Web Design: Online Marketing And Promotion For Writers

These days, creative writers are expected to do more and more to spread the word about their publications. Promoting and marketing your writing (your books, poems, and stories) online is a fantastic, inexpensive way to build your reputation as a writer.

Here are the important steps to take before you begin your online marketing campaign:

1. Sketch out your goals and dreams. Dream big! Create an online marketing plan.
2. Set a budget.
3. Find a great author website design company. Get an official author web page.
4. Expand from there!

So if you’re looking for free ideas to market, promote, publicize, and trumpet to the hills, start with the World Wide Web.

Your Author Website Design – Developing A Web Presence

Your key to online promotion and marketing begins with your author website. There are many online companies that design websites for authors. Be sure to compare, research, and get educated before you choose the right one for you!

•  11 Misconceptions And Myths About Author Websites – When it comes to author websites, there are many misconceptions and myths going around. Be sure you aren’t holding onto any of these common (but largely wrong) ideas.
• The Psychology Of Using Color In Website Design. Knowing the right colors to use will help you effectively tempt visitors to explore your site, interact with your information, and maybe even buy a book! Here’s how to successfully use the psychology of color in your website design.
• How To Choose The Best Background For Your Author Website. Here are tips from our designers to help you choose the best background for your author website.
• Do Pre-Published Authors Need A Website? – Find out how you can benefit from an author website even if you haven’t been published yet.
• Author Platforms – What they are and why you need one. Marketing 101.
• 9 Ways To Become More Googleable – Learn how to increase your visibility in search engines.
• How Having An Author Website Can Be A Career Booster – Don’t be left in the cyber dust. These days, marketing starts online.
• 5 Fab Fundamentals For Author Website Design – Your author website should feature information about you as a writer and your projects. But here’s the website element that some authors overlook—it should also have a pleasing, easy-to-navigate design that attracts the reader’s eye.
• Your Author Website Design: Five Options For Writers – Don’t know what to write on page one? Sure you do!
• How To Choose The Right Font For Your Author Website – We’ll answer some of the most important questions to consider when selecting a font for your author website.
• How To Choose The Right Color Scheme For Your Website – Base your color schemes on proven color theory concepts to select colors that complement each other and convey a theme tied to your writing.
• Keep It Fresh: Make The Most Of Holidays On Your Author Website – Every holiday is a great opportunity to dress up your author website—both with content and graphics.
• The One Thing Your Homepage Must Do – It’s  the function of your author website that’s going to be the deciding factor in whether or not a new visitor to your website becomes a fan who returns again and again.
• 4 Ways To Create A One-Of-A-Kind Author Website – If you want to ensure your author website stands out and attracts visitors, consider implementing any one—or more—of these four design options.
• Your “Welcome Reader” Letter – How to write terrific homepage text to make a great first impression.
• 5 Author Website Issues That Make Visitors Bounce Off In Three Seconds Or Less – Certain Web design elements can sabotage your best efforts and send potential fans off your website. Since visitors will decide in the first few seconds whether they’re going to stay on your site, avoid these Web design disasters.
• Design The Ultimate Author Website – Laying the groundwork for your online promotion efforts with your official author website.
• 13 SEO And Web Terms Writers Need To Know – Understanding basic web jargon necessary for your author website.
• White Hat Or Black Hat: Which SEO Hat Should You Wear? – Using the right SEO practices can make the difference between your author website being highly trafficked and being banned from search results.
• Permission Granted: Why It Is OK To Embrace Self-Promotion – Sharing your literary achievements may feel like “bragging,” but it may mean the difference between total obscurity and building name recognition.
• 5 Reasons Why This IS The Best Time To Create An Author Website – Whether you’re a previously published writer or an established author on the brink of literary stardom, you need an author website. AND there’s never been a better time than right now to start building your online platform with an author website.
• 6 Author Website Tips Just For Short Story Authors – If you’re a savvy short story writer who understands the value of self-promotion, your potential fans should find a brilliant author website designed to show them exactly what you want them to see.
• 7 Author Website Lessons From Query Letters – There are many elements of an effective, well-composed query letter that can be applied to your author website to ensure your visitors get the information you want them to have in the best possible way.
• Your Writer Brand: Laying The Foundation For A Long Career – When you have a clear idea of your author brand (and a strong plan for your author platform), you may be on your way to that most coveted of writer fantasies: Life As A Full-Time Author.
• What’s Your Web Personality? – This quick little quiz will reveal what kind of Web personality you are and help point you in the right direction when designing your author website.
• The Art Of Texture: Incorporating Textured Images Into Your Author Website – When designing your author website, why not go for texture? These days, there are more creative ways to incorporate textures into your site than ever before.
• How To Make The Most Of The Cover Art On Your Author Website – Your book’s cover art is an invaluable marketing tool. A well-designed book cover will seriously boost sales by attracting more potential readers!
• How To Set The Mood On Your Author Website – When you create your author website, maintaining the mood of your brand through visual continuity is a must when choosing design elements.
• Sounding Off: The Dos And Don’ts Of Recording And Adding Sound To Your Website – Your website, as your online hub, is command central for all your marketing and promotion efforts. What about offering another dimension by adding music and sound to your website?
• 4 Common Mistakes Writers Make On Their Author Websites – In order to get to that coveted place of sold-out book signings and ten thousand blog subscribers, you’ll want to avoid these four common mistakes writers make on their author websites.
• Trick Or Treat! Cheap Digital Goodies That Will Bring People To Your Virtual Door – Hosting contests and offering free swag is a fantastic way to attract people to your digital door. Free goodies can help you build up your author mailing list.
• Outdated Author Platforms: 5 Signs That It’s Time To Update Your Author Website – Already have a website? Great! But if it’s outdated, it could do more harm than good.
• 5 Ways To Fight Spam On Your Website – The bad news? Spammers exist. The good news? There are ways to beat them.
• 5 Surprising Questions To Ask Your Author Web Designer – Finding someone to create your author website can be a daunting task. Luckily, the questions you should ask a prospective designer are simpler than you’d think.
• 6 Eye-Catching Header Design Ideas For Writers – What’s the first thing visitors notice about your author website? Your header image—which is why it’s one of the most important aspects of your author website!
• Do Poets And Story Writers Need An Author Website? – We explain why it’s advantageous for poets and story writers to create an author website for their writing.
• Can Facebook And Twitter Replace Your Author Website? – Understand the different strategic advantages of an author website and social media pages for promoting your writing.
• Think Outside The Bookstore: The Benefits Of Cross-Promotion – How do you convince complete strangers to market your book—and have them be happy to do it? Cross-promotion!
• 5 Things Literary Agents Want To See In Your Author Platform – Building a strong author platform before you begin querying could make it easier for a literary agent to say yes! to your book.
• The Hidden Costs Of Building An Author Website – Here are the questions you should ask so you (and your wallet) will be prepared.
• Your Author Website: Should It Focus On You As A Writer Or On One Book? – To discover whether to focus your website on yourself as a writer or on one of your books or novels, check out the advantages of each strategy!
• How To Provide Author Contact Info And Still Protect Your Personal Data – While it’s important to make it easy for fans, agents, and editors to learn more about you, it’s also important that you protect your personal data from online predators.
• Our Secret To The Best In-Person Pitch For Your Author Website (Psst! You Can Use It In An Elevator!) – It’s time to tell the world about your website and attract visitors! Here are 3 steps to the perfect in-person pitch for your author website.
• How To Choose The Domain Name For Your Author Website – One of the first—and most important—things to do when creating your author website is to choose a domain name. Find out more about how to choose.
• Dear Santa: Our Author Website Wish List – We asked our expert author website elves (aka designers) at Web Design Relief what they thought writers should ask for on their holiday wish lists.
• How To Use Sidebars On Your Author Website – What exactly goes into a sidebar? And does your site even need one?
• Author Website Survival Guide: What You Must Keep Private – Sharing some of the details that make you uniquely you is a great way to build audience loyalty. But keeping yourself safe is also vital to your online survival. It’s important to know where to draw the line when revealing your private life.
• What Does Your Favorite Font Say About You? – Find out what your favorite font reveals about you!
• 3 Website Emergencies (And How You Can Prepare For Them Now) – It’s nearly impossible to predict every website emergency that could affect your author website, but here are just a few things that could go wrong on your author website—and how you can avoid disaster.
