Publishing a Website - A good idea for writers

Jake Alexander

If you're a serious writer, you should have a website. Here are five ways that publishing a website can serve you.

A showcase for your portfolio - Your website can serve as a showcase and an electronic portfolio. You can display your resume, as well as a more detailed bio, a list of your writing credits, and other related experience you may have. You can display copies of your writing as well as links to locations on the web where viewer can find your published works. Your website will give you an easy way to add value to your queries and proposals simply by adding the web address of your online portfolio.

A stage for exploration - Your website can provide a platform for trying our new writing forms and styles. For example, suppose you have a lot of experience in writing software reviews, but you'd really like to cover automotive topics or the fashion industry. Your website will give you an outlet for exploring and demonstrating your abilities. Your site will help you get exposure and possibly paying assignments in the new areas.

A link to your name in the search engines - By linking your articles to your website and your name you can build associations and links between your name and various topics. This will cause your name to show up in search engine results page for topic keywords that readers and publishers may be using to search.

A way to build your brand - As a writer, your name is your brand. You have to keep your name in front of publishers, editors, and readers so that it is linked to your areas of expertise. By linking to as many of your articles and essays as you can on the web, you'll make it that much easier for people to find you.

A way to earn some extra money - By publishing a website filled with examples of your writing and commentaries you can make money from pay-per-click ads placed on your site. You can also get paid by writing reviews or displaying ads for affiliate programs where you collect a commission for sales that occur as a result of your referrals. As your site grows in size, your money making opportunities will grow with it.

Publishing a website can not only help your career but give you enjoyable way of building your brand and getting you name out in the public eye. Because it can put cash in your pocket, it can also become addictive. Just make sure you keep your sights on what you really want to do and avoid letting your web mastering activities detour you from your goals.