The question of whether writers need websites is a pertinent one. In my view, if you're seeking work online, a website is a necessity. But why, you may wonder? When I decided to take my freelance career seriously, I invested a significant amount of time researching online resources and formulating my marketing strategy. I questioned whether there would be sufficient work online to support my livelihood, or if I would need to resort to a print marketing campaign. Given the cost-effectiveness of email compared to paper and postage, the internet seemed a viable option. Consequently, I created a website, which I anticipated would serve three main purposes.
Firstly, having a website lends a professional image. In today's digital age, a web address is as commonplace as a telephone or fax number. Therefore, in terms of projecting a tech-savvy image, a website is invaluable as it provides another avenue for potential clients to contact you.
Secondly, a website can serve as a portfolio. If you have published work, uploading them to your site provides a quick way for clients to assess your capabilities. If you're a novice, it's an opportunity to display some of your work. While clients do look for published work, they also value quality writing.
Depending on your HTML skills, a webpage can also showcase any photography you may have done. Being able to take a photo if needed is a valuable skill for a versatile writer. I have a few photos in my portfolio that I'm particularly proud of - one being a striking close-up of a Highland cow, which was featured on the front page of a Sunday supplement. This photo now features in the portfolio section on my website.
Another aspect of showcasing your work is that employers often request work samples as text only. No attachments, no frills. It's disheartening to see your official newspaper clippings reduced to bare text, devoid of any formatting. Despite the temptation to attach a jpeg or pdf file to show how my work 'really looked', it's important to respect the potential employers' preferences. Therefore, I paste the URL of the better-presented piece along with the text, knowing that the employer may also want to see a better layout. It's easier for the client to click a link to a webpage than to open another program to view my work.
Finally, once established, a website can provide secondary income to your actual writing. You might decide to publish a weekly column and set up an email list of subscribers. With a substantial subscriber list, advertisers will be willing to pay you to reach your audience. Or if you get a book accepted by a publisher, you'll naturally want to sell a few copies from your site.
Of course, not everyone has web design skills, or has budgeted for a web presence. But don't let this deter you. Registering a domain name, although helpful, is not a necessity. A domain name looks more professional than a long URL and provides a consistent email address.
You can also opt to use space on another domain name, which is often a cheaper alternative than getting your own domain and paying server-hosting fees.
If you're unable to create an HTML page, consider bartering services with an aspiring designer. For instance, on an email list I subscribe to, a web designer recently requested help with writing a press release. She was unable to afford to pay someone to write it, and would have happily traded HTML services for a well-written release.
