Author platform with nothing published?

[Keith]

OK, Goodreaders, what do you think? I've resisted the urge to create an author platform (basically, a domain name with attendant website and blog) because, well, I haven't published anything. However, I've visited a number of other author's web sites that still seem to be in the midst of writing (e.g., nothing published, conventionally or self), so I seem to be behind the curve. I already have a blog, completely unrelated to writing (though I have posted a few times about my writing efforts), yet after several years of regular posts, no one reads it (Google analytics was telling me I'd generally get between 1 and 5 hits per day back when I often made daily updates; now I haven't posted in months so I would expect zero hits). It seems rather pointless to create yet another blog that no one will visit, yet it seems to be an expectation that an author already have a website and blog before they're published. It seems very chicken and egg to me. I wonder what other writers here think as well as any readers who might be curious about (as yet) unpublished writers.

Yes, I know about Facebook, Twitter, etc., but I started coding in HTML decades ago so don't need a web page to create a web page for me. I'll do whatever is required of me, but I figure FB would be nothing more than a redirect to my web site and Tweets not much more than teases for the same result. I've read plenty of pages about social media and what I get out of them is do what works for me and I feel confident I can blog and maintain a website (even if it's boring by today's standards). I'd like to focus comments on should I get a domain name for my 'brand' and start posting information there or not.

FYI: after some substantial rework, I'm going back to querying my first novel. I have another one done and a third about 80% as well as several other outlines (in the series and independent). I have a number of short stories related to my series I intend to put as teases on an author site, so I believe I have some content to put out, but if no one is going to read it, it seems like time I could better spend writing.

Whachuthink?

[Roughseasinthemed]

If the blog is the link available on your profile, it's not exactly user friendly. Which may explain lack of users/comments.

Blogging isn't about coding and computer geekery, it's about decent writing, good layout, visual presentation, photos, and interraction. Trust me. I've been doing it for ten years. How many other blogs do you visit and comment on?

Domain name? 50:50. Some do, eg keith.com. Others go with keith.wordpress.com. Of the authors I mix with, some have the domain, others don't bother. Very few have a standalone static site, although one has just set his up with a blog link on there. What is important is having an active blog with regular eg weekly (?) posts about whatever. Doesn't have to be writing related.

My personal blog is just that, although I do include book reviews and occasional posts on editing. I also do a monthly guest post on editing on a friend's blog. There is a great supportive writing community out there which is well worth getting in to.

If you don't wish to use a pre set-up blog like WP, then I suggest you revamp your existing blog/site to add photos, spacing, different fonts so that it looks like a blog and not a scientific paper.

I've done coding too, and set up a site years back, but that's not the only issue. A community like wordpress gives you access to a lot of people ie thousands of followers.

Hope this helps.

[Keith]

That link isn't to my blog, it's to an obsolete page I've been too lazy to take down. I removed the link, thanks for reminding me.

I visit a dozen or so blogs, but tend to avoid the ones that lack a focus on content and are all about being 'cool' (I detest flash and anything animated, for instance).

I'm not totally clear, are you advocating starting an author site even though I haven't published anything?

[Roughseasinthemed]

Yeah, I realised I hadn't stated the obvious. Sorry. The classic advice is to start your blog/site BEFORE you publish so you have already established readership/following/interest.

You can write about what you are working on and include excerpts (but not too many for publication reasons) but usually adding some personal info is what adds the interest.

I also forgot to say, I do agree with you about FB and Twitter.

I visit loads of blogs. I don't like flash or animated either. I also don't have the patience to watch videos, and while I like to see a few photos, I find 40 or so a little OTT.

So yes. The answer is you plan in advance. If you want to get a contract, you will be asked about your social media presence.

[Keith]

Thanks! Now I have to convince my boss at home that the incremental cost of a new domain name is trivial in comparison to what I've spent on editing and beta reading.

[Roughseasinthemed]

Or, start with a basic blog and then upgrade to a domain name, often from ten bucks upwards – allegedly – and when you have a decent following/readership/regular commenters, the boss will be convinced :)

[Anna]

I think it's a good idea to have an author website long before you publish. In your case it sounds like you have the content planned out and you seem interested in having a website (no point in putting up a site if you aren't actually interested in having one), so I think you should go for it.

I'm a self-published author and I only got my website/blog up months after I published my first book. I wish I'd started blogging and networking earlier. I know several writers who started building an author platform before publishing and it's working great for them.

[Keith]

She doesn't yield to quantitative data well. Or, rather, has been convinced of the stats showing the prohibitive odds of me ever recovering the 'investment' I've already made and knows how hard it is to get me to stop paying for something once I've got attached to it (I have two domains and three corporations, none of which do anything to pay for their ~$3K annual cost).

[Keith]

Thanks Anna!

[Roughseasinthemed]

Whereas I have a number of free wordpress blogs … one of which does bring in income. Strategic rethink called for?

[Keith]

I can babble easily, but trying to get my babble to make money is the challenge. My blog is called The Fount of Useless Information because I'm jammed packed with odd bits of information that, at least to this point, hasn't made me a dime. It does entertain my wife, though (we usually spend 4 hours a weekend traveling too/fro our weekend house), so I guess it has at least that value.

I don't have the interest to promote a blog, which is why I know I'm useless for self publishing. Most of the time I think this writing thing is a waste of time and energy, but I can't help myself. The boss has kindly agreed to the expense of readers and editors, but is starting to show friction that the flow is continuing.

Maybe I'll look into Wordpress.com (I use Wordpress for my blog already, but it is my own copy) as it seems it might be feasible to embed it if I get a domain at some point.

[Barbara]

Don't expect your future publisher to do all the publicity for you. You'll need a website/blog and I think interaction is the secret here. You need to interact with your (potential) readers. Every time I get a newsletter from an author I take a quick look, sometimes to read an article or to check out a giveaway. Of course that means you must have something to offer (e.g. an new short story).

I wouldn't wait until your novel will be publlished.

[Keith]

Thanks Barbara!