not seen by most of our readers.
To wit, our wonderful reader Clarissa asked, “What, exactly, is an impressive web presence?”
In my view, this question doesn’t have a standard answer. When we review manuscripts, we take all the facts into consideration. Some authors come to us with a great idea and excellent writing but are a bit shy on platform. Sometimes the smaller platform can be overcome; sometimes it can’t.
I like to see a fantastic web site, but at the same time, I understand a new author might not have the same level of funding and/or expertise, or even as much to share, as a well-established author. I recommend exploring the sites of your favorite authors and of course, those writing similar books to yours, to see what they are doing. Use what you think works for them and make it your own.
A popular blog is always a plus. Take us to your blog and show us you are consistent in posting, and that you continue to post as your work is marketed. Seeing engagement through comments is great, but since I write blog posts myself, I know how uneven reactions can be. Some posts are very popular while others just don’t seem to hit a nerve. Of course, the more often you can get your audience to engage, the better, because it illustrates you have a relationship with your potential audience. Do let us know how many people read and subscribe to your blog, because often, readers don’t comment.
Yes, we all like to see numbers in the five figures, at least, for followers. But again, we also like to see engagement. I have many Twitter followers, for instance, but I couldn’t tell you that each follower would buy a book I’d write because the followers have too many varied interests and come from different market segments.
Show me how many people you think would buy your book based on how you engage on social media. An author cultivating active engagements across social media outshines the author just gathering a big number of followers across the board. I want to see that you have an audience already excited about you and your book. They will care enough about you and what you are saying to make a purchase. The numbers help everyone see the audience potential for the book.
I recommend focusing on one platform, then perhaps a second platform. Really build your engagements there rather than trying to go full force on every available platform.
Platform is great and many engagements will increase your chances of success. However, the idea and its execution will ultimately make the day.
Your turn:
What authors do you believe have amazing web sites?
Who is your favorite author to follow on social media? Why?
Which social media platforms do you enjoy most? Why?
A Day in an Editor’s Brain
Creating a website intimidates me. I love Instagram and Twitter the best. Facebook takes a little more time, but it’s a lot of fun and you get to know people better. I love Pinterest, but there are so many great ideas out there you can lose track of time. But I’ve also discovered you can research on Pinterest and find more interesting links than typical search engines.
What do you want to see on a website? I get that you’d want to see links to our social media and blog, but what else?
Thanks so much!
Jackie, I like to see a web site prominent enough that when I type in (author’s name).com, I go right to the site. That may sound trivial, but it’s helpful if I (and your readers) don’t have to keep guessing how to find you.
As for great sites, I realize I’m talking about well-established, successful authors here, but examples of writers with very different styles and books, whose web sites sparkle, are Kim Vogel Sawyer and Lynette Eason for fiction and Daniel Darling and Steve Repak for nonfiction. As you will see, these sites give a lot of helpful information about their books, themselves, and their activities. Each site reflects the author’s distinctiveness. A newer author, Natalie Monk, doesn’t have a lot of books to talk about (yet!) but you will see that she still uses her web presence wisely.
I have many wonderful authors with awesome sites so I really hated to omit anyone, but for the sake of space, I had to! So please visit The Steve Laube Agency web site and click on the Authors tab. You will find the Agency’s complete list of authors with links to their sites. Have fun visiting them!
Thanks for the examples! Very helpful. 🙂
Oooh, thank you so much for mentioning my website. I absolutely love it and am so proud of it. I can say that because I didn’t design it! LOL. Bragging rights go to Jones House Creative. But thank you, Tamela!
Thanks for sharing Tamela! I just created a website a couple months ago, so it’s good to know what you’re looking for! And I checked out Natalie Monk’s website. Wow. That girl’s got it together! Love it!
Thank you so much for mentioning my website, Tamela! I’m honored, especially since I still feel like it’s an experiment. 🙂 Some folks have recently asked me about how to start a blog, which seems strange, because I’m still learning. But your comment may give me the courage to write a post on my trial and error discoveries sometime soon. 🙂 This year, the posts are tailored to feedback I received from an improvement questionnaire I put up last year. So far so good. Still needs some work in the area of sharing personal information and activities though.
