An author isn’t just a writer. A successful author is a businessperson as well. One of the most crucial keys to success is the visibility of one’s work. How do we achieve such visibility?

The foundation of one’s marketing efforts must include an online presence. Most authors know this, and will come to the point where they must decide whether to have a website (yes), how to get started, which platform to use, and how much it will cost.

If you are at this point, I hope you were at our February 23 meeting, because the folks with the answers were there, explaining all this and more for us.

Thanks to the panel of Michelle Bassett, Seamus O’Connor, Victor Swatsek, and Robert Rosario of IncubizGroup.com. They were so helpful and informative.

Click here and here for Michelle’s handouts. I’d especially like to draw your attention to the platform she’s using, Pub-site.com, which is specifically designed for authors.

Here is Victor’s handout, wherein he lays out the many reasons an author needs a website! So helpful.

A special thanks to Robert Rosario, who emphasized the need to think beyond the website to the entire publicity picture. For more information about the elements which can help improve author visibility, contact Robert at Incubizgroup.com

And thanks to George Gurney for moderating the panel. George uses WordPress, and his website is here.

Just FYI, if you’re not ready for a website and would simply like to create a “billboard” where your friends and future customers might find you online, you might check out About.me which is described in this article. I have an About.me page (in addition to my website) and it’s easy to customize. You can see mine here.

–

Writer’s Corner

Thanks to Jim Hitt for enlightening us as to agreement between subject and verb. He also shared inspiring quotes from writers, if you’re looking to steal one for your Pinterest Author Board! His handouts are here and here.

–

Straitjackets Magazine

JoLynne Buehring, Editor of Straitjackets Magazine, reminded us that submissions are now open for the Spring edition of Straitjackets. Members may submit their work as described on this page.

–

Next Month’s Program

Book Reviews: Your No. 1 Key to Successful Marketing

–

This blog post was prepared by Lynne Spreen, President of the DVWG. Lynne writes women’s fiction with romantic themes. You may access her website here and her books here.