Creating Your Digital Footprint

As a writers' guild, we are here to help authors and writers along their path. Many people look at this as a daunting task, but there are lots of resources available to help you along the way, or you can always just ask someone that's done it.

Some people say the first step to becoming an author is to figure out what type of author you want to be. As someone that's been using the Internet before Google, or even the world-wide-web for that matter... don't worry about your author identity, you can figure that out as you go.

Just like the homesteaders, the first step is to claim your place on the world wide web.

Register Your Domain

If you haven't already done this, you need to do this as soon as possible, even if you're not an author or writer. Domains don't cost that much, but it protects your home on the Internet, indefinitely. Try to get a .com, but there are many other domain extensions available and they aren't all the same price, some can be a bit pricey.

Why?

Your future is unwritten, maybe someday you'll need to raise funds for something, maybe you'll run for office, maybe you'll become an author and publish a book. Fame or infamy can happen in an instant!

If you suddenly gain popularity and don