I love how you recommend starting with one platform, then building on more later. As both an over-achiever and a one-thing-at-a-time isolationist, I find myself wanting to tackle everything at once, then floundering when I’m not able to focus or get much done. The thought of building a platform overwhelmed me until I decided to do it at my own pace, which, to my Type A self, feels like procrastination sometimes. Over several months, thank the Lord, I’ve seen some encouraging results from a steady blog posting schedule and cross-posting to Facebook, Twitter, and other book giveaway promotion blogs.
Jackie, several years ago I started out with a do-it-yourself WP blog. With a little tech savvy and creativity, there are so many wonderful options available now as writers establish their web presence.
I later migrated to a full website because it suited my needs a little better (plus, I have wonderful folks who now handle the monthly maintenance and assist with questions.) I still have total behind-the-scenes control, and I still use WP because I find it easier to navigate than Blogger.
Don’t be intimidated! No, no, no.
*hands you chocolate* 🙂
Jackie, I feel you on the website-intimidation factor. Which is why mine is just a blogger blog which I “converted” to a website by buying my own domain name for less than the cost of a paperback. 🙂 If you decide to create a website in the future, I’d be happy to share how I did mine (though I may have to remember first, lol). I found a how-to post from a couple of mommy-bloggers through Google search, which really helped me.
At the moment I have a WordPress blog and a WordPress author website. Is it preferable for a writer to “own” his or her site than not?
Carrie, it’s always good to own as much of your work as you can.
Tamela, are you saying that written work on a WordPress site is not owned by the author? I believe it is owned by the author, only the program is owned by WordPress.
Shulamit, thanks for asking. No, I didn’t mean that so I appreciate the opportunity to clarify.
I meant simply, it’s always a good idea to own as much of your work as you can. I hope everyone understands the implication that “work” means anything one writes on the Internet, and is not paid for.
It is up to users of any program to read the Terms of Service and decide for themselves if those terms are agreeable. 🙂
I did do a Google search and the consensus I discovered is that WordPress does not own your content, but one writer pointed out that they have a clause that says they can use your content free of charge to promote your blog. I went to their Terms of Service, which are easy to find online, and saw this clause for myself.
Also know that most state that they can change the Terms of Service any time, without notice.
I am very comfortable with the people I work with in relation to my blog posts. I can talk to the owners of the blogs directly and know where I stand on my work. So I admit to being partial to working with people you know well.
I am also understanding of the need of many — maybe most — authors to use free tools, at least first along. I’ll use this space just to repeat — read the necessary documents so you know your rights.
Yikes! I had no idea about the TOS. I’m assuming that’s for WordPress.com? Makes me glad I went with WordPress.org because I think that’s where we own all our own work. Of course, I’m a technical dolt so I might be misunderstanding.
Carrie Ann,
May I ask why your blog and website are not in the same place? Maybe I’m reading your comment incorrectly, but it sounds as if you’ve separated your website and blog.
As a person who develops websites and blogs for a living, I recommend that your blog be a page on your website. So, for example, if your domain name is carrieannsmith.com, your blog index page would be found at carrieannsmith.com/blog.
Your blog is an integral part of your author platform. Melding your blog onto your website makes you much easier to find, and helps your site move up in the search engine rankings over time (as each blog post is considered a separate page on your website).
Thank you, Laura! I honestly hadn’t thought to do it that way. Now, I just need to figure out the mechanics of doing just that! 🙂
Laura,
I very much appreciate your input. Virtually all the conference speakers and agents I’ve heard and read say an aspiring author MUST have a strong platform, but yours is the first professional web designer Comment I’ve seen, and your advice was very concrete and specific. In a post-grad course I took on digital technology, I learned that I’m a “digital dinosaur,” so everything I do has a steep learning curve; but what you described is what I’ve always wanted, and what I thought I bought on WordPress, so that’s very encouraging. The way it has worked? Not so much! 😀 Thanks!
I Googled your name (a popular name among professionals!) and found your web page, Blogging Bistro. I LOVE it and will be using it to contact you professionally.
