This workshop was presented at TOC 2010. The workshop covers all aspects of an author's digital platform, with an emphasis on the hub of every author's online presence -- the author website.

1. Building Author Pages
Kassia Krozser & Kirk Biglione

2. Overview
Author information around the web
Author websites
Publisher websites
Retail websites
Challenges and solutions
Helping authors get it right

3. Why Authors?

4. Authors Sell Books

5. What Is an Author Page?

6. It Depends...

7. Who Are You?

8. Roles
Author
Agent
Publisher/Publishing Professional
Publicist
Bookseller

9. Each Role Has
a Different View

10. Don’t Forget The Users

11. User roles
Readers/Consumers
Media
Reviewers
Academics
Other authors

12. Two Views

13. Publisher View
Publisher
Author
Retail
Website

14. Author View
Author
Retailer Publisher
Website

15. The Author Website

16. Role of The Author
Website
Hub of author’s online activity
Central point of information for readers
Media resource
Key asset in building the author brand
Should be first result when author is Googled

17. The Basics

18. Domain name

29. Basic Content

30. First, Consider the
Reader

31. Author Information
Bio
Press kit
Contact information
Agent
Speaking Agent
Publicist

34. Author Content
Blog
Media: video/audio (including podcast)
Interviews
Links to related websites

36. Book Information
Title
Cover
Blurb
Excerpt / Sample
ISBN(s)
Publisher
Buy links

39. Extended Book Info
Series and related titles
Related media
Interviews
Book Trailers
Link to book mini-site
Reviews
Awards

46. Marketing Information
Mailing list signup
Event listing
Social media links
Contests

49. Community
Blog comments
Forums
Wiki
Social features

52. Content Management

54. WordPress
Easy to use
Open Source (free)
Social media integration
Design flexibility

55. Design

56. WORDPRESS THEME DIRECTORY
WORDPRESS.ORG/EXTEND/THEMES/

57. WOO THEMES
WOOTHEMES.COM

58. WPIZED
WPIZED.COM

59. Case Study

60. Bestselling Author with
No Website

62. The Social Web

63. Social Media
Extends the author’s online presence
Reaches readers in their preferred environment
Not all opportunities are right for all authors
Leading sites require at least a minimal presence

64. The Problem with
Facebook

67. Add Up the Faux
Steph*nie Meyer(s)

68. What To Do?
Create a Fan Page not Profile
Create pages for author and books
Link directly from official site
Verify with Facebook
Post on unofficial pages directing users to official
page
Work with FB to direct traffic to official page

69. So, What About Twitter?

74. Best Practices
Reserve the author name on the main networks
(Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, maybe MySpace)
Consider reserving common mis-spellings
Point profile to official author website
Link author website to active social profiles
Obtain verified accounts where possible

75. More Author Pages

81. The Publisher Website

82. Why author pages?
Readers love authors
SEO for publisher and book
Improves discovery
Improves author relations (when done right)

83. Core content
Author bio
Photo
Web link
Social media links
Upcoming events
Author RSS feed (caution!)
Oh, and books

84. Publisher Specific
Content
Author articles
Interviews
Book related extras
Media: audio/video
Mailing lists

85. Anatomy of an
Author Section

86. Featured Authors

90. Author Index

92. On-Site Search

93. Types of search
Global
Author
Event
Advanced

98. Appearances

100. Author Page

105. Unique Content

107. Publisher Specific
Content
Interviews: Video/Audio
Original articles
Reading guides
Extended story information (character profiles,
back story, etc.)

108. The Retail Website

109. Why author pages?
Enhanced information for customers
Enhanced discovery = additional sales
Customer engagement, increase time on site
SEO benefits

110. What we see
Author name

111. What we’d like to see
Author bio
Author photo
Link to website and social media profiles
Curated content (interviews, media, essays)

118. Challenges
Aggregating data
Authenticating data
Maintaining data

119. Challenges &
Possible Solutions

120. Author Metadata

121. Author Identity

122. Numbers:
Lots of authors

123. Content Management

124. Tech-Challenged
Authors

125. Time-Challenged
Authors

126. Apathy

127. What To Do When an
Author Opts Out?

128. Just Say No

129. Helping Authors Get It
Right

130. Who’s Responsible?

131. Digital Assessment
Domain name
Website
Is it usable?
Is it current?
Social media presence
Quality and frequency of interaction

132. Website Checklist
Domain name
Hosting
Core content: Bio,Photos, Press Kit, Bibliography
Site management (WordPress or other OS CMS)
Usability and accessibility review (includes
browser support & mobile)
Design options (premium themes)

133. Create Support Resources
Author portal
Digital concierge
Digital media training

134. Questions?
Kassia Krozser:
booksquare@booksquare.com
twitter: @booksquare
Kirk Biglione
kirkb@oxfordmediaworks.com
twitter: @kirkbiglione
Booksquare University
booksquareuniversity.com