Apr 5

Apr 5 Ep108: Website Basics (Part I of Marketing That You Own series)

Hello Writers and Crafters!

I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 108 of the podcast and it's March 28, 2023 as we record this.

Main Topic: Website Basics

PATREON:

No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast.

This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a postcard from me, a shout out on the podcast, and we can make announcements for you on air. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.

Patreon.com/strangeairstories for paranormal mysteries short stories

Comments: email from listener:

Questions from listeners:

Announcements:

1) Next Group Coaching cohort is starting soon! On sale now for $333. April 11- June 7 weekly; Tuesdays 2:00 p.m. (day and time negotiated by cohort)

UPDATE:

Valerie: Coaching and birthday stuff
Erick: website re-do

Just finished: Pilgrimage by J.F. Penn and Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan and The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden.

I'M READING: The Blackhorse by Carole Johnstone ; Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs by Suzanne Clothier; Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton.

Up Next:

Erick's Reading: Fairy Tale by Stephen King; anthologies from mom Dr Who 50th anniversary edition; Dispatches from Anarres

Show Notes:

Website (own your home; renting is risky): URLs that are you.

Sitemap shows navigational flow

Above the fold: mailing list signup and reader magnet

Pages: About/Philosophy, Coaching, Editing, Podcast/News, Shopping, Retreat, Contact Me, Testimonials

Home page: tag line/branding; About; Books; Categories of Books; Blog (can be gallery of images, podcast, video blog, showcase); reading lists, featured on... ;

#1purpose: Mailing list capture

#2 purpose: keep people there as long as possible

#3 purpose: convert to a customer

Model after authors in your genre (how to depict self, branding); and in your journey (like, one book or a step ahead of where you are)

Buy URL (claim domain name) ~$100 for two years

Get hosting (GoDaddy, BlueHost, HostGator, Squarespace)

The bigger the website, the more complex the build.

Resources:

Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group

3 Bird View FB page

Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions)

Raven Publicity (publicity for authors)