Beware When Writing Website Content
More and more writers recognize the need for a website if for nothing other than displaying a portfolio to which to direct agents and editors. See my Credits page, for instance, with the link to an example of a published magazine article. I could also scan many articles into .PDF files or .HTML pages and send interested parties the links to particular clips.
This is all well and good, including displaying a resume on your writing site. Unfortunately some people get caught up in the joys of blogging and mingle the professional site with the 'personal' blog. I understand at least one free blogging software even facilitates building a website, although I'm not certain it hosts such sites too. Any WordPress readers care to comment?
Beware, too, of using recognizable templates. Design your site to mirror the professional writer that you are or want to become. That means a clean layout and sharp content focused on your writing and career. Resist the lure to include stories and photos of your cute, talented children and pets or personal rants and enthusiasma. Think about whether or not every subject has anything to do with your writing.
Avoid cutesy animations and graphics or free hosting without a domain name for your site. Using a "free" host says you are an unprofessional penny-pincher, unwilling to invest in your career. This indictment does not apply to having a presence on one of the major free social networking services. They are advantageous to establishing credibility and identification as well as networking for clients or jobs. Just make certain the information you offer matches up at all sites that pop up when someone performs an Internet search on your name. You do Google yourself regularly, don't you?
Study websites you admire and where you do business. Notice the level of professionalism they display. Your writing career is also a business, and your site must be part of your platform as a professional writer. When you add content, ensure that it is related to your career, book, services or products. I would further include what some consider a separate 'personal' blog. It's separated from your professional website only in your imagination. It is all part of the package that represents you to potential clients or employers. They also use Google (and more). If you want a career in the media be very circumspect about how you use the media to present yourself.
DON'T MISS OUT! JOIN THE BLOG ACTION DAY CHAIN.
This is all well and good, including displaying a resume on your writing site. Unfortunately some people get caught up in the joys of blogging and mingle the professional site with the 'personal' blog. I understand at least one free blogging software even facilitates building a website, although I'm not certain it hosts such sites too. Any WordPress readers care to comment?
Beware, too, of using recognizable templates. Design your site to mirror the professional writer that you are or want to become. That means a clean layout and sharp content focused on your writing and career. Resist the lure to include stories and photos of your cute, talented children and pets or personal rants and enthusiasma. Think about whether or not every subject has anything to do with your writing.
Avoid cutesy animations and graphics or free hosting without a domain name for your site. Using a "free" host says you are an unprofessional penny-pincher, unwilling to invest in your career. This indictment does not apply to having a presence on one of the major free social networking services. They are advantageous to establishing credibility and identification as well as networking for clients or jobs. Just make certain the information you offer matches up at all sites that pop up when someone performs an Internet search on your name. You do Google yourself regularly, don't you?
Study websites you admire and where you do business. Notice the level of professionalism they display. Your writing career is also a business, and your site must be part of your platform as a professional writer. When you add content, ensure that it is related to your career, book, services or products. I would further include what some consider a separate 'personal' blog. It's separated from your professional website only in your imagination. It is all part of the package that represents you to potential clients or employers. They also use Google (and more). If you want a career in the media be very circumspect about how you use the media to present yourself.
DON'T MISS OUT! JOIN THE BLOG ACTION DAY CHAIN.
Labels: blogging, promotion, websites, writers
posted by Georganna Hancock M.S. | 9:00 AM
5 Comments:
I think an easier way to phrase it is: Your website is your brand.
When I decided to recreate bradleyrobb.net to more accurately reflect my online work, I put most things through a filter, pounding through a couple redesigns, and giving serious thought on just what data I wanted to display.
Much like Google views links as "votes" everything that you put on your webpage is a statement about you, and by extension, your values. As much of today's college graduates are learning, on the internet there are no secrets.
Thanks for your visit and comment, Brad. I was just thinking about this post a couple of hours ago, musing that another way to say what I was trying to get across is to be consistent in what you share about yourself.
Suddenly it struck me, "They (the ubiquitous 'they') call that 'branding' these days." Branding is not as much about brands as it is about total presentations.
Thank you for a great blog entry. You are so right. Personally I have been very careful not to expose my private life in an unnecessary way for more than one reason. One is to keep my readers. When I visit a blog that is supposed to be about writing and the latest entry is about something else, I rarely continue reading.
Hi Desiree,
Thanks for the visit and comment. I only wish I knew who you are and where you write. Don't go overboard on the anonymity -- at least list your blog/website in your Blogger Profile!
I thoroughly agree with your remark about being turned off by way-off-topic posts, especially if the blog is supposed to be a business or professional one.
Hmm... Got me thinking there. I want to be on the ship, not overboard :-)
An old class mate I met a few years ago said I always were like Greta Garbo - mysterious and always disappeared in thin air.
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