I recently started a blog, but since I haven’t published yet, I targeted my potential audience (women’s fiction readers) with a “mom confessions” theme–rather than an author blog or website. My thoughts are when I have a book published, I will have have an audience to share it with. I hope approaching my blog like this was a good decision. I wonder if agents or publishers will recognize I’m establishing relationships. I wonder if they will look down on this approach as opposed to having an author website or blog. In the first seven weeks, my blog has had 5,200+ views, which is miniscule compared to lots of other blogs. But I’m a nobody, so maybe it’s not too bad??? Your advice?
Karen, I don’t look down on this way of reaching your audience when it’s working! As for the numbers for someone in your position, that sounds to me as though you are doing a great job establishing a potential audience. Just keep at it!
Whew! It’s good to know the hours I’m putting into the blog might matter in the publishing world. 🙂 The hours definitely matter in other ways…so many unexpected blessings from this experience.
Karen, just popped over to your site, which is amazing! Blessings on your journey!
Cynthia, thank you so much! And ditto on your site! I’m an Ozarks girl myself. 🙂
Anne R Allen, author, has a terrific blog and website. Some time ago I had a question concerning song titles and copyrights in my writing. Anne, without compensation, graciously answered my questions quickly and correctly. I remain impressed and grateful! Blessings to you Anne!
http://annerallen.com/
I have too many fave author sites’ to mention, but I will say I prefer those who have uncluttered, easy-to-navigate pages, and those with an active blog (at least maybe once a week or a few times per month).
I think there’s a tendency toward more “white space” now on sites than a few years ago. I recently overhauled my website to reflect this, but I love that JHC captured my personality with the same easy-going, down-home “feel.” (And another simple request? That my favorite color be incorporated somewhere in my theme/brand. 🙂 )
Since mine seems to be a common name, it was suggested several years ago that my site have a slightly different variation so folks who searched would know I was the writer, and not the artist, baker, or candlestick maker… (though, as a mom don’t we wear many hats?!)
I think some options for prepubbed writers might be a site tab/page with something of interest to readers. For instance, besides a little about what I write, I have a “Best of the Blog” section, which I update regularly.
My social media fave? Twitter. It’s fast, convenient, and in-the-moment. Though… Pinterest does lure me. 🙂
Will agents turn down a manuscript, even if they think it’s great, if the author doesn’t have any platforms, except personal ones?
Jennifer, that’s a good question that doesn’t have a firm answer. The manuscript itself is ultimately king, and if you have a brilliant idea, a small platform may be overcome. A lot has to do with which publishers you are targeting. Some require more platform than others. As for fiction, submit your fabulous, marketable story to agents because though platform is great here, it’s not quite as critical as for nonfiction to break in with some publishers.
Regardless of how you reach people on social media, if you can show they are a potential audience, that helps.
Each agent has a strategy for marketing great work. An agent who offers you representation should have a strategy in mind for you. Regardless of the reason, it’s better to be turned down by those agents who don’t capture your vision or truly believe in your work. Find an agent who’s excited about working with you.
Thanks for that clarification. I’ve been reading a lot about author platforms, and it’s helpful to know agents expect different platforms from fiction and nonfiction writers
Jennifer,
I can confirm that it does happen. A well-known agent who “blind read” the first three chapters of my book before a conference and raved about it in her comments, then read more of it after hearing my pitch and inviting me to submit a formal proposal, said she loved it and couldn’t suggest a single recommendation for changes. But then she said she would not represent me until I developed an online platform. She asked me to contact her again in a few months about my progress in doing that. I have until September. We’ll see!
.
Here is a great site, Blogging Bistro, with an article written by the awesome Mark Hancock. I always call him my long lost cousin. 🙂
http://bloggingbistro.com/8-reasons-to-embed-your-blog-on-your-website/
Thanks for the link to my site, Tamela! From the comment string, it appears that several of your readers are confused about the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. There’s a big difference. In fact, they are even owned by two separate companies.
This article on WP Beginner http://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/who-owns-wordpress-and-how-does-wordpress-make-money/ is the best I’ve found on explaining how the two systems function.
My comparison, in a nutshell:
WordPress.com – no frills, limited scope blogging platform for beginners or hobbyists.
WordPress.org – does everything you want it to; grows with you; the perfect choice for writers who want to build a professional website (with or without a blog embedded on the site).
