With readers moving to the web to consume literary content, the online publishing industry has grown in scale to provide users access to a wider range of reading materials. This presents an opportunity for writers to widen their audience reach and build a following for their work. Building a publisher web site of their own also provides them with a platform where they can share their work without having to go through a middleman.
Self publishing is a common activity as we continue to move our reading materials into the digital world. It’s a good way for writers to earn an income from content production and also establish a platform for talented creatives to be more proactive about showcasing their work and making it available.
If you’re looking to build your own business as a writer, building publishers websites is a good way to start. Your site can be your platform for monetizing your work and even provide opportunities for fellow creatives to showcase their talents to the rest of the world. With that in mind, here are a few tips on how you can build a successful publisher website.
1. Create a marketing plan and identify your niche
Whether you’re a budding writer looking to self publish or a publisher planning to take his or her business online, it’s important to create a plan for creating your website. Identify your objectives for building your site and determine what key performance indicators you should track for measuring the success of your plan.
Many publishers recommend curating content for a publishers website under a specific industry or niche topic that you are particularly passionate about. This makes it easier to frame your message to suit your target audience. While it may be tempting to cover different topics when you’re just starting out, a more streamlined approach to content curation will help you plan your marketing campaign better.
2. Select a suitable template
Building a publisher website is possible even when you have no web development knowledge or web design background. With Strikingly’s publisher website templates, you can set up your own full-featured site within minutes. Go over our template selection and choose a design that suits your preference. All templates are designed to be mobile responsive and can be expanded to include different features such as ebook download integrations, online store platforms and custom forms.
3. Customize your website
It’s possible to create a unique online space out of your publisher websites template. We recommend that you take the time to experiment on the different customization options that are available on Strikingly’s website editor. Explore the different color schemes provided or add your own colors to your site. There are also a wide range of font options that you can try out through the Styles editor. Discover new layouts and ways of presenting information to your visitors. Do not be afraid to experiment. You can even switch publisher web templates if you change your mind about your choice.
4. Write engaging copy
Finally, a publisher website is primarily a marketing vehicle. Writing engaging copy is crucial to the success of your site. They say it only takes a few seconds to create a first good impression. Make sure that your copy attracts your visitor’s interest.
Speak directly to your audience and clearly state why a book in your curated list is worth a read. Create fresh content by adding a blog feature. Blogging about your niche topic. Add a forum to your website to create a community of like-minded individuals and facilitate discussions and book reviews to keep the engagement alive.