• Is Your Author Website Protected From Hackers, Spammers, And Frauds? – Your website safety must be a top priority. The following survey can help you determine if your author website is safe and secure.
• 6 Creative Ideas For Your “About Me” Page – It’s important to include the time-tested, standard author bio elements in the “About Me” page on your author website. But you may want to offer your visitors a more intimate portrait than a basic professional bio offers.
• Cool Ways To Use Your Favorite Quotes On Your Author Website – Sharing your favorite quotes on your author website will offer your visitors a window into your interests, beliefs, and aspirations. And you can quote us on that!
• Writer Beware: 7 Dangers Of Free Or Cheap Web Design Companies – There’s nothing wrong with wanting the best possible price. But when it comes to Web design, a cheap site can sometimes cost more than what you bargained for.
• Is Your Author Website On The Naughty Or Nice List? – Santa’s making a list and checking it twice—and it may surprise you to learn that author websites are on the list too! (We have insider info from Rudolph.)
• Web Hosting: What You Need To Know – We’ll explain exactly what Web hosting means, what you need to know about it, and how to find the perfect host for your author website!
• Author Bio: The Secret To Getting It Right On Your Website – It’s important that your author website biography reflects well on you, your writing, and what you care about. But how do you decide what to say—and what NOT to say?
• The Text-Free Homepage: Can It Work For Your Author Website? By using a strong visual without any text you can make a striking, unforgettable statement—but there are both pros and cons to having a text-free homepage.
• Great Author Website Ideas You Can Make Your Own – If you’re ready to create your first author website—or want to update your old site—start by checking out well-designed existing author websites for inspiration. In the Web Design Relief portfolio, you’ll find plenty of great ideas in one convenient location!
• 7 Tips For A More Mobile-Friendly Author Website – It’s imperative that your author website is designed to be accessible, easily navigable, and look good on these smaller screen devices.
• 9 Reasons Authors Should Be Thankful For The Internet – Before you start longing for the days of inkwells and manual typewriters, let’s face facts: There are many ways that technology and the Internet have made life so much easier for writers!
•  7 Ways To Spruce Up Your Author Website In Under An Hour! – Updating your author website can be quicker and easier than you might think! Keeping your website fresh is a surefire way to keep visitors coming back.
• 8 Eye-Catching Author Websites – At Web Design Relief, we can’t resist admiring well-made author websites, no matter who created them.
• Eek! Scary-Good Author Website Decorating Ideas – When Halloween is right around the corner, add some cobwebs to your author website. Why should you decorate your author website, only to have to take down the seasonal visuals once the holiday is over? We’ve got some great reasons—and great decorating ideas!
• 9 Top WordPress Plugins For Creative Writers’ Websites – An important step in designing your author website is deciding which plugins you are going to need to make it more functional.
• Don’t Let A Stale Author Website Damage Your Reputation – To maintain the respect and appreciation of your followers and fans, it’s imperative that you freshen up your website regularly with different fonts, tasteful new features, and eye-catching images.
• 34 Issues That Will Scare Readers Away From Your Author Website – According to marketing specialists, you have about three seconds—the approximate amount of time before one blink—for visitors to judge your website and decide whether to stay or move on. Here’s how to pass the test with YOUR author website!
• Is Your Author Website Ready for Action? A Checklist. – Follow this checklist to ensure your website is interactive and action-packed!
• 10 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Launching Your Author Website – If you’re thinking about developing your online presence by launching an author website, start by asking yourself these questions.
• How To Launch Your New Author Website – Let’s take a look at a step-by-step guide to launching a new author website.
• Is Your Author Website Sending The Right Message? Improve the odds of visitors staying on your writer website by making sure it creates an immediate, distinct impression.
• 55 Social Media Hashtags For Book Authors (And How To Use Them). Boost your social media efforts and effectiveness by following—and using—this list of hashtags for writers!
• The Surprising Things You Need To Know To Launch Your First Author Website. Here are a few “hidden” facts about the specialized website design elements required for an author website that you should definitely keep in mind before you sign with a Web design company.
• 5 Style Elements You’ll Want To Steal From These Eye-Catching Author Websites. Here are some of the most interesting and attractive author websites we’ve seen online. Check these out for inspiration!
• How To Pick The Right URL Or Domain For Your Author Website.  Choose the right URL or domain for your new author website so readers, visitors, agents and editors can easily find you.
• Pen Names And The Internet: 5 Writer Problems—Solved! While there are many good reasons why a writer might use a pen name, we’ve discovered that using a pseudonym can also introduce problems—especially when it comes to author websites and social media.
• How The Right Content On Your Author Homepage Makes Visitors Stick Around. This list of design tips and key elements will help you build an effective, good-looking homepage that will encourage visitors to stick around and explore your site, check out your books, and sign up for your newsletter or mailing list.
• How To Build A Strong Author Brand If You Write In Multiple Genres. Is one website right for you? Do you need multiple websites? Should you use a pen name to separate your genres? Here’s how to build a strong author brand when you write in multiple genres.
• 8 Poets With The Most Inspiring, Beautiful Author Website Designs. The experts at Web Design Relief have created a list of the most inspiring author websites belonging to poets—you may want to steal some of these eye-catching elements for yourself!
• Genre-Specific Author Website Design Ideas You’ll Want To Steal.Since we’re always on the watch for the latest design trends, here are our favorite genre-specific author website design ideas that are so good—you’ll want to steal them for your own!
• 15 Best Websites To Help Writers Succeed. Check out the top resources and best websites to help writers succeed (including a close-to-home favorite!).
• The One-Page Author Website: Is It Right For You? Authors are making the switch from multiple, crowded web pages to this sleek, minimalistic design where readers can easily scroll through the content. Check out the pros and cons to decide if a one-page author website is right for you.
• Yes, Pre-Published Authors Should Have Websites. Is it worth it for a pre-published author to have a website? Yes! Find out why here.
• HTML: A Beginner’s Guide For Creative Writers. Check out this brief beginner’s guide about the ins and outs of HTML for creative writers.
• 7 Ways To Build An Audience For Your Writing. Writers who have an online presence can cast a wider net and connect with potential new fans and followers all over the world! Here are 7 ways to build an audience for your writing using online resources.
• How To Write SEO That Gets Results: The Basics. Having the right SEO will increase traffic to your author website and blog and help you reach more readers. If you’re not savvy about search bots, here are the basics of how to write SEO that gets results.
• A Beginner’s Guide To WordPress For Writers. The tech experts at Web Design Relief have put together a beginner’s guide to WordPress for writers to help you with the basics and start you on the path to building an amazing author website.
• Apps And Software To Help You Focus While Writing. If you need to block out distractions during your writing time, the tech experts at Web Design Relief have found the best apps and software to help you focus while writing.
• Avoid These Security Mistakes On Your Author Website. Keep yourself and your fans safe and avoid these security mistakes on your author website.
• The Best Font Combinations For Author Websites (With Examples). The designers at Web Design Relief have curated the best font combinations for author websites to help you make the right choice.
• Your Author Photo: How To Dress For Success. Whether you go with a formal head shot or a more casual author photo, it’s important to dress for success! Here are some tips for what you should (and shouldn’t) wear in your author photo.
• The Best Security Tools For Your Author Website. How do you protect your author website from security risks? The tech experts at Web Design Relief present a list of the best security tools available for your author website!
• What Your Author Website Reveals At First Glance. Our expert designers know what works for your audience—and what doesn’t. Here’s what your author website reveals at first glance.
• This One Small Change Has A Big Impact On Your Author Website.
• Websites That Would Make Great Author Websites. Every industry has its fair share of amazing and trend-setting website designs. Here are just a few of our favorite websites that would also make great author websites.
• The WordPress Plugins We’re Most Grateful For. The right plugins can completely change and improve how we use and experience websites. Here are the WordPress plugins we’re most grateful for right now.
• Small Branding Moments On Your Author Website. Including your branding identity in less prominent spots on your website helps reinforce your writer identity. Here’s how to best utilize small branding moments on your author website!
• The Worst Website Mistakes New Writers Make. It’s easy for a new writer to get their web design wrong. Here are some tips to help you avoid the worst website mistakes new writers make.
• Which Author Website Design Is Right For You? There are so many different web design styles to choose from that it can be overwhelming! Let us help you figure out which design is right for you.
• Sustainable Web Design And Your Author Website. You can do your part for the environment, reduce your carbon output, and still create an affordable, great-looking author website by using sustainable web design! Here’s how.

