Write on Target

One of the best questions I came across was why do I need a website?

The answer is, you don’t.  It is not necessary to physical survival, and millions of people still get along without it.  If you are just an observer of life, connection to the Internet is enough.  If you only need to connect to a small circle of friends, email is enough.

However, if you have something to say, and want to say it to the world, those are not enough.

A website is your billboard to the world. 

It is where you can say what you have to say to the world, in whatever manner you choose.  Think about Facebook, Digg, Myspace, and other social networking sites.  They provide communication links and opportunities to make new friendships and reactivate old ones.

Think about President Obama who uses the Internet as a communication vehicle to reach millions without interfering with the prime time TV schedule.

And if you have a skill that you hope to make money with, a web page is essential. 

It is a place where people can find you, and hire you if they need your skill.  It is a place where potential customers can analyze your skill and feel comfortable about your qualifications.

Because I’m on the computer so much performing research, I tend to use only businesses that have a website.  A tradesman who doesn’t have a site makes me feel like they don’t know the latest techniques, and if I need something fixed, I want someone who is on the cutting edge.

If you are a writer looking for clients, disparaging as it may seem, you are a tradesman.  Your clients will look at your website for credits and samples of your work.  It becomes your billboard.

Why do you need a website if you are not well known? 

That question comes up next and answers itself.  The website will help you become well known.  While it is true, initially there will not be much content, at least you will have the website design out of the way.

As time goes on and your career rises, you can post credits and clips on the site.  If you hold office in a writer’s group, teach writing courses, or volunteer to speak to writer’s groups at workshops, conferences or online, all that information will go on your website.  After all, how will other writers find out about your writing courses or availability to speak at workshops? 

On your electronic billboard!

Your website link can go on your business cards, and can be included in all writing-related correspondence, and bios – both offline and online.  It can go in any article or book you publish, and on giveaway bookmarks.

There’s a lot to be said when you advertise you are published and available as a speaker.  Time and transportation and free conference registration may be compensated, that gives you the opportunity to network with other writers and publishers and hand out more business cards.  And that’s besides having a good time.

In the midst of hectic events, people cannot remember all you are about as a writer, but when they have your card with your website address on it, they can read at their leisure.  But keep the design simple.  Busy people will quickly move on if the web site is difficult to navigate. 

 A website indicates credibility

A writer who spends the time to create and maintain a website takes their career seriously.  A current resume on your site will provide information for evaluation more than any query can.  When you query online publications, place the resume and home page URLs in your query and let the site do your qualification presentation for you. 

The reason for including your resume page URL is that you should have a separate page for each of your writing skills.  Perhaps you are skilled in article writing, copywriting, ghostwriting and fiction writing.  Each resume will be sharply targeted on its own page toward the specific skill with associated clips of work you have completed.

A website indicates versatility

A writer with multiple pages focusing on different writing skills shows off their multiple talents.  Each section can sell writing projects of different types.  Once you have a flow of traffic coming on a daily basis, your web site will be your own store.  Writing projects for sale complete with testimonials go far toward finding a publisher or employer of your skills.  The traffic flow also shows a potential publisher that you have readers anticipating your next message or project.

It is easier to get a following readership with a website.  Fiction writers find attracting a readership makes them a valuable property.  Every publisher wants to profit from projects that sell.  A well-known writer goes a long way to realizing this goal.  It is win-win.

Do not be afraid of referring to other related websites to help your readers.  The more you give away the more your readers will be loyal to you.  Even if you change your phone number and website address, people will “Google” your name and find you.

A website indicates expertise

If you request feedback from your readers, you can really get to know what they want.  It is sometimes very different from what writers think their readers want, to what they really want.  Post samples of your writing online and ask for honest feedback.  When you know your target audience intimately, you can shape your writing to fit.  Your readers will buy, and publishers will seek after you as a selling writer.

A website creates a meeting hub

Creating a comment chain, discussion thread (like a forum) or message board allows other writers, publishers and potential clients to meet you in discussion.  If you respond to each e-mail and question, you’ll make valuable contacts and network with others in your field.  And you can stay in contact with your readers.  This is of utmost importance.

Staying in touch includes emails to offer them free reports or news of your field (you are the expert), as well as offering your products for sale.  When your name consistently pops up in front of potential clients, and you show that you are responsive, they are more inclined to send their writing assignments your way.

Since the Internet is world wide, you may gain clients from faraway countries you never would have met if it weren’t for your meeting hub.  And they buy books as well.

Establishing a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page will answer many of your visitor’s questions and save you from repeatedly responding to the same inquiries.  Where do you get the FAQ list?  You get them from your visitor’s questions.

Creating relationships is the key to success in the writing business, and your web site allows you to foster a caring interactive relationship with every one of your readers.

Your competition has a website

This statement should strike you with fear.  You are giving your assignments away to your competitors who have the client’s attention.  Are you going to let them get away with that?  After all, you write better than they do.  Show them!