How long does it take to build a website?

There are multiple steps to designing a website -- from the first flat picture of what it might look like through coding and content generation. The speed at which the site is completed is often determined by the author. The faster the client provides comments and feedback on the design and creates the content for the web pages, the sooner the site will be completed. A site can be created in as little as three weeks, but the process usually takes more like six weeks.

How many people are involved in SmartAuthorSites.com? Who would I deal with?

Karin is the founder of SmartAuthorSites.com and is the authors' primary contact. Karin's specialty is in web content generation, navigation, usability, copywriting and marketing. She works with a specialized team of designers to build websites to author specifications -- and to make the site as usable and marketable as possible. Karin also has partnerships with multiple web hosting sites and will find the hosting plan that best fits your personal needs in terms of security, services and technology at the most reasonable price.

Do I need to know anything about websites?

No ... although it's great if you do. We have worked with a variety of authors -- from those who are web-savvy to those who are allergic to computers. You can have as much or as little input as you'd like in the process. The site we build for you will cater to your specific needs and preferences, regardless of your web experience.

What's blogging?

A blog, short for "web log" is a regularly-updated online journal. Authors frequently blog to increase traffic to their websites and keep the content on their sites fresh for returning visitors.

Is there a time commitment involved?

We will build you a site specifically catering to the level of involvement you want to have post-launch. If you want to blog, answer reader questions or participate in a message board, we will build you that functionality. If you want to build a site and never have to touch it again, we can do that as well.

Can I update my site myself?

After your website is designed, it's necessary that you have someone with experience in web coding do the majority of your site updates. We offer that service, but you're not required to use it. The exception to this rule is blogging: Our blogging tool is updatable through a user-friendly system called WordPress. If you know how to use Microsoft Word, you can update your own blog.

Now the biggie ... How much does it cost?

While we can't give you an exact price quote here, we can give you a range. If you opt to use one of our SmartAuthorSites.com templates, the cost of creating your site can range from $700 to $900. If you want a unique site designed from scratch, the price can range from $2,000 to $3,000. The pricing structure all depends upon how many pages you need, how sophisticated your site design would be, and what technical requirements you ask for (blogging, message board, Flash etc...)

Ready to jump in? Get started on your author website!

Don't miss ... Links for Writers