Online Promotion Techniques

So you’ve designed a great author website! Awesome. But before you begin marketing and promoting your links all over the Web, be sure you know the etiquette.

• Eleven Deadly Sins of Online Promotion For Writers – Before you start promoting online, read this!
• 4 Tips For Wooing Agents And Editors With Your Author Website – As literary agents and editors read through your work, they might—if interested—do a quick Google or Internet search on your name to see what comes up. So…
• Seven Ways To Turn Website Visitors Into Fans – Step 1: Get visitors. Step 2: Give them reasons to becomes fans.
• The Truth About “Guaranteed” Followers And Fans – Virtual assistants often guarantee followers, but that’s not always a reliable promise.
• How To Network With Agents and Editors on the Web – You know they’re out there. Find them. Schmooze them. Online.
• Three Ways To Promote Your Collection Or Book Without Leaving The House – Promotion designed for pajama-lovers.
• Safety Tips For Social Networking: A Writer’s Guide To Staying Safe Online – Find out how writers can keep their work—and themselves—safe when participating in social networking sites and posting writing online.
• Top 3 Ways To Drive Traffic To Your Author Website – Driving traffic to your author website is very important but can be time-consuming. Here are just three investments you can make to boost your promotion strategy.
• Dream Big, Think Small: 6 Little Author Website Changes That Get Big Results – The team here at Web Design Relief has compiled a list of fast, easy website tweaks that will give you big results with little time and effort.
• How To Get Visitors To Stay On Your Author Website – How can you entice visitors to stay on your site long enough to be charmed into buying your novel, entering your contest, or signing up for your newsletter?
• How To Identify (And Focus On) Your Promotional Strengths – Whether you’re traditionally published or self-published, doing your own marketing is the new reality. The trick is to find out what you’re good at (and what you’re not!) when coming up with a marketing strategy
• Mistakes That Can Lower Your Website’s Search Engine Ranking – It’s important to optimize your website to get more traffic. Yet as many as 50% of websites unwittingly use bad practices or have common technical glitches that lower their search engine rankings.
• Are You Using These 5 Online Promo Tools To Build Your Reputation As A Writer? – Your online platform is essential to launching a successful writing career. These online promotional tools can minimize the time you spend on social media while helping you connect with more fans and build up your author platform!
• The First Thing To Do Every Morning To Build Your Writing Reputation – Remember, the early bird catches the worm—so post something on your author social media sites each morning to ensure that this important task becomes a habit you won’t forget!
• Your Author Website: 5 Ways To Help Your Readers Get To Know You Better – Find out how to share your personality with your readers on your author website.
• The Power Of Minimalism In Web Design: Is It Right For You? – There’s a fine line between effective minimalism and not enough information or pizzazz. Is a minimalist approach right for you?
• 6 Easy Steps To Book Your Author Blog Tour – There’s a new way of connecting with readers that doesn’t involve brick-and-mortar book signings: blog tours!
• Your Author Mailing List, Part 1: How To Use Your Mailing List To Gain More Fans – In today’s computerized world, writers need mailing lists—digital or traditional—and this article explains how to use yours the right way.
• Your Author Mailing List, Part 2: 6 Things That Will Annoy Your Subscribers – Use these tips on what NOT to do to ensure that your readers stay subscribed to your mailing list.
• Your Author Mailing List: Don’t Underestimate The Power Of Old-Fashioned Email Lists – Here are some reasons your private mailing list contributes to “job security” for writers.
• How To Encourage People To Sign Up For Your Author Mailing List – Here are a few ideas for incentives to offer your author website visitors to entice them to sign up for your mailing list.
• FAQ: What Should My Book Marketing Press Release Contain? – Drum up extra promotion and publicity by writing and distribution a press release.
• How To Reach Out To A Blogger – Any PR person knows that bloggers are a necessity, but many writers aren’t sure how to reach out to them in the most effective way.
• Effective Cross-Promotion: Create Your Power Promo Team – Promo teams are fantastic for cross-promotion and can help writers introduce one another to new audiences.
• Remember Google Authorship? Here’s The Next Best Thing For Writers – About a year ago Google discontinued Google Authorship, a program meant to help writers improve their author website’s search rankings. Is there an alternative way to boost your SEO?
• 8 Mistakes That Can Get Your Author Website Banned – SEO scams come in several varieties, and trying any of these questionable tactics can quickly get your author website banned.
• Writers: How To Deal With Negative Comments or Feedback Online – When writers get negative comments, reviews, and criticisms online, it can be a painful situation. Here are a few way you can deal with negative comments online.
• How To Throw A Virtual Website Launch Party – The best way to celebrate and get eager visitors lining up at your virtual door is to invite everyone to a fun-filled virtual launch party.
• The 8 Golden Rules For Blogging Without Being Obnoxious – While writers can use their blogs as a way to get their names out there, certain practices are taboo in the blogosphere. Blog smartly with these tips.
• 10 Tips To Host A Creative Contest That Promotes Your Book – When your book is released—or is due out soon—why not take advantage of social media and host a contest to promote your book and connect with your readers?
• 40 Blog Post Ideas For Novelists, Poets, And Creative Writers – A great list of blog post ideas for writers to use as writing prompts.
• 8 Tactics For Guest Blogging To Promote Your Book – The key to writing an effective promotional guest blog post is to find the sweet spot between blatant marketing and casual blogging. We’ve got the tips you need!
• How To Hire A Book Publicist: Find Help Marketing Your Book – It can be a great idea to hire a book publicity or marketing firm to help spread the word about your book. Before you begin searching databases to find a book publicist, it’s important to know exactly what you want.
• 6 Ways To Get People To Comment On Your Blog – Try these simple, interactive steps to help turn your passive blog readers into active commenters.
• 6 Lessons Writers Can Learn About Marketing From Mardi Gras – Fun, colorful Mardi Gras celebrations inspired these clever tips on how to jazz up your marketing and promote your writing with style throughout the year.
