Website Ideas for Writers
(www.websiteideas4writers.com)

Writers, as a group, desperately need help with their websites.

For many reasons writers are often on their own when designing a savvy plan for their websites and other online marketing. There are some obstacles to overcome: 1) techno-phobia, 2) lack of funds, and 3) limited time. 

But writers know they need an Internet presence, so they do what they can to get something … anything … posted.  As a result, many of their websites are unfocused and ineffective.  I hate to say it, but many of these websites actually detract from a writer’s professionalism. 

I have two or three presentations especially for writers that strip away some of the mystery about websites.

A webmaster since 1994, I have created websites for professionals and businesses. Recently, I’ve focused much of my attention on writers’ websites. After my double session for the Maryland Writers’ Association in 2004, several attendees told me that it had been the best presentation they’d attended on any subject.  While I’d like to claim that it was due to my superior teaching skills, it’s more probably because writers, as a group, desperately need help with their websites. 

First presentation:

Topics include:

· Mounting your own site vs. group sites;
· Defining the purpose and focus of your site;
· Writing for the Internet—how to present your story;
· Understanding the fundamentals of webpage design—developing a critical eye;
· Maintaining your site for the long run.

Second Presentation:

Set up your website to monitor its effectiveness. Internet marketing is a process, not an event. 

Topics include:

· Mysteries of search engine spiders;
· Effective use of directories;
· Myths of link swapping and other so-called wisdoms;
· Using metatags for control;
· How to ensure return visitors;
· Using a media page.

Third presentation:

Creating a sticky website

An effective website is one of the most useful marketing tools a writer can have, but writing for a website is different from writing a book or article. 

Topics include:

· Telling a compelling story—it’s not the same as writing for print;
· A webpage is a visual medium and should look more like a billboard or a TV ad than a document; 
· Don’t bore your surfers with say, a gallery of tiny photos to click;
· How to entice your website visitors to return again and again.

Fourth presentation:

Websites for Unpublished Writers

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Bio:

Ginny Stibolt taught technical writing at a  community college in Maryland before she opened a computer retail store in 1981. She and her staff sold computers with 16K (!) of memory, and taught beginning to advanced computing courses.  In those days, the general population had no idea of what to do with a computer.  Ginny has been working with computers professionally ever since. 

In 1994, Ginny developed and maintained the website for her software company until she sold the business in 2000. She then worked for the Business and Computer Division at another Maryland community college where she developed the division's web pages and taught business and computer courses.  Always the entrepreneur, she started Sky-bolt Enterprises in 2001. Ginny has a mission to help writers and other professionals maximize their web presence through practical design and good marketing. She’s been known to contact perfect strangers with ideas for their webpages. www.websiteideas4writers.com  

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Please let me know if you need more information or references.

Ginny Stibolt
www.websiteideas4writers.com   
mailto:gstibolt@sky-bolt.com

© Sky-Bolt Enterprises 2001-2008

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