How can a self published author make their own web page?

1. 86

   M. T. Dremerposted 8 years ago

   How can a self published author make their own web page?
   
   In the age of social media, having a webpage might seem slightly less important, but I've found myself needing a dedicated site. I'm curious how other self-published authors went about it. Did you use a template/hosting service that's easy for beginners (if so, which ones), or did you pay someone to build you one from the ground up?

   replyreport
2. 85

   Austinstarposted 8 years ago

   There are a lot of people that will build a web page for you. For a fee. And there are companies that sell web i.p. addresses and domain names, so you can do it yourself.
   I use Host Excellence and I have had my web sites since 1995. GoDaddy might be a good one. Some people use word press, Or you can just do a FaceBook page dedicated to your book. That one would be free.

   replyreport
3. 80

   jackclee lmposted 8 years ago

   Wix.com is another free site. You can create your own website and they will host it for free.

   replyreport
4. 60

   Wytchewoodeposted 8 years ago

   Best option for someone on a tight budget and / or with little or no web site / html experience is wordpress.org, free subdomain like yourname.wordpress.org and the Wordpress platform is as easy as using a word processor for creating a blog based site.

   replyreport
   1. 77

      JanTUBposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      WordPress does do free sites, but on wordpress.com. You can even use your own web domain name, although that attracts a fee I think. Good luck with your new site.

      replyreport
5. 75

   alancaster149posted 8 years ago

   Think first of who your target 'audience' is. What sort of people are they? What would keep them entertained after they've put your book(s) down? It might give you an idea of how to pitch or present your work.
   Think next of a multi-pronged 'attack' on the market. When you publish your book through an independent publisher they put your book on the  virtual market - Amazon, Waterstones and so forth - and you can check through Book Butler how your book appears there.
   Got a picture yet? I first put together a page here, dedicated to the first of a (projected) series. I was put onto a website, Webeden, that offers free sites as well as more advanced ones. So I opened up a free one. Have a look at www.webeden.co.uk and see if it 'speaks' to you. There are multiple options, and you create as many pages as you need. A banner on each page shows the titles of pages you've created. Full instructions and options are shown at every stage. I've also opened a set of pages - free again - on My Book Buzz. Take a look at the site, it's based in Portugal. Look also at the Amazon site. An author blog is available, where you can place any talks you give, or events you'll attend, for your readers to visit and buy your books with you there to sign their copies. Tell your readers what's in the pipeline, what's about to be released and when (roughly). Penultimately, put yourself on LinkedIn. Build your profile, tell them as much as you want them to know, personal background, education, interests etc. You market yourself and your books there. Lastly, Twitter can help spin your image. Give your followers enigmatic little messages about your books, espouse causes, follow others and circulate (like at a book launch party).
   Have a good time.

   replyreport
   1. 75

      alancaster149posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      PS When you've got your sites organised, add links to them here on your 'pilot' page, add them on your sites to here, and to one another. Have fun..

      replyreport
6. 61

   LindaSmith1posted 8 years ago

   I use Weebly.  Get domain from Name Cheap and use starter package with Weebly.   Free sites are not shown in search engines by Weebly anymore, so you have to promote them yourself through Google Plus, etc.
   
   Weebly is a drop and drag with a small learning curb.  Good support system if you hit a snag, have a bug, can't do something.

   replyreport
7. 61

   Link10103posted 8 years ago

   You can make it yourself by paying for the software (Dreamweaver is the only one I know of), paying someone else to do it (You can try Fiverr, people do jobs for $5, though what that will cost in the long run is up to you and the other person).
   
   Or you can take basic courses and learn how to code using default programs like Notepad. I recreated some random restaurant website in class using only notepad. Lynda has online videos and courses for relatively cheap on specific topics.
   
   As far as the domain names go, GoDaddy is the only one I've heard of repeatedly over the years.

   replyreport
8. 85

   Don Bobbittposted 8 years ago

   I use Wordpress. They have hundreds of templates, cheap domains, and their support and quality is great.
   DON

   replyreport
9. 0

   roobposted 8 years ago

   The pennyhoarder has a great article on this if you search on his website. He has a great website at that, so I would take his advice he has steered me right before. He seems to like host gator & wordpress. It is confusing but he explains pretty well. Good luck, I am just too lazy to make myself one. :p

   replyreport