• 12 Easy Ways To Take Share-Worthy Photos For Social Media – Whether you’re traveling on vacation or staying home trying to get the perfect picture of your wiggly dog, these simple photography tips will help you take better—and more share-worthy—photos to post on your social networks.
• 8 Things Writers Can Learn From Runners About Marketing And Promotion – Believe it or not, many of runners’ training strategies can propel your marketing and promotion efforts.
• 10 Tricks To Make Your Author Website Rank Higher In Search Engines Like Google – Here are ten strategies that can help make your author website more visible in search engine results.
• Through The Eyes Of A Search Engine: Metadata And Your Searchability – Search engines, such as Google, are changing their algorithms all the time. So if you want to make sure your author website is always at the top of search results, it’s important to pay attention to the latest trends in SEO.
• It’s Never Too Late: Social Media Tips For The 55+ Crowd – Fortunately, it’s never too late to get started with social media, and there’s never been a better time than right now!
• 7 Ways To Turn Over A New Leaf For Your Marketing And Promotional Strategy – Fortunately, the new year presents a great opportunity to update your marketing efforts
• 9 Ways To Build Book Sales With Your Author Website – Your author website is a great tool for increasing book sales—but only if you know the online marketing strategies that work. Check out this list of book-selling website tips!
• Inbound Marketing For Authors: What Is Inbound Marketing? – Inbound Marketing refers to marketing activities that organically tempt visitors to come to you, rather than you having to use traditional strategies (e.g., mailing fliers, placing ads, etc.) to get people’s attention.
• Inbound Marketing For Authors: Setting Up Your Mailing List – Your mailing list is the most important element of your Inbound Marketing strategy: It gives you access to a built-in audience that’s already invested in your author brand and your writing.
• The Weary Writer’s Guide To Better Blogging – Sometimes it’s hard to find the time, focus, and energy to keep your author website’s blog updated regularly with new posts. Here are some tips to help you stay motivated, energized, and on track!
• How To Make A Video Of Yourself For Your Author Website (The Easy Way) – When fans feel they know you—consider you a friend—they’re more likely to come back, sign up for your email list, and buy your book.
• How To Integrate Social Media Into Your Blog (And Vice Versa) – Integrate social networks into your author website’s blog with these tools.
• Online Marketing Tips For Writers Who Have More Than One Pen Name – Having two or more author pseudonyms can complicate your marketing and social media efforts—how do you handle promotion and branding when you have more than one author name? Find out here!
• How To Turn Your Author Website Into A Book-Selling Machine – Use your author website to maximize your book sales with these 5 tips.
• How To Juggle More Than One Author Website. How writers can juggle more than one author website and why it’s beneficial to do so.
• 10 Easy Ways To Drive More Traffic To Your Author Website. The marketing experts at Web Design Relief know how important it is to drive traffic to your website—and we’re sharing our secrets and tips with you!
• How To Focus Your Author Blog To Attract Book-Buying Readers. Being a successful blogger requires both writing interesting content and having a targeted promotional strategy that will keep your audience engaged and sell your books. Focus the content of your author blog to best attract book-buying readers and boost your sales with these tips!
• 9 Blogging Mistakes To Avoid—And The Easy Fixes. New and established bloggers can make some common mistakes. Here are the 9 biggest blogging mistakes to avoid, along with the easy fixes!
• How To Start A Blog People Will Want To Read. Here are some smart tips and hacks to help you start a blog people will want to read and revisit again and again.
• 5 Tips To Get Your Writing To Go Viral On TikTok. The social media experts at Web Design Relief have 5 tips to help you get your writing to go viral on TikTok.
• Self-Promotion For Writers: Get The Word Out! To sell your work, you will need to actively share your news, create a solid author platform, and take advantage of marketing opportunities. Here’s how writers can utilize self-promotion to get the word out.
• How To Improve Your Newsletter Open Rate. How do you ensure your newsletter doesn’t end up unopened and deleted? Here are some great tips on how to improve your newsletter open rate so you can reach more readers with your content.
• 7 Instant Blogging Ideas For Busy Writers. Here are 7 great blog post tips and blogging ideas writers can use for quick results: You’ll spend less time wondering what to write about, and more time writing!
• The 5 Best Newsletter Platforms For Writers. If you’re ready to create your own newsletter to boost your outreach and build your credibility as an author, here are the 5 best newsletter platforms for writers to help you get started.
• 5 Free Ways To Grow Your Author Platform. Looking to grow your author platform? Here are 5 strategies that won’t cost a penny!
• How To Build Website Traffic Without Using Social Media. Social media is one way to connect potential fans with your website—but what if you don’t want to invest in a social media campaign? Here’s how to effectively build website traffic without using social media.
• How The Author Platform Has Evolved. Today, authors can write their short stories, poetry, or even a novel on a cell phone, make submissions online, and interact with writers and fans via social media and video conferencing. Here’s how the author platform has evolved—and why it matters to writers.
• Boost Your Blog Posts After You Hit Publish. Your author blog is a vital link to your readers, potential new followers, editors, and literary agents. Here are some effective strategies to help promote and boost your blog posts after you hit publish!
• Grow Your Email List Using These Clever Hacks. An email newsletter is one of the best ways to build your fanbase and stay connected to your readers. However, your newsletter’s subscriber numbers might stagnate or even decrease. Here are some tips and hacks that will help you refresh your email list, gain more subscribers, and grow your email list!
• Should You Monetize Your Author Website? Which types of advertising are appropriate for you and your website? The tech experts at Web Design Relief have some tips to help you decide if you should monetize your author website.
• How Amazon Attribution Tags Can Work For Writers. Amazon Attribution Tags can help you analyze and better understand the preferences of your readers! Check out how to use this tool.

