Is it useful to have a static webpage?

IMO, YMMV yada yada

I think a static page is better than nothing, provided it's professional looking and fits with the sort of stuff you write. At least when they google you (and they do) they'll find something.


I know what you mean about the blogging (I've been very sporadic the last month or so , and I can never think what to blog about, but it's worth attempting.) You could always have guest bloggers, or think of a theme that you could do multiple posts on. Or you could join a group blog that you could link to from your site - you don't have to post so often but the blog itself is updated regularly. I belong to 2 - one posts a free short every week ( but I only have to write one once every six months cos we have 26 writers ) and one I post about every 6-8 weeks.

If it really doesn't appeal, you could always twitter. 140 characters is a lot easier to fill! Plus you can follow editors, agents, publishers and see what's selling, what they look for in subs etc. (NOte: I have seen more than one editor tweet saying, while they wouldn't reject someone for not having a web presence, it looks much more professional if they have something going to do with writing) It just shows you're out there, communicating with your intended audience.

I have a website with a blog attached to it. The front page is static and shows my publications and a bit about me. The blog is the blog.

I just think it's a convenient way for fans (what fans? ha ha) to find me and learn more about what I'm working on.

Plenty of well-established authors have relatively static websites. I think publishers just want to see that you have a presence and that you will be capable of marketing yourself to some extent.

I don't update my blog much--I'm lucky if I do it once a month. I do, however, move things around temporarily and mess with the layout. I also add book news and stuff so at least there is something fresh at least once a month.

ardenbird said:

Would it be better to have such a page, so an agent could find me, or worse to show I'm online but not quite so modern and communicative?

And if it's okay to have a static page, does anyone know of any good examples?

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I don't have time for daily posts either so mine is basically static. I did however add a Q&A page that I post on from time to time. My medieval novel is on high school reading lists so I try to make sure I keep up with student questions for book reports and general interest. By tracking visits using www.sitemeter.com I can tell it works quite well and is accessed pretty much every day.

I second the general opinion that a static page is better than nothing - you look a bit like a dinosaur if you have no web presence at all.

A very good idea, as soon as you dabble in creating an online platform, is to register a suitable domain name. I'm lucky in having a quite uncommon name, so I was able to get annelyle.com for mine, but you might have to try a few combinations (maybe a .co.uk, or insert a hyphen?) if your top choice is already taken. As you are in the UK, I recommend registering with someone like 123-reg, who are well-established and reasonably cheap, then get an inexpensive webhosting account with someone else (saves a lot of hassle if you have problems with the web site and want to move it to another provider).

With your own domain (you can use it for email as well!), you instantly give a professional first impression for very little expense.

Anne Lyle said:

I second the general opinion that a static page is better than nothing - you look a bit like a dinosaur if you have no web presence at all.

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I'm glad this thread came up. I agree with the static page if you do not have a presence at all.

My problem is my presence. I'm probably the only person in the world with my name. It is very unusual - Sanskrit first name from my parents and unusual Scottish last name from my husband. When I Google my name, I get about 10 pages with some really old information, like an announcement for a job in 1999!! There's also rubbish information like when I signed up on some early social networking websites to get a better understanding of the media. Comments I made six years ago are still around to haunt me.

I have been querying under my maiden name, for which maybe only three insignificant entries come up.

I have a .com domain registerd in both my maiden and married last names.

I would be grateful if someone could please help with the following questions:

1) Do agents even bother to Google writers at the query stage?

2) As I have a rather strong presence with my married name, should I query using my married name instead?

3) Can I change to my maiden name if my manuscript is sold?

I would not want to use my married name for my memoir as it would embarass my husband and children. Would this matter?

Thanks.

Even if you're not querying or submitting, I think it's a good idea to have a webpage.

The first reason is the primary reason - you need to control your own Google image. Should you get published, do you want the top result on your name to be a review of your book that you can't control, or a site you do control?

The second reason is that we all know that there's a lot of stuff that doesn't belong in a query letter. For example, I like to think I'm funny and that I don't take myself too seriously. I also like to think these things are assets when working on a book. But I can't very well say "gosh, I'm funny" in a query. I can be funny...or try...on my site.

But the first reason is really the main one. Don't worry about not updating a blog very often. I don't. My traffic is all to my books page, which is how I like it Well, I'll like it more if the @#$% redesign ever goes live.

Someone like an agent might appreciate a direct informational website over whatever your last blog post was about? I have both.

Try http://about.me/ (yes, that's the actual URL) for a simple static web page. There's no reason to blog if you have nothing to blog about.