Effective Author Websites Mimic Unicycles

by Lars Clausen

Five tips from a unicycling author. Lars Clausen is the first person to unicycle through all 50 states — a 9,136 mile, Guinness-World-Record-setting adventure.

1. Unicycles catch the eye. Just as unicyclists create a stir wherever they go, that same excitement must grab the reader who comes to your website. “At last, something worth more than a single click.”

2. “Who is that unicyclist?”  More people than I can remember pulled off rural highways in Montana and across the country to ask what I was doing on my big 36” Coker unicycle, riding across the middle of nowhere.  “When did you learn? How fast can you ride?  How old were you when you started?”  People who stopped to visit took content home to tell their children around the dinner table.  A website must have content worth remembering.

3. Unicyclists are flexible. An effective writer’s website adapts to changing conditions.  Books, by nature, are rigid static things once they come off the press.  Don’t let your website be the same.  Ask any author about their career, and you’ll hear the story of a winding road.  Your website must be able to reflect the changes in your life and your book.
Many authors are intimidated about getting a website for reasons of technology and for reasons of perfection.  Good websites today are affordable, as easy to use as a word processor, and allow unlimited flexibility.  Unlike the typo that you have to live with in a published book, a good author website makes it simple to change your site to incorporate every improvement and addition.

4. Unicyclists balance: The first time a unicyclist captures the balance and rides unassisted is an unforgettable day.  So too, the writer who hits that perfect balance and provides exactly what the reader needs, feels a memorable thrill.  A flexible website lets you keep optimizing your balance, tuning your message, and perfecting your delivery to target the world of readers.  The solitary work of writing is completely different than the public work of marketing. Get a newsletter that’s easy to use, and keep your readers current.  Authors are experts. Websites share the wisdom.
 
5. Unicyclists prepare: The publication date for your book is like the start of the parade for a unicyclist.  And no unicyclist waits until parade time to learn to ride.  Frontlist season passes almost as quickly as a parade.  Don’t wait until the crowd gathers to start your website.  Act now so that you’re ready to catch people’s eye when your book arrives.  Begin early so your content will be full and rich.  Practice in advance so that you’ll have good balance and flexibility when publication date comes and you’re in the spotlight.  The worldwide Internet parade route crowd is one billion people strong.  Don’t miss the parade.

Catch the eye.  Deliver content.  Stay flexible.  Balance well to deliver your message on target. Enjoy the parade. An effective website should be the most valuable marketing tool of your publishing journey.

About the Author: Lars Clausen helps authors balance in the online world.  He works for American Author, websites for authors, (www.AmericanAuthor.com).  He received a 2005 Benjamin Franklin Finalist Award for  Best New Voice in non-fiction: ONE WHEEL – MANY SPOKES: USA by Unicycle.  (www.onewheel.org). 

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