The Practical Freelance Writer's Guide to Author Websites

By Angela Atkinson

The Practical Freelance Writer’s Guide to Author Websites is an all-encompassing guide to building, managing and promoting author websites specifically geared toward offering freelance writers real, workable solutions for the unique challenges they face in this venue.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BlissFire Media
• Release date: Sep 20, 2010
• ISBN: 9781458012562

Angela Atkinson

Angela Atkinson is a journalist who also happens to be a Certified Life Coach.Along with her solution-focused life coaching experience, Atkinson's love of writing offers her the unique ability to share a new understanding of how life works for a whole new generation.Atkinson's publishing resume is vast and varied and includes several years' experience in online journalism, including hard reporting as well as functioning as an editor in various iterations over the years.In her life coaching practice, Atkinson's clients enjoy her personalized approach that allows and encourages them to become the best possible versions of themselves and to succeed in doing what they love most.As you can see when you visit the freebies page at QueenBeeing.com, Atkinson's online daily magazine for women, she's all about paying it forward.Professional AffiliationsAtkinson is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, including the St. Louis Pro Chapter and the national organization. She is also a a member of the Universal Coach Institute alumni, the St. Louis Writers Guild, the National Education Writers Association and the Freelancers Union. She studied journalism at Eastern Illinois University and earned her life coach certification through the Universal Coach Institute.

Book preview

The Practical Freelance Writer’s Guide to Author Websites:

Build and Manage a Website to Enhance Your Freelance Writing Career

by

Angela Atkinson

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

WM Network Books on Smashwords

The Practical Freelance Writer’s Guide to Author Websites:

Build, Manage and Promote a Website to Enhance Your Freelance Writing Career

Copyright © 2010 by Angela Atkinson

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

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"It is impossible to discourage the real writers - they don't give a damn what you say, they're going to write." ~Sinclair Lewis

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This book is dedicated to

My husband, Bill, and our three beautiful children, Cameron, Noah and Sophia. I live and breathe for you and I am so grateful to have you in my life. You have taught me what it means to truly love and be loved without condition.

My extended family and friends, particularly those who support me unconditionally both personally and in my career. Without you, I would be nothing. Thank you all, for everything.

My friend, partner and fellow co-founder of The WM Network, Alyssa Ast, who talks me down off the ledges of my own neurosis and helps me keep writing every day with her unfailing support. Thank you for always listening and for kicking my butt when I feel like slacking.

And finally, to the real writers who follow their dreams and don’t give a damn what anyone says. Write on, my friends. Write on.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: All About Author Websites

Chapter 2: Your Dedicated Landing Page

Chapter 3: Your Author Bio

Chapter 4: Testimonials

Chapter 5: Services

Chapter 6: Samples of Work, Links & Special Projects

Chapter 7: Your Author Site Blog

Chapter 8: Being Accessible

Chapter 9: Choosing a Hosting Service

Chapter 10: Pimp Your Author Site

Chapter 11: SEO for Your Author Website

Chapter 12: Advertising on Your Author Website

Chapter 13: Social Networking & Site Promotion

Chapter 14: Other Ways to Promote Your Author Site

Appendix: Resources for Freelance Writers

About the Author

The Practical Freelance Writer’s Guide to Author Websites

Build and Manage a Website to Enhance Your Freelance Writing Career

1

All About Author Websites

Does every freelance writer need an author website? What if you haven’t been published yet? What if you’ve only published online? How about those old pros with an established list of clients?

These questions have been asked again and again in the freel-ance writing community, and the answer is simple. In the highly-connected society of today, if you want to be (or continue to be) a successful, working writer, you need to have an author web-site.

What is the purpose of an author site for a freelance writer?

Most importantly, an author site serves as your own one stop shop. Think of it like a storefront to which you can direct edi-tors and potential clients to learn about your services. And, correctly implemented, your author site will help sell (yourself and) your services.

As a freelance writer, your author site gives you the opportu-nity to provide samples of (or links to) your work, an extended bio, contact information and more. It tells your potential clients and/or editors that you mean business--that you're a professional who is committed to your craft.

And, once you begin to establish yourself in your writing ca-reer, you can list testimonials, awards, publishing credits and more—all of which, of course, work to your benefit when a client or editor checks you out.

An author site can also help you to establish yourself as an expert in specific niche(s) or topic area(s). You may choose to include an on-site blog or to link