I am so proud of myself. While I try to practice what I preach, I don\u2019t always succeed. But this time I did it! Perhaps you\u2019ve noticed that I\u2019ve been quiet for a couple of days. That\u2019s because I\u2019ve been spending every free moment updating my website.<\/p>\n
Do you recall my rant in the last blog entry (March 27)\u2014about outdated websites with broken links and nonexistent or bad contact information? I complained about how time-consuming and frustrating it can be when you are trying to conduct research where the links are mostly bad or broken, the information outdated and the contact links dead.<\/p>\n
After posting that blog, I visited my own website and realized that my last major update was way back in 2004\u20145 years ago. For shame! I checked some of the links on my Resources Page and discovered some that are no longer available\u2014they lead nowhere. Neglect can certainly render a valuable site useless and I did not want this to happen to mine. So I dropped what I was doing and began the lengthy, tedious process of checking every link, omitting those that are no good, adding new links I\u2019ve discovered in recent months (but only after checking them to make sure they were solid). My bio appears in different forms on several pages at my site and I updated these. <\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a hint: Use dates instead of numbers of years when stating how long you\u2019ve been writing or editing or whatever. Then this aspect of your site won\u2019t get outdated. Use loose figures for indicating numbers of articles you\u2019ve placed or number of clients you\u2019ve worked with. Rather than writing 300, 425, 25 or whatever, say, for example, \u201cdozens,\u201d \u201cseveral hundred,\u201d \u201chundreds.\u201d Then you won\u2019t have to make changes until your \u201cdozens\u201d becomes \u201chundreds,\u201d or your \u201chundreds\u201d become \u201cthousands.\u201d<\/p>\n
When it comes to number of books you\u2019ve produced, you want that number to be precise. You may have to go in and change that whenever you add a new book. <\/p>\n
How often should a website be updated? I don\u2019t know the rule of thumb. Ideally, you would update it every time there is a change or something new to report. But let\u2019s vow to go in and check links on our Resource Pages, add new articles, resources, client\/customer testimonials, etc. at least once a year. And be sure to post the date of the update on each page affected so visitors will know that the material is current.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a bit more awkward for those of us who rely on someone else to maintain and manage our websites. I made the changes over the weekend, but I don\u2019t know when my webmaster will have time to plug them all in. So don\u2019t go rushing to my website to study the new links, read the newly posted articles, take a look at the fresh testimonials, etc.\u2014not until I give you the word. <\/p>\n
Stay tuned. I\u2019ll let you know when everything is updated. Then we\u2019ll have a giant open house at http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a> <\/p>\n In the meantime, I want to hear how it\u2019s going with your website update. Are you so well disciplined and web savvy that you keep your site updated? Is it a habit you\u2019ve established? Or are you a bit lax about maintaining your website? When is the last time you revised pages at your site? If I go to your site will I find the most current information about you and your book or work? If I click \u201ccontact,\u201d will I quickly find your current email address? If so, congratulations. If not, let this be a reminder as to how important it is to make the most accurate, timely presentation possible at your website. It is, after all, your storefront, your business card, your way of making an impression. <\/p>\n Take a look at your website. What sort of impression are you making to the public who purposely go there or who stumble across it? Does it say what you want it to say about you? Does it provide the message you wish to share? Does it give enough value that people will want to stick around for a while, return often and, perhaps, even purchase some of your products or services?<\/p>\n Read pages 241-245 in The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em><\/strong> for ideas and tips for building or revamping your author’s website. Order your copy now: http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html<\/a> <\/p>\n Let\u2019s do something about it this week. I want to hear from you with regard to your website. I am so proud of myself. While I try to practice what I preach, I don\u2019t always succeed. But this time I did it! Perhaps you\u2019ve noticed that I\u2019ve been quiet for a couple of days. That\u2019s because I\u2019ve been spending every free moment updating my website. Do you recall my rant in the last […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\nLeave your comment below. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"