Social Networking For Writers

Social networking is a fantastic way to drive traffic into your author website. Our tips for writers who want to use Facebook and other social networking sites will help you score new readers and fans.

• 5 Ways Professional Social Media Consultants Can Help Writers – Social media consultants are marketing and publicity liaisons. What your social media consultant will do for you depends on your goals.
• How Social Media Has Evolved—And Why It Matters To Writers – Major social media platforms—Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, Instagram, and more—regularly reinvent themselves. Since social media is an essential part of any savvy writer’s author platform, it’s important to stay ahead of trends.
• Twitter For Writers – If you have five seconds, you have time for Twitter. Learn how it can help you promote.
• Twitter Tips: How Make Get More Followers – Great strategies that will boost your follower count!
• Which is better: A Facebook Page Or A Personal Profile? – Depends on your situation. Read more.
• Facebook For Writers: Get More Friends and Fans – Tips that will help you connect with more fans.
• Goodreads: The Social Network Where Book Nerds Schmooze – Learn how this social network can reward you for doing something you love anyway.
• Authors: Professional Secrets For Writing Goodreads Book Reviews – For creative writers hoping to establish a career in the publishing industry, important elements of a book review shouldn’t be overlooked. Don’t write whatever you please in a book review—step back and take a look at the big picture.
• Instagram Marketing: Top 6 Fan-Building Tips For Writers – If you use it correctly, Instagram is an excellent way to promote your writing and connect with fans—in fact, nearly half of all U.S. adults use Instagram daily!
• Can Instagram Really Build A Writer’s Fan Base – For many writers, the social media website Instagram and its focus on photos/videos may seem to be outside their wheelhouse. But if you have a smartphone, you can easily use Instagram to build your fan base!
• 5 Instagram Photo Op Ideas For Writers – Instagram is an excellent platform for authors to build a fan base and promote their work. But you may wonder: How can such a visual, image-centric format effectively accommodate the written word?
• Social Networking: 5 Social Media Tools That Will Make Your Life A Little Easier – Social media has become a huge part of everyday life. Here are some social media tools to make promoting your work easier.
• Your Author Platform: Make A Great First Impression On Literary Agents And Editors – Literary journal editors and literary agents often search for authors on Google and visit author websites when reviewing submissions, so a strong author platform is key to an author’s success.
• Author Platform: Tweet As Your Character! – Tweeting as your character is just another technique to build your author platform.
• How To Get Fans To Open Your Emails– You’d think that any author with a well-curated mailing list would have close to a 100 percent open rate, but the truth is different. A higher open rate means more folks will see your information and do whatever you’re asking—like buy your book.
• The Goodreads Author Program: Turn Your Reading Time Into PR Time – Even if you’re not a big fan of social media, it’s important to claim your Goodreads author account so that no one else does. Goodreads was recently acquired by Amazon, making it an even more powerful driver of sales and promotion.
• Writers: How To Get More Fans And Followers With Less Effort – Fortunately, building your following doesn’t have to be a time-consuming, mind-boggling task. Here are some easy steps you can take to get more fans with less effort.
• How To Get People Talking On Your Social Networks – By encouraging conversation on your social networks, you increase your exposure. Use these proven strategies to grow your social media following.
• Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Hashtags But Were Afraid To Ask – We’ll answer all of those #burningquestions you were afraid to ask about hashtags.
• To Tweet Or Not To Tweet: Is Twitter Worth A Writer’s Time? – A list of Twitter pros and cons to help you decide if Twitter is right for you.
• 8 Twitter Mistakes Writers Must Avoid – Twitter has become one of the best social media networks for writers. But as easy as it is to connect with all your Twitter followers, it’s just as easy to send a major faux pas flying across thousands of Twitter feeds in an instant.
• Industry Influencer: mediabistro – Mediabistro is the go-to resource for finding jobs in the creative industry, marketing and promotion courses, and so much more! Read this interview to learn more about what they do and what they can do for you.
• The 10 Signs Of A Bad Social Media Consultant – Not all social media consultants are created equal, and it’s important to separate the good from the bad.
• 6 Steps To Reinvigorate Your Social Media Networks – We’re here to give you easy steps to breathe some new life into your various social media platforms using tools that are right at your fingertips.
• Three Easy Marketing Ideas For Shy Writers – If you’re a media wallflower, don’t worry! There are still ways you can get your name out there without leaving the comfort of your proverbial wall.
• Automate Your Social Media With These Free Promotion Tools – Even if you can’t tweet every ten minutes, you can benefit from having social media profiles. A little extra technology can go a long way in terms of streamlining the process. Here are some helpful tools that will make your social media life a whole lot easier.
• Social Networking For People Who Hate Social Networking – If you’re a writer trying to build your online platform, social media may be a necessary evil. With readers depending more and more on the Internet to choose and acquire their next great read, you might be putting yourself at a serious disadvantage by avoiding socializing online.
• Integrate Social Networks Into Your Website – Make the most of your marketing and promotion efforts by incorporating your social network feeds into your author website. It’s easier than you think!
• Posting Images: Harnessing The Art Of Social Media Pictures – Take advantage of key promotional opportunities by learning the art of posting social media images. Whether your images go viral or simply resonate with your fans, your pics are social media party favors that help ensure people are having a good time on your page.
• How To Set Up Google Authorship For Your Author Website – Everything you need to know about setting up Google Authorship for your website.
• The Social Media Network You’re Probably Already Using But Not Taking Advantage Of – If you have a Gmail address or a YouTube account, you’ve already been assigned a profile in G+—why not take advantage of what’s already available?
• Which Social Media Site Fits Your Personality? – Take this fun quiz to determine which social media platform is best-suited to your needs and personality.
• 8 Misconceptions About Facebook For Authors  – Before you dismiss using Facebook to help promote your writing, take a look at the facts that counter these eight common misconceptions.
• Who Should You Be When You’re Online? Creating An Author Persona For Social Media  – When promoting your writing on social media, avoid revealing every detail of your life by using an online persona.
• 5 Mistakes That Lead To Social Media Burnout: How To Avoid Stress, Frustration, And Exhaustion In Your Social Media Campaign – Identify and avoid making the mistakes that led to your social status meltdown in the first place.
• Essential Vacation Safety Tips For Your Social Media – Unfortunately, social media like Facebook and Twitter is used by 4 out of 5 burglars as the new-millennium way to find an easy target. Before you go on vacation, check out these anti-burglary tips.
