I am so proud of myself. While I try to practice what I preach, I don’t always succeed. But this time I did it! Perhaps you’ve noticed that I’ve been quiet for a couple of days. That’s because I’ve been spending every free moment updating my website.
Do you recall my rant in the last blog entry (March 27)—about outdated websites with broken links and nonexistent or bad contact information? I complained about how time-consuming and frustrating it can be when you are trying to conduct research where the links are mostly bad or broken, the information outdated and the contact links dead.
After posting that blog, I visited my own website and realized that my last major update was way back in 2004—5 years ago. For shame! I checked some of the links on my Resources Page and discovered some that are no longer available—they lead nowhere. Neglect can certainly render a valuable site useless and I did not want this to happen to mine. So I dropped what I was doing and began the lengthy, tedious process of checking every link, omitting those that are no good, adding new links I’ve discovered in recent months (but only after checking them to make sure they were solid). My bio appears in different forms on several pages at my site and I updated these.
Here’s a hint: Use dates instead of numbers of years when stating how long you’ve been writing or editing or whatever. Then this aspect of your site won’t get outdated. Use loose figures for indicating numbers of articles you’ve placed or number of clients you’ve worked with. Rather than writing 300, 425, 25 or whatever, say, for example, “dozens,” “several hundred,” “hundreds.” Then you won’t have to make changes until your “dozens” becomes “hundreds,” or your “hundreds” become “thousands.”
When it comes to number of books you’ve produced, you want that number to be precise. You may have to go in and change that whenever you add a new book.
How often should a website be updated? I don’t know the rule of thumb. Ideally, you would update it every time there is a change or something new to report. But let’s vow to go in and check links on our Resource Pages, add new articles, resources, client/customer testimonials, etc. at least once a year. And be sure to post the date of the update on each page affected so visitors will know that the material is current.
It’s a bit more awkward for those of us who rely on someone else to maintain and manage our websites. I made the changes over the weekend, but I don’t know when my webmaster will have time to plug them all in. So don’t go rushing to my website to study the new links, read the newly posted articles, take a look at the fresh testimonials, etc.—not until I give you the word.
Stay tuned. I’ll let you know when everything is updated. Then we’ll have a giant open house at http://www.matilijapress.com
In the meantime, I want to hear how it’s going with your website update. Are you so well disciplined and web savvy that you keep your site updated? Is it a habit you’ve established? Or are you a bit lax about maintaining your website? When is the last time you revised pages at your site? If I go to your site will I find the most current information about you and your book or work? If I click “contact,” will I quickly find your current email address? If so, congratulations. If not, let this be a reminder as to how important it is to make the most accurate, timely presentation possible at your website. It is, after all, your storefront, your business card, your way of making an impression.
Take a look at your website. What sort of impression are you making to the public who purposely go there or who stumble across it? Does it say what you want it to say about you? Does it provide the message you wish to share? Does it give enough value that people will want to stick around for a while, return often and, perhaps, even purchase some of your products or services?
Read pages 241-245 in The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book for ideas and tips for building or revamping your author’s website. Order your copy now: http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
Let’s do something about it this week. I want to hear from you with regard to your website.
Leave your comment below.