Whether you’re an author or writer, you should have a website.
Your website is your online home.
But what if your site is fumbling and gasping for air?
What if no one is actively engaging on your site and you’re not sure what to do?
Don’t panic.
With a little planning, patience, and the right mindset, you can revive your floundering website.
Here are 10 tips:
#1 Do a thorough overhaul.
-Do all of your internal links work?
-Is everything pointing where you want it to point?
-Are your marketing strategies working to drive traffic to your website?
This process should be handled thoughtfully and carefully, with attention to detail.
One or two broken links may mean the difference in hundreds of visitors. Search engines don’t like broken links; they can penalized you for them.
If you don’t have the time or inclination to check every page of your website and make sure your links work, you might outsource it to a virtual administrator who has strong attention to detail.
A warning: Make sure you trust the person you’re allowing to access your website.
#2 Blog on a regular basis.
Blogging regularly keeps search engines happy and shows people your website is active.
The more often you blog, the better, but it needs to be consistent, so find what will work for you.
At one time, I blogged three times a week, but it became too much. Now I try to blog once a week consistently.
#3 Start participating in relevant forums.
Network on relevant forums. Drive traffic to your author or writer website, and once they're there, engage them with information they’ll want to read.
Be personable when you’re networking on forums. Create a profile, actively participate in discussions, and be sure to include a link to your website in your signature to drive traffic.
#4 Participate in social networking sites.
Just as you’d participate on relevant industry forums, do the same on social networking sites.
Share all your blog posts to your social networks. Be sure to have an engaging blog title and description.
Also include a link to your website in all your posts.
Just as important, share other users’ content on a regular basis. You should also leave comments now and then. Just be sure the content you share is relevant to your website’s topic.
#5 Send out virtual invitations and use word of mouth.
If you want more activity on your website, invite people to stop by. You can lure them with promotions, contests, or sweepstakes; just be sure you follow through once they’re there.
#6 Blog all about it.
Start creating a stir on your website through blogging. Blog about topics related to your site.
If possible, spark a discussion and post valuable content people will want to link back to and share.
You might consider guest blogging too. Always include a link back to your website.
#7 Increase the offerings.
Sometimes all it takes is a little incentive to get people motivated again.
If your website is gasping for breath, breathe new life into it by offering a few good freebies or a new feature to add energy.
#8 Add video.
Create short videos, upload them to your site, and share them to your social media accounts.
As an example, I’m a children’s ghostwriter and coach. I’m in the process of creating short, minute-long clips explaining why hiring a professional writer or coach can be helpful.
#9 Use visuals in your marketing.
I create an image for every blog post I publish. That image appears on my social networks and helps people quickly determine whether my article will be of interest to them.
I also create visual blurbs for my books and writing services.
People are attracted to visuals.
#10 Be vigilant.
Keep participation and the conversation going. Websites fail when people stop visiting and stop being engaged.
This happens when you become lazy in your marketing.
Are you blogging? Are people sharing your posts? Are they leaving comments?
Give them something to be interested in, something they want to read and share.
Keep the conversation going.
I’m a working children’s writer, editor, and self-publishing specialist. I help turn your idea, outline, or manuscript into a book you’ll be proud to call your own—and provide hands-on guidance through every step of the self-publishing process.
OTHER HELP I OFFER:
HOW TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S FICTION BOOK
A 200+ page book that will help you write your own children’s book.
FICTION WRITING FOR CHILDREN eCOURSE
4- to 12-Week / Instructor Guided Self-Study Program
WRITERS ON THE MOVE SELF-PUBLISHING GUIDANCE & SERVICES
Self-publishing help for children’s authors (picture books and chapter books)
You can contact me at kcioffiventrice@gmail.com
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