• Socially Acceptable Grandstanding: 7 Tips For Talking About Yourself On Social Media – Social media is all about networking. To use it well, an author needs to spend the bulk of her time attracting friends and followers—not selling books. Straight-up advertisements are the least loved posts. So how are writers supposed to use social media to encourage sales if an author isn’t allowed to, well, sell?
• Take It From A Millennial: What Your Facebook Page Must Do To Succeed – Writers of all ages are successfully navigating the ins and outs of social media like Facebook—and you can too!
• Facebook Fan Building: Boosted Posts That Get Results – Facebook offers options to increase the visibility of your posts, improve engagement, and create new fans. One of the simplest ways to help your post reach a larger audience is to give it a boost!
• 5 Tips That Will Help You Post More Consistently On Social Media – Updating content and promoting your personal brand is far too essential to constantly put off for another day. Here are great strategies that will help you post more consistently.
• 5 Ways To Spread Holiday Cheer On Your Social Media Sites – While the holiday season means that you will probably be spending time visiting and hosting family and friends, it’s also a great opportunity to keep your author platform fresh with new, time-sensitive content!
• 5 Tricks To Get Big Results With Shorter Tweets – When you’re limited to Twitter’s 140 characters, how can you possibly inform, engage, and ultimately convert your followers into active fans? The key is to keep your tweets concise, precise, and interesting.
• Your 6-Step Plan For Making New Facebook Fans This Year – Whether you’re promoting your new book, starting a blog, or exploring the potential of Facebook for authors, we can help you build your fan base!
• Get More Facebook Friends Without Spending A Dime: Here’s How! – You don’t necessarily have to use Facebook’s built-in advertising features in order to increase the number of your fans.
• When Facebook Fails: 6 Changes To Get More Fans For Your Author Page – Why is your Facebook fan count lagging? Here are 6 ways you might be using Facebook wrong—and the fixes you need to implement now.
• Get More Web Traffic: Integrate Pinterest Into Your Author Website – Some tips for creating original content on your website that encourages sharing on Pinterest!
• 8 Secrets Of Creating A Pinnable Image For Writers – Pinterest is an important part of any successful outreach strategy. It’s easy to get started—simply choose and pin images that inspire you as an author!
• Advertising On Facebook: Is The Promotion Worth The Price For Writers? – Daily Facebook posts may not be enough to expand your readership. Find out if paying for advertising is worth your time and money.
• The Secret Etiquette Of Facebook Posts: 8 Rules You May be Breaking – If you want your Facebook author page to act as the fan-building machine it’s capable of being, you must know how to navigate the unwritten rules of online interaction.
• Tumblr For Writers: A Picture-Perfect Marketing And Promotional Tool – Tumblr is quickly becoming a viable marketing tool for promoting your writing. Determine if Tumblr is right for you.
• How To Cross-Promote Your Author Website And Your Social Media Pages For Max Results – With a bit of careful planning, you can interlock your author website and social media accounts so that all your promotional efforts perform with extra vrooom!
• How Promoted Tweets Get Results For Your Author Brand – Twitter—like Facebook—offers a pay-to-play feature that can boost the targeted audience for your most important tweets.
• Social Media Superstars: How Successful Authors Are Building Their Following On The Web – Here are a few of the authors who have mastered the art of the author brand and effectively connected to thousands of fans around the world.
• The Benefits Of Google Hangouts For Authors: Seeing Is Believing – Google Hangouts is an instant messaging and video chat platform that can revolutionize how you interact with your readers and fans.
• Fast Facebook Posts For When You’re Short On Time – Check out these easy tips that will help you write interesting Facebook posts in no time—and keep you effectively promoting on social media.
• How To Coax Your Social Media Followers Into Actually Buying Your Book – Social media is at the forefront of a successful marketing strategy for promoting your book. But having thousands of fans doesn’t always lead to thousands of book sales.
• Smart Ways To Automate Your Social Media While You’re On Vacation – Automate your social media platforms so your online marketing machine will work at full capacity while you soak up some sun and enjoy a little R&R.
• 5 Things Writers Don’t Know About Instagram—But Should. Did you know that Instagram is a great tool for building your writing reputation? Find out how!
• Writer: Using The “Wrong” Social Network Can Hurt Your Readership Growth. It’s important to choose the right social network wisely, otherwise you risk hurting your readership growth! Here are the pros and cons of each social network from the social media experts at Web Design Relief.
• Tweet, Tweet! 20 Fan-Growing Tweet Ideas For Writers. Looking for some tweeting ideas to promote your writing? Check out these ideas!
• How To Find Quotable Lines In Your Writing For Social Media. Here’s how to find quotable lines in your writing that are perfectly suited for social media!
• Why Writers Should Have YouTube Channels. The media experts at Web Design Relief know that YouTube has over a billion users, and it’s currently the second most popular platform after Facebook. Here are more reasons why writers should have YouTube channels.
• Top 25 YouTube Channels For Creative Writers. Here are the 25 best YouTube channels for creative writers to guide, accompany, and inspire your writing.
• 9 Author Blogs That Are Must-Reads For Writers. The Internet experts at Web Design Relief have compiled a list of author blogs that are must-reads for writers.
• Should Writers Be On Social Media? Social media offers an easy way to gain new fans and connect with readers, writers, editors, and agents. But social media can also take up writing time. Here are some pros and cons to help you decide if social media is right for you.
• Video Blogging (AKA Vlogging) For Writers. While you might think video blogging (also called vlogging) requires a lot of tech-savvy skill, the experts at Web Design Relief have some smart tips and simple advice to help you post great video content!
• Mastodon: Should Writers Join This Social Media Platform? One new social media platform that has seen an influx of new members is Mastodon. But should writers join the migration to this social media platform?
• Overcome Unrealistic Expectations For Social Media. Before you start contemplating how you’ll evade the paparazzi or make plans for spending your as-yet unearned royalties, the social media experts at Web Design Relief have a wake-up call for you. Here’s how to overcome any unrealistic expectations for social media.
• Substack’s Social Media: Is It For Writers? With recent shifts in the social media universe, many writers are looking for alternatives to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Substack Chat is similar to Twitter, but has several key differences. Here’s what you need to know about this new way to connect and interact with your readers and followers.
• Bluesky Social Media: What Authors Need To Know. Learn about a social media newcomer: Bluesky. Here’s what authors need to know about this exclusive, members-only social media network.
• The Newest Social Media Hashtags For Writers. Check out the newest, best social media hashtags for writers to help you grow your online audience!
• 15 Things Writers Can Talk About On Social Media. You don’t want to saturate your social media feeds with a barrage of “buy my book” pleas. Here are 15 other things writers can talk about on social media!

