Greetings, from Country at Heart contemporary fiction author, Deborah Vogts! We all know the story of the little engine who didn't think he could make it up the giant hill. That's sometimes how I felt this past year when I thought of everything that was involved in marketing my debut book release with Zondervan.
Last month we went over the first aspect of my marketing journey--creating a marketing budget. This month, as we continue down the marketing tracks, I want to cover some ideas for designing a web presence.
Years ago I used a blog as my author site, and for the most part, was quite happy with it. I'd created a reader base, so it had served me well. When I received my contract from Zondervan, however, I found I wanted more. After much deliberation, I decided to design an author Web site to go along with an updated blog--and so I charged up the giant hill with full steam.
I began visiting author sites and kept track of those I liked best, paying attention to colors, layout schemes, page descriptions, and author photos. When I had my list narrowed to four or five, I chugged harder, studying web designer sites and their client portfolios.
For learning purposes, some of my favorite designer sites were: pulsepointdesign.com - eagle-designs.com - novelwebsitedesign.com - authorsontheweb.com - xuni.com - authorbytes.com - waxcreative.com
From there, I requested price quotes. And that's when my little engine started spinning its wheels. Some of the designers were charging over two-thousand dollars--and I'm sure worth every penny, as their client pages were gorgeous! To add to my dilemma, I'd heard it said that your web site must look professional--an outward reflection of who you are as an author (or in other words, not cheap & dowdy). Well that's great, if you have the money . . . but this little engine didn't have that kind of money to spend. After all, I had a budget I needed to stay within.
"Oh, little engine. That hill looks mighty tall. How will I ever make it up that mountain?"
With a deep sigh, I began searching for less expensive alternatives. I considered using an updated blog. Blogs are free, and I already knew how to manage them. But a part of me really wanted a new look. So I set my chin, determined to figure out a way to make it work.
That's when I discovered a host design program called Homestead. Several of my author friends used the program and were quite happy with it. I began studying the tutorial and realized that I could indeed create an author site with nearly all the functions I'd requested of the designers--and for a smidgeon of the price.
Of course, I would have to design the pages myself--which would take time and challenge my creativity. Fortunately, Homestead's design program has an easy learning curve, and it turned out to be quite fun. Plus, I had the added advantage of being able to update my site whenever I wanted--an option I might not have had if I'd paid for a design. The company also offers a free trial period, which I took advantage of to make sure it was the right fit for my needs. After about 2 weeks, I'd designed a Web site that was a reflection of who I am as an author.
So, I went into this venture desiring the best, settling for less, and being quite satisfied with the end result.
Now, I know, many of you may not be interested in doing this work yourself, but for those who enjoy the creative aspects of web design (and who are working with a limited budget) this option may be a nice fit for you, too.
In November, we'll move on to the next challenge--publicity photos. Until then, enjoy the moments AND keep chugging up those hills . . .
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Deborah Vogts and her husband have three daughters and make their home in SE Kansas. Visit her Author Web Site to learn more about her writing and her debut book, Snow Melts in Spring, the first in the Seasons of the Tallgrass series.
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