Whether
you labored for hours over your cyberhome, or whether someone else designed
it, you want to get the word out that you are now a presence on the
World Wide Web. After all, isn’t that why you have a website?
The
name of the game is Traffic. Directing it to your website is only a
few steps away.
If
you’re an RWA member, get linked! Information on how to do this
is on the RWA website. And don't forget your local chapter's newsletter
and website.
Webrings
bring additional traffic. Joining one may require patience, as many
webring owners are busy with their own writing. Where to put them? Two
or three can appear on your first page, but too many can be distracting.
Remember, your primary purpose is to promote yourself. An alternative
idea is to choose to have an entire section or page devoted to webrings.
There’s no telling who might stumble upon your humble cyberhome
as they randomly surf the ring.
Search
and find romance friendly websites, then post on the bulletin boards
there about your current or upcoming books—just be sure to add
your URL. Some sites also have a special place for a link to your site
and/or news about your current or upcoming release.
And
speaking of searches, be sure you have META tags so search engines can
find you. A great place to learn about how to do these is at www.htmlclinic.com.
Consider
holding a contest on your website with each new book. Everybody wants
to be a winner, and the best promotion is word of mouth. Good news (especially
about freebies!) travels fast. If you're published, prizes can be anything
from an autographed copy of the book to copies of several books to an
elaborate basket of goodies. One author continues her contests monthly
between release dates, giving away a group of her books for prizes and
bringing in new visitors monthly.
This
one is easy. Email signature lines. Adding an automatic sig line to
your email is a simple matter of setting one up, then using it with
each and every email you send, whether it’s personal or business.
This makes your website only a click away in most email programs.
But
don’t stop at signature lines in email. Add your URL to return
address stickers, whether you print them yourself or have them printed.
Stick them on each and every piece of mail leaving your house. Who knows
when a curious postal worker might get the urge to check it out?
One
word: Newsletters. Send out an electronic newsletter on a regular basis
to anyone who has emailed you, signed your guestbook, posted on your
bulletin board, or sent you a fan letter via regular mail. Keep a guest
book at your side at each and every book signing and have everyone who
stops by sign it. Be sure to have them add their email address, if they
have one. Free email link services such as Yahoo! Groups make this simple
and, best of all, free! A newsletter will remind readers that you’re
still out there. For those new friends without email, print an eye-catching
hard copy version and mail it. Be sure to add the URL for your website.
New Internet users will love having a place to visit!
A
domain name will make it easier for visitors to find you. There is a
cost (usually well under $50 a year for the name with web and email
forwarding), but if your website is parked at www.geocities.com/CenterCityUSA/susiewriter.index
or any other free service with a long name, you’ll be much harder
to reach than if your URL is www.susiewriter.com. Do your homework.
Shop around and talk to others about where they purchased their domain
name.
For
published authors, it never hurts to join your fellow authors on a group
website promoting particular publishing lines. Most have a place for
a short bio of each author, new releases, plus an email link and a link
to each author’s own website. Webmasters and mistresses for these
sites stay up to date and add information on at least a monthly basis,
if not more often. It’s well worth the money (usually a yearly
fee) and also acquaints you with your sister Special Edition, Temptation,
Avon or Ballantine authors, just to name a few. The same can be said
for author email groups, aka loops. If you aren’t a member of
your particular publishing line’s loop, join no
Online
writers' communities are another way to gain new traffic. Be sure to
comparison shop and talk to others who are members before joining. These
websites usually charge a fee, so know what you want and get the best
deal possible.
If
you don’t already have a way for visitors to contact you via your
website, add an email link, guestbook, or bulletin board immediately.
An email link provides visitors the opportunity to contact you privately,
while a guestbook allows them the chance to publicly congratulate you
on your latest achievement. A bulletin board, where you interact with
your visitors, answering questions or simply saying a personal hello
and thanking them for stopping by, will generate return trips by many
visitors. Both bulletin boards and guestbooks are available for no charge
from many online sources. These include a link to the guestbook provider
by using a member name and password, where you can edit the messages
or change your format. Or go for the works and have all three! Just
be sure to reply to emails and check the book and board on a regular
basis.
Last,
but hardly least, is a reminder to include your URL on ALL promo material.
From bookmarks, business cards, and goodies such as pens and notepads
to newspaper and newsletter articles, anywhere and everywhere is the
best place to promote your website, increasing traffic and gaining visitors
both old and new!
