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Successful Author Brand for a New Author
You have a book contracted. Now you
need a website. When thinking of a website design there are
several factors to consider:
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Genre
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Personality
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Subject Matter
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Layout
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Color Scheme
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Navigation
Naturally, you will want the genre
of your books to reflect in your website. If you plan on
writing in multiple genres, then you will want to keep a
neutral design so that the books themselves reflect the
different genres.
Your site should always represent
your personality. This is what sets you apart from the other
authors who write the same genre you do. Are you fun,
outgoing, the life of the party? Or are you the more
serious, dependable, stable type? Either way your site
should represent you.
Subject matter deals with the
design itself. You have one main graphic, and your site is
designed around it, so subject matter is your main focal
point. At this time, think of genre and personality. Would a
soft subject matter fit you or perhaps a dark haunting
theme—contemporary, historical, romance, true crime, comedy,
thrillers, and the list just goes on. Subject matter needs
to fit you.
Layout and color scheme is
something you think about together. There are several
layouts to set up a template. And each is just as good as
the other. So you really do not have to be too picky with
it…just have one you like and that will work. However, you
really do need to be particular on color. I think it would
be easier to suggest what not to do with color then what to
do with it. Do not use neon colors, black, or every color in
the crayon box. Find a color you like. Then use a color
palette to choose two coordinating colors to make a color
theme. Three colors should be the limit.
Navigation. When visitors are at
your site, the first thing they will notice after the design
is the use of navigation. You must have a user-friendly
interface. Create an easy to use site menu, and your site
will be fabulous.
Now you have your site, and you
have a design. Now what pages do you add? How many?
Every author whether brand new or
established needs the following pages:
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Home page
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About/Bio
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Blog Link
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Press kit/Media
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Booklist/Bookshelf
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Contest
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Contact
Optional pages can include fun
pages for site interaction, and this can include games, free
wallpapers, puzzles, etc. You can have a free story page and
add short chapters of free writings or whatever you want.
Optional pages are good but only if you have the time to
keep them up. For new authors, these are nice additions but
not necessary, especially if you have a blog. With a blog,
you will have site interaction.
Your homepage can be broken into
three sections: What’s New, New Release, or Coming Soon, and
Appearances.
On your About/Bio page you can
break this into three sections: About, Bio, and Favorites
List.
Press Kit/ Media
List your publishing credits, your
publicity contacts any awards or achievements, and any
groups and organizations you belong to.
Booklist
List your books here. If you do not
have any books yet, place Coming Soon
Contest
This is the page you can add
contests to. Suggested contests are newsletter contests to
help get you subscribers. There are also scavenger hunts
with fellow authors, and the list can go on and on.
Contact.
It’s best to have a contact form,
and these can be set up fairly easily. They can be as simple
or as elaborate as you want them.
Depending on your design, you
really need a newsletter subscribe box. I say your design,
because sometimes I build the submit forms right into the
design, so they are on every page, and sometimes, I make a
newsletter page and just have it there.
If you give some thought and follow
these simple guidelines, you will have a fantastic website
and a successful Author Branding. Good luck!
If you have any comments or
questions, I would love to hear from you.
M.L. Benton
Moonglade Marketing
www.moonglademarketing.com
contact@moonglademarketing.com
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