Websites from American Author.com. We get writers and authors online.

Article: Four Types of Websites

Choose Your Best Web Site Setup

by Lars Clausen

This year, for the first time, the global Internet user population will top one billion people. In today’s world, publishers who are smart about setting up their Web sites can reap marketing and promotion rewards for themselves and their authors while saving hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars.

The three most important criteria for evaluating Web site effectiveness involve features, affordability, and ease of use. It pays to consider each of them in connection with the four basic types of Web site options

Custom
In the early days of Web sites, skilled webmasters ruled the online world. Even today, most sites are designed and maintained by webmasters. Costs for designing a site are rarely less than $2000 and can run to $20,000 or more.
If you decide to have your site custom-designed, be sure to investigate each webmaster’s track record for providing timely updates.

Static
A simple two- to five-page static author Web site is a cheaper option. Typically, it features an author page, a title page, and a contact information page. Static sites usually cost hundreds, rather than thousands, of dollars but, as the name indicates, they aren’t flexible enough to grow with an author’s career. Also, they don’t provide for functions such as email management, newsletter emailings, event calendars, and online ordering. Beware of sites that are subdomains -- e.g., www.PODcompany/yourbooktitle.com. It is important to own your own domain name.

Homemade
With a web-design program such as Front Page ($199 from Microsoft) or Dreamweaver ($399 from Macromedia), it is possible to create your own Web site. For some the process is even fun. Unfortunately, the functionality of sites created with such programs is often minimal and their look is often less than professional. Those who choose to build their own sites can purchase domain names for roughly $9 - $25 a year and register with a hosting service for roughly $4 - $30 a month. Other than cost, a big advantage of homemade sites is the ability to edit content.

CMS-based
In the last few years Content Management System technology has made it possible to self-publish an effective Web site. You hire a CMS Web site company to help set up your site’s design and provide the control panel you will use to create and manage content. Some of these systems operate as simply as a word processor. Costs range from $20 to $50 per month for domain registration, hosting and access to CMS technology, depending on services. Some CMS companies also provide custom design.

To explore possibilities, search “website design, cms” and ask each company that interests you about the following features:

Page count. Will the site have enough pages so that you and your authors can share expertise, provide information, and generate sales? Will it accommodate the FAQ sheet, the press kit, and free downloads, and how easy is it to create these kinds of content?
Newsletters and Blogs. Will the site’s email management features let you send regular messages to your lists? How will the lists be organized on the site?
Online Forms. Will you be able to gather emails and information from site visitors easily?
Online store. Is online ordering available with the site? Monthly fees for online store transactions can range from $25 to $100. For independent publishers, PayPal’s free setup with no monthly fees and competitive per purchase charges provides a cost effective solution.
Creating and editing content: Will you have control over content? Are there limitations? Will the site support multiple users, such as members of a book club?
Can sections of the site be password protected to allow restricted access to coursework, online manuscript submissions or other content that should not be available to everybody?
Finally, what about technical support? Is there a human being you can call for help?

With careful research, you should be able to create an affordable effective Web site.

*This article was first published by PMA, Publishers Marketing Association. (December 2005)

About the Author: Lars Clausen works with American Author, helping authors set up content control websites, (www.AmericanAuthor.com) His book, One Wheel – Many Spokes, is a 2005 Benjamin Franklin Award recipient. He operates two websites for his books (www.onewheel.org, www.straightintogayamerica.com). He is the first person to unicycle through all 50 states.