Laura, I appreciate your clarification!
Laura, thank you very much for sharing the link and the brief clarification. It really came in handy.
What is your opinion of platform sharing? For example, I have my website, facebook, and twitter, but for blogging I contribute to three shared blogs with large groups of other authors. Colonial Quills, International Christian Fiction Writers, and Stitches Thru Time.
Angela, I’m all about platform sharing, and I’ve heard many major editors share my sentiment. All of those blogs sound like great places for you to be!
Thanks for this post on social media. I’ve had a blog for a number of years where I do weekly interviews with published authors – some new, some best sellers who then link the interview with their site. The blog shows the anthologies where my writing’s been featured. I also promote my blog on FB.
My blog is TheWriteChris.blogspot.com, which you can see does not include my name. Should I buy a domain with my actual name and link it to my blog? What more would a website offer over only using a blog with links to books?
Christine, I visited Amazon and I see there is at least one other author named Christine Henderson and another called Dr. Christine Henderson. So it may not even be possible for you to purchase your domain name unless you add an initial or use a middle name — as I noted some other Christine Hendersons have done. At this point, I’d say you have a good strategy for your particular career and situation. My advice to someone else might differ.
Thanks, Tamela. I appreciated your explanation of an impressive web presence. The social media I like best is Pinterest. It’s fun to use and it’s driven more people to my website than any other social media by far. Plus you have others sharing your work so it’s not even dependent on your own efforts, which is nice since I’ve had a history of being extremely lame in the marketing department. I just took a Pinterest course from arabahjoy.com though that was really helpful, so I may be changing. 🙂
Wow, I am flattered my site was used as an example. I am blessed to have Tamela as my agent and to be one of her Tamelites! To add my two cents.. it can take up to 7 contacts to make a sale so the easier it is for others to find you the better. Which means that even if they find you, they need to come back several times. I also believe in finding a mentor/accountability partner. I like to brag on my mentor “Angela Breidenbach” who has written several books and knows the business. I may know my genre, but that doesn’t equate to knowing the business and all the ways you can reach out to your audience and your potential audience.
Steve, thank you for your kind words! And yes, Angie Breidenbach is absolutely wonderful! I love her web site, too!
It’s humbling and inspiring to close the office for the day, feeling beyond blessed by my writers and blog readers.
Aw, thank you, Tamela! You’re so very appreciated!
Thanks, Steve! That’s so encouraging! You’re very appreciated and I love your expertise in your arena. You help so many people change direction and protect their families financially.
Yes, I am not the author of Vampire books. I don’t read them nor do I interviews promoting vampire books. i think I will take your advise and add in a middle initial.
Arggh! Don’t you hate it when one finger hits the send key, while the other hand is trying to pull it back to do an edit. Forgive the typos in my previous post..
i nevr maked typos.
OOPS!
Tamela, my favorite author website is the one for Rick Yancy, the author of the Fifth Wave series. I feel that it is very well done and really offers the opportunity to get to know Rick a bit. From his background about being adopted to his You Tube video that give the name of the third book in his Fifth wave series, the website is nicely done. It’s great to be able to see information abut the series that I have been following for about a year.
My favorite social media outlet is Facebook. As an instructor at three different colleges, I do not have time for more.
I wish I could attend the upcoming Ashville writers’ conference, but it is my understanding that registration is closed.
Best,
Sheri
Sometimes, I take a hiatus to see if all the sacrifice is worth it. Started a blog five weeks ago, and I have some 60+ views so far. It wasn’t until yesterday that I realized that I haven’t been doing some things right. Besides, I use WordPress.com so…
And talk of those moments like this evening when you misplace a kitchen item and your mum says it might probably be under the laptop since you virtually sleep in front of it. Makes me wonder if I shouldn’t have ventured into this yet, or… Just thinking!!!
Obviously I’m a consistent reader…lol. I just saw this. That helps clarify the answer to my question quite well. Thanks!
Just because I’m terribly curious…if you get a chance (in all your vast spare time), would you mind giving me a brief opinion on my website? If you don’t have time, I totally get it. It’s just that’s it’s very…unique. But then, I write fantasy, so it fits my genre 🙂
http://www.clarissaruth.net