Social Networks For Writers That We Love

Here’s a list of the social networks that we feel are especially helpful for writers who are hoping to promote and market their work online.

• Goodreads – You like books. Other people like books. Hence, Goodreads.
• Twitter – Low-commitment social networking. Tweet from your  phone: at the post office, in line at the bank.
• Facebook – It’s not just for Farmville anymore.
• Tumblr – Share interesting writer-related images.
• Pinterest – Your online writing dream board.
• Google + – An easy and fun way to reach new audiences.

Networking In The Publishing Industry

Do you have designs on agents and editors? Want to impress audiences and fellow writers? There’s a good way and a bad way to interact with colleagues in the industry. These articles will help you not look like a wallflower.

• Take Your (Poetry) Show On The Road – Make your poetry readings interactive, and see your audiences grow.
• How To Network In The Writing Community – Meet people. Why? It helps. Here’s how.
• How To Get Your Mingle On With Agents and Editors – Schmoozing strategies for the socially awkward writer.
• How To Be An Annoying Author – Irksome traits of promoting writers.
• Open Mike Night: Ten Tips For Reading Your Writing In Public – When imagining the audience naked won’t help.
• Videoconferencing For Writers: The Top Software And Apps. Which videoconferencing software is best for you? The experts are Web Design Relief have the inside scoop!

Looking Gooood; Developing Your Reputation

Let’s face it: As a writer, you want to look good on paper. And e-ink. And pixels. When you’re marketing and promoting, it helps to have a great author bio. Here are some tips to help beef up your writing credentials.

• Seven Ways To Build Your Reputation As A Creative Writer – Tips to make serious people take you seriously.
• Build Your Writing Bio…Fast – Want your bio to float to the top…but you don’t have any credits? Start here.
• A Checklist To Evaluate Your Author Brand’s Effectivenes – Each of the individual elements of your author platform should directly contribute to the world’s overall view of you as a writer: who you are, what you write, what you want, and what you stand for.
• How To Market Your Poetry – Yep. It is possible to promote a book of poems. Here’s how.
• Doing The Publishing Credits Shuffle – Wondering how you should order your publishing credits on your author website? What a great problem you have! Read this.
• Online Publishing Dos and Don’ts For Writers – We’ve put together a list of important online publishing dos and don’ts to help writers navigate the exciting world of online publishing.
• Don’t Feed The Trolls On Your Social Networks – Rude, critical, abusive online comments can be especially tough for writers who have worked hard to put their best foot forward and share their work with the world. So how to deal with trolls and protect your online reputation?
• Writers: Create Your Digital Press Kit – You have an author website, engage with fans on Twitter, and post regular content on Facebook. Now what? Compile your digital press kit and making it available online.
• Your Author Headshot: How To Create A Flattering (And Affordable!) Portrait For Print And Online – If you want every advantage for your author platform—if you want to make fans, impress publishing professionals, and connect with readers in an overcrowded marketplace—then using your own headshot is a must.
• 7 Steps To A Bigger Reputation As A Writer – There are steps you can take each day to improve and expand upon your reputation as a writer, and we’ve outlined them here!
• Writers: Use Your Existing Audience To Build An Even Bigger One – Social media growth tends to be slow—but how else can you find the readers who love the genre in which you write and build fans? Fortunately, the fans you want to target are closer than you think!
• 8 Signs Your Social Media Needs Professional Help – If you’re not a social media wizard, it’s OK to ask for help. Here are eight signs that you may need a little extra help with your social media!
• 4 New Year’s Resolutions That Will Help Build Your Author Platform – Looking to build your author platform in the new year? Boost your author platform with these tips!
• 8 Digital Fees Writers Often Forget To Write Off – There are several hidden expenses of online marketing that you should remember to submit to Uncle Sam come tax time. We’ve listed them here for the next time you need to write off your author website!
• How To Monetize Your Author Website (Without Annoying People) – Maintaining your author website can be expensive. But with a little creative thinking and some smart website monetization, you could turn your author website into another source of income!
• How To Make It Easy For People To Read Your Writing On Your Author Website – How much of your writing should you display on your website? And how can you make the reading experience the best it can possibly be? Find out here!
• 5 Biographical Elements NOT To Include On Your Author Website – The moment your author website goes live, you’re a public figure. So how do you share your personal journey while maintaining your privacy and not putting yourself at risk?
• Why You Need An Author News Page On Your Website. Here’s why you should have an author news page on your author website—and what to post about!
• 5 Real-Life Elements That Will Make Your Author Website Appeal To Real-Life Readers. Here are 6 real-life elements that help your author website appeal to more readers.
• 5 Real-Life Elements That Will Make Your Author Website Appeal To Real-Life Readers. Don’t be afraid to share your personality with website visitors—they want to know more about the real-life YOU! Find out which personal details can help readers form a long-lasting bond with you!
• The Cat Is Out Of The Bag (And Into The Book)! Celebrate National Cat Day! Writers and cats go together like peas in a pod! Find out how you can celebrate National Cat Day!
• 5 Smart, Easy Ways To Declutter Your Author Website. If your author website is starting to look more like a digital junk drawer, it’s time to simplify, organize, and declutter.
• 12 Author Website Design Trends That Will Be Outdated In 2020.The experts at Web Design Relief pay close attention to what’s hot and what’s not. To ensure your author website is on trend, consider updating any outmoded design elements.
• New Year; New You: How To Revamp Your Author Persona And Grow Your Fan Base. What better time to give your website a facelift than the start of a new year? The experts at Web Design Relief know that a fresh approach to your online author persona can help you achieve your goals as a writer, increase the size of your fan base, and find the right voice for your author website and social networks.
• Everything Writers Who Have Websites Need To Know About Cookies. What are Internet cookies? Are they dangerous? Should I have cookies on my author website? Are they tracking my personal information? Do they come in tasty flavors? So many questions! Web Design Relief explains everything you need to know about these digital cookies.
• The Right Way To Publish A Short Story On Social Media. There is a right way and a wrong way to publish your short story on social media. Learn about them here!
• The Top 20 Must-Have Free Apps And Software That Writers Can’t Live Without. Web Design Relief has compiled a list of twenty great, must-have free apps and software programs that no writer should live—or write—without.
• A Guide To The Best Navigation Menu Bars For Your Website. The experts at Web Design Relief have created a guide to the best navigation menu bar options to help you choose the style that’s right for your author website!
• Update: What’s Trending NOW In Author Website Design. Our tech-savvy designers keep tabs on what’s cutting edge. Check out what’s trending now in author website design.
• How Writers Can Build Audiences Using Newsletters. Wondering how to build your audience using newsletters? Here are some great tips!
• 14 Online Literary Journals That Are Eye-Catching Reads. Take a look at these online literary journals that are also eye-catching reads—any writer would be thrilled to have their work featured here!
• Upcoming Trends And The Future Of Web Design. Here are a few predictions about upcoming trends and the future of web design for writers.
• How To Make Your Author Website Accessible To All. 1 in 4 of US adults have disabilities that can make it difficult for them to navigate your author website. Here’s how to make sure your author website is accessible to all visitors!
• Writer, Should You Ungate Your Online Content? Should you stick to the gated default or ungate your online content for visitors? Here some tips to determine your decision!
• Novels That Can Improve Your Author Website. Insights into great website design can be found tucked inside the pages of famous novels! Here’s some unexpected literary inspiration that can improve your author website.
• Today’s Author Website: Must-Have Elements. It’s important that your website stays relevant and up to date. Here are all the must-have elements for today’s author website!
• How To Re-Engage A Dormant Email List. If you haven’t maintained contact with your subscriber list, or if you’re sending out emails that haven’t been opened during the past 6 to 12 months, the experts at Web Design Relief have some tips on how to re-engage a dormant email list!
• Will AI And ChatGPT Replace Creative Writers? With would-be writers and novelists attempting to get published with minimal effort, will AI and ChatGPT ultimately replace creative writers? The tech experts at Web Design Relief have been following this latest development, and here’s what we’ve learned.
• How To Repurpose Your Content And Maximize Reach. Did you know you can repurpose—or recycle—your content, maximize your reach, AND keep your audience engaged? Find out how here!
• 3 Signs Your Author Website Needs To Be Updated. Editors, literary agents, and readers visiting an obsolete website might assume it’s abandoned and bounce off, never to return. Here are 3 signs your author website definitely needs to be updated.
• Give Your Author Website These Great Gifts! When you’re handing out gifts during the holiday season, don’t forget your author website! Give these great “gifts” to your website so that it will operate smoothly and effectively.
• Author Website Design Trends Forecast For 2024. If you want to ensure your author website doesn’t become outdated, check out our design trends forecast for 2024.

Additional Articles

Author platforms

Facebook online promotion etiquette

Affordable author website design

Marketing tips for authors

Want More?

Want more articles about writing, promoting, marketing, and Web design? Subscribe to Submit Write Now! and get our articles delivered weekly to your inbox.