Advice for writers on starting their own author website with cost saving tips and tricks to establishing a presence on the World Wide Web.
Whether you are a freelance writer, penned a novel or have a nonfiction book coming out, one of the best ways to get the word out about your work is via an author website. Before you rush to hire someone, consider doing it yourself! The task may seem intimidating at first but with a little research, advanced preparation and start up funds, you can have your author site up and running in no time.
Know the Terms
There are two main components to any website: the domain name and a host. The domain name is the address that web users will type in to find your site i.e. www.suit101.com except in your case, where the "suit101" is located; you'll put your author name or catch phrase associated with your work.
The host is a company that makes your pages show up. Just like a cable company sends a signal to your home, allowing channels to come through, the host company is in charge of allowing your website to be viewed.
Cost
This is where you want to do the most research. Domains cost under $10 a year. Frequently, companies that sell domains offer fantastic incentives to new buyers (as low as $1.99 for the first year).
However, hosting is more expensive than a domain. You may hear the term "hosting package" this refers to the specific amount of space they’ll offer, web accounts, and other specifics. Since you're just starting out, take a look at the economic or basic packages, often these kind of packages are all that you'll need (FYI: in the future if you want to upgrade, many hosting companies let you do this for free).
You can purchase hosting packages in a 2-month contract, 6-months, a year or more. Before you buy, research the hosting sites credibility. Search the Better Business Bureau Online and ask around to see what other people use. Some questions to start with: Why did you choose your provider? Are they happy with this service?
Save Money
Some hosts offer special deals like the more your purchase upfront, the more you save in the long run, or they give you a free domain name with the purchase of a hosting package. Keep in mind domain and hosting costs can be a tax write off. Put them under business/marketing expenses.
If you don't know HTML, take a look at Microsoft Office Live, they offer template style websites and you can even get a site for free! Another cost-effective solution is purchasing a domain name and "directing" it to a blog. This way you can save money on hosting and avoid any formatting concerns.
In conclusion, stating an author website may take some research, time and effort but the end result is definitely satisfying. Put your web address on business cards, in your e-mail signature and in query letters. Here's one more tip: remember to select "auto renew" for your domain name to prevent it from expiring in a year and being picked up by someone else!
For further cost saving tips and layout advice take a look at Creating Content for Your Author Website!
