Today I am all about websites. I am redesigning mine this spring and I am wondering, in this age of social networking sites, what the function of an author website is. Back in the day–and by that I mean maybe five years ago–the thing to do was to have a snazzy website that attracted readership. Now, I am not so certain that people use websites like they did. Will you help me figure out what my website needs to have? I have come up with a little quiz to help guide my thinking:
1. In your opinion, the most important thing that a website must have is:
a. easy navigation
b. updated content
c. a great look
d. all of these, none of these, you really missed the boat, Julia, and here’s how (fill in the blank).
2. The sort of content I look for in a website is:
a. accolades, list placement, great reviews, latest news
b. stuff about the author’s books
c. stuff about the author (including contests)
d. some of the above, none of the above, I don’t know, or, here’s a clue: (fill in the blank).
3. I usually go to websites to:
a. get a printable booklist
b. read the news
c. search the backlist
d. Oooh, you missed it again. I usually go to websites to (fill in the blank)
4. I would like:
a. to see a message board on a website so I can hang out with the author and other like-minded people
b. I don’t want a message board — that’s what Facebook is about! I can hang out with her and my friends, too.
c. I am not hanging out with the author at her website or Facebook. That’s what great blogs like this are for.
d. I don’t know what to say.
5. In February, I visited author websites:
a. not even once
b. 1-2 times
c. 3 or more times
d. Nope. I visited authors on Facebook
e. I have enough on my plate. I didn’t visit authors anywhere.
6. As a promotional tool, I think Twitter
a. is great! It works for a quick update on books or author news.
b. I seriously don’t get Twitter
7. If I could advise any author anything about their websites, it would be:
a. fill in the blank
Thanks, you guys! Your input is very helpful to me in trying to redesign my website. If you want to take a look and tell me if there is anything you’d like to see differently, more prominently, or not at all, go here!