How to use this Page

I mentioned before that as I come across writer or author websites that need help, I'd briefly critique the site to give my readers some website pointers. But, I don't reveal the name or url of the site I'm critiquing.


These critiques are geared to help authors setup websites that are visitor and search engine appealing.

Here is a critique of a website I recently recently.

The first and most notable impression this website offers is its header:

Header image: Several book images taking up about half the header – from left to center

Title: NONE
Subtitle: Welcome to my blog (under books image in small text)

Three Pages:
Home page: Welcome to “Site owner’s” XXXX  XXX  XXX Blog
About “Author”
Published Works

Can you quickly notice what’s wrong with the top portion of the website?

No?

Okay, Let’s go over each element:

1. Header Image

The header doesn’t tell the visitor anything. There are several small images of book covers, but the visitor won’t know what they’re for. Are they the authors, is it an author’s site, are they cover design examples?

The header raises a number of questions. This is never a good thing from a marketing aspect. You have about 4 seconds to grab a visitor – that’s not a lot of time.

Along with this, the header image only covers half the header, and it’s not centered. This makes it look uneven and somewhat unappealing.

Fix: Go to fiverr.com and hire someone to create an appealing header.

2. Website Title 


There is none. Search engines (SEs) will have a difficult time finding, indexing, and categorizing this website because there isn’t any information in the title, let alone keyword information. There isn’t any search engine optimization for SE spiders to latch onto.

The same goes for the visitor - he'll be scratching his head, wondering what the site is about.

Fix: Create a site relevant keyword title. This is a must for any website.

3. Website Subtitle

“Welcome to my Blog” does offer the visitor or SE spiders any information. The site could be a real estate site, a sports site . . . it could be anything.

Fix: Create a site relevant keyword subtitle – one that supports the title, one that offers more information letting the visitor and SEs know what the site is about. You want relevant, but different keywords – don’t use the same ones as in the title.

4. The Pages

A. The Home page

This page title doesn’t offer any keyword information, although it does give the title of the site (I’m assuming). Also, it’s not a good idea to waste words on a page title. Make it simple and to the point.

Fix: The author could simply use the title of the site and omit “Welcome to “site owner’s.” Or, the author could simply keep it at “blog” if the title has no keyword value.

B. About “Author name”

This is okay to use. It quickly lets the visitor know what to expect on that page and lets the visitor know who owns the site.

Fix: None needed

C. Published Works

This page title should have keywords in it. Does the author write fantasy, nonfiction, history, children’s books?

You need to quickly let the visitor know what your site is about.

Fix: Change the page title to include the genre s/he works in.

These are simple fixes that will make a huge difference in this site’s ‘curb appeal,’ visitor engagement, and SEO.

~~~~~

RECOMMENDED TOOL: Website Services (that gets your website working for you)

If you don't have a website set up yet, or you need help getting an existing one visitor and search engine optimized, check out my service http://www.karencioffi.com/website-services/

I offer website setups, website tuneups, and website critiques.


~~~~~
MORE WEBSITE AND ONLINE MARKETING TIPS

Book Marketing – Website in Trouble
Commenting on Blogs Still Works
The Author Website – Keep it Simple and to the Point

~~~~~

To keep up with writing and marketing information, along with Free webinars, join us in The Writing World (top right top sidebar).

Karen Cioffi
Award-Winning Author, Freelance/Ghostwriter
Author Online Presence Instructor

Create and Build Your Author Online Presence
http://www.karencioffi.com/author-online-presence-ecourse/

Karen Cioffi Professional Writing Services
http://karencioffifreelancewriter.com/karen-cioffi-writing-services/

~~~~~

Add a Comment

As a freelance, especially a full-timer who relies on steady income, it's important to find some kind of balance with my cash flow. If there's one constant in freelance, it's this: some months are busier than others.





How do I handle those slow moments? I tackle my "to do when I have time" list. No, this laundry list isn't filled with household chores. It's not a "honey do" slate of activities I'm unable to execute, like the one I have for my husband.

Instead, this list pertains to my writing business. Here are a few ways I keep occupied when I'm between assignments:

• Contact editors at places I've been published. If I haven't written for a particular magazine or newspaper for a few months or even a few years, I draw up a list of ideas and pitch them. Immediately.
• Review old files. What articles can I update for a new feature? Which articles can be revised and sold as a reprint?
• Update my portfolio. I like to add my latest work and hopefully, my portfolio shows how I've expanded my expertise.
• Revise my website. Now, don't make this task more difficult than it sounds! Remove old articles and links, add new clips, update news. This process can be a time sucker! I just finished scanning 10 years of clips and am going to finally add my best pieces in a variety of formats.
• Clean the office. Or, as my husband says, rearrange the junk. It's organized chaos, but I know where everything is located. I give my desk a thorough cleaning, file paperwork, and rearrange the furniture. Change does a writer good! :)
• Research. I've mentioned it before, but I'm a Post-It note queen. When inspiration strikes, I jot it on a post it and stick it to any available space on my desk. This is when I begin grabbing those individual notes of goodness and decide my strategy for my next project.
• Network. This task isn't just for down time. Writers should always be networking and promoting their work.

At some point, every writer will experience a slow down. It's the natural ebb and flow of the writing business. Having a plan of attack for those calm moments will keep you focused on the writing bottom line.

Blog post and photo by LuAnn Schindler. Visit LuAnn's "I-need-some-down-time-so-I-can-update-my-website" website at http://luannschindler.com.

Add a Comment