By Kathy S. Crawford
Keywords: web site, domain name, web host
A Web site is a tool that allows writers to present their work to the world. A potential agent, publisher or employer can view your writing portfolio by simply searching your Web site. Although some writers may see this opportunity as a challenge, it can be worth the investment of time and money. With some information about domain names, Web hosts and design, writers can build their own professional Web sites.
Domain Name:
Select a domain name that is both unique and easy to remember. It also should contain lowercase letters with no spaces or symbols, except a colon, hyphen, forward slash or period.
Check if the domain name is available by visiting the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, at www.internic.net. Click on "Whois" at the top of the page, and type your desired domain name in the box with an extension, usually .com or .net. Non-profit organizations or institutions generally use the other extensions. Hit submit, and the search will reveal if the domain name is already registered. If it is available, you can register your Web site's domain name for a fee by selecting a registrar at www.internic.net. Registrars vary in price, so you should do some comparisons.
Web Host:
Select a Web host. Some Web hosts will offer to register your domain name as part of the package for choosing their service. Make sure the Web host is an approved registrar by checking with ICANN at the address listed above. You can also see if your Internet service provider offers free Web hosting like Yahoo or Tripod do. Be aware that your Web site address might be long and hard to remember when using a free service, and the company will likely put advertisements on your Web site.
Be creative when planning your Web site's structure. It is common to include a welcome letter on your homepage, along with contact information. Consider your audience when writing content. Remember that people are impatient when waiting for information to upload, nor do they like to scroll the page. If you include photos on your Web site, compress them. Likewise, avoid using animation and unnecessary graphics. Ideally, the total space that one page takes up will be no more than 40 KB.
Almost all Web hosts have templates and user-friendly tools for designing pages. A template will have pre-programmed navigation links that saves you time when building a Web site. You will have the option to type text directly onto a page and format it, or upload HTML and PDF files to the page. Be sure to save all photos as JPGs or GIFs. You may prefer to create your pages if you are familiar with HTML coding or an authoring system like Dreamweaver.
Design:
Incorporate elements of design into your Web site. The pages of your Web site should have consistencies in color or font, although some contrast may be good, too. For example, choose a character attribute, such as bold or italics, for a title or subcategory and use regular text for the body. Use horizontal lines, photos and graphics to add balance. Refrain from using dark background colors with light text, as it is difficult to read and may not print well.
Writers use creativity when writing, and building a Web site is just another form of creativity that involves a domain name and Web host. Approach it with the same preparation, organization and professionalism as your writing, and your Web site will be a powerful and convenient tool.
Kathy S. Crawford is a freelance ghostwriter for Writers Research Group and freelance reporter for a weekly paper, The Landmark, covering city government. She is also a part-time reporter on the city desk of the St. Joseph News-Press, a daily newspaper with a circulation of 35,000. Kathy graduated magna cum laude from Missouri Western State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism in May 2007, and she's been staying busy ever since doing what she loves: writing. Kathy enjoys photography, birding, dabbling in fiction and gardening when she gets a moment to herself.
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