Honest and pragmatic advice for how authors, consultants, and speakers can leverage your website to build authority and trust with your audience. Squarespace specialist. Introvert, British-born, cake loving, contented California resident.
If it doesn't fit, don't force it
Hello Reader, (Pre-S: if you want me to start work on your new website November 27, please scroll down) Based on the email marketing messages I receive from "experts" who have been doing this for several years, there seem to be 2 distinct camps forming:
I'm pretty sure Option 1 drives better business results. After all, when I build a website, I always tell my client that we need to keep the number of choices on the page small, preferably prioritizing one key action above all else. Experts like ConvertKit tell us, for email marketing, this is the way to do it. And yet: I still get plenty of Option 2 communications from people who have a successful business, that makes them happy. My head tells me to join the Option 1 crowd. My heart, on the other hand, prefers Option 2. You see, I'm not really a fan of receiving weekly updates from professionals like me. The story is usually contrived, the "nurturing" feels forced, and these communications usually focus on selling me something, instead of simply connecting and finding shared interests. (And, do you really need to hear weekly from a website designer?) On the other hand, I like the take what you want and leave the rest mentality of Option 2. That means, although I've tried repeatedly to climb on the send-weekly-one-thing-only wagon, I just can't do it. Today, therefore, here is your "pick and mix" selection of links and resources. I hope there is something here that you find useful. What about you? Are you a weekly emailer? Less frequent? ...Not at all? How to build an author websiteI was honored to collaborate with the folks at Booklinker on an epic article all about building your author website. This is not a quick read(!), but it contains oodles of great tips (mostly mine, with a few from the Booklinker team), and it has a handy table of contents to help you navigate. It features several website screenshots from my past clients, plus one or two DIY sites that are doing a great job. Make a cup of tea, then read it here, and don't forget to keep Booklinker in mind, especially if you'd like to sell your work to an international audience with convenient book retailer links. You might have missed: advice special!This round-up is all about advice, including the stuff that I ignored for too long, the nudge from Squarespace that you can safely ignore, and how to evaluate the deluge of opinions about how to launch your book.
Client spotlight: Garry ColeI love when an author comes to me well ahead of the book's publication date. Garry Cole, whose nonfiction title Are We Old Yet? will be released in 2024, hired me as soon as his book cover and blurb were finalized. Together, we created a friendly but professional online home for his casual conversation about aging. Not only is Garry off and running with building his author email list, he's also begun blogging and has fantastic engagement on his post about his recent class reunion. After working with me, Garry said: "Pauline exceeded my high expectations. The process was efficient and effective. Two weeks and I had my website as promised. Her slight British accent is definitely a bonus. Most important I love the website and so does my target audience." You're warmly invited to check out Garry's new website, and join the conversation. Are you my client for Nov 27 - Dec 8?
If you want this last remaining 2023 slot, please learn more and schedule our chat as soon as possible.
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Take care, Pauline #TLDR: Why I'm not emailing you every week, and probably never will
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Websites for Authors, Consultants. and Speakers
Honest and pragmatic advice for how authors, consultants, and speakers can leverage your website to build authority and trust with your audience. Squarespace specialist. Introvert, British-born, cake loving, contented California resident.
Hello Reader, There's a famous expression in Britain (or maybe it's worldwide, I'm not sure), that you wait ages for a bus, and then three come along at once. Today I'm popping into your inbox to mention a trio of conversations that I hope you'll find useful, entertaining, or both. And... there's a book giveaway, too! 1) Tomorrow (Nov 15) - roundtable discussion: Escape Marketing Overwhelm I'm taking part in this candid conversation about why business owners do too much marketing, and how to...
Hello Reader, Which website service would you like me to discount? I don't always do a Black Friday offer. I'm not a fan of the commercial frenzy that erupts in late November, and the noise in my inbox can be absolutely deafening. However. I'm running a business selling website design services, and income matters! I also have a gap in my client schedule in early December. So this year, I decided to have some fun and ask you to help me choose my Black Friday offer. I've come up with 4 options...
Hello Reader, Do you ever find that you start to write an email to your subscribers, and it turns into a marathon effort where you're composing so many careful thoughts, you practically have a blog post? That happens to me a lot, so I'm making an effort not to get wordy today. Instead, I'm introducing a few things, and linking to where you can read more. First up, color! In my opinion, every time of year is a good time to geek out about colors and website color choices... however, hue, value,...