How to Set Up a Writer's Website

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or one just taking the first few steps into the freelance world, most editors nowadays expect you to have a website. With hundreds of companies offering hosting and templates for next to nothing, cost is no longer an issue when considering a website, and even somebody with no previous knowledge of HTML can set up a successful site in an hour or less.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Decide your needs in advance. Most writers will do well with a basic website to showcase their resume, writing experience and samples. Most writers will do well with 4 or 5 pages. If you plan on uploading lots of files, you should make sure that you get a website with enough space to allow for it without slowing down the loading.
2. Learn what not to do. Certain things are considered a no-no in a professional website. These include music, animations, moving cursors and photos of family or pets. All these items distract from the original purpose of your website and are best reserved for personal blogs.
3. Provide specific information. People visiting your website will want to know what type of writing you do (magazines, newspapers, web content), where you have been published before and if you won any awards. You will also need to provide links to articles published online with your byline or upload pdf samples of things originally published in print.
4. Register a domain name with GoDaddy or DotEasy, two of the largest domain name registration companies out there. Companies usually run specials where you get free hosting when you register the name with them. Many also offer free templates so you can simply load your information into a pre-designed outline.
5. Don’t forget to update your website regularly, as new publications come out. If all you have up there is from 2 years ago, editors may fear that you’re not as prolific as you claim to be.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have nothing published yet, it’s ok to include a few unpublished samples in your website. Otherwise, editors expect to see things that made it into print.
• Make it easy to read. Online text should consist of short paragraphs and simple sentences. Trying to cramp too much information within a small space will just overwhelm the reader.
• Unless you’re targeting a very specific type of publication, avoid including samples of articles on controversial topics on your website. This may turn off some editors and lose you potential clients.
• Don’t go with free hosts. It looks unprofessional. Pay for your own domain name, even if it means waiting a little longer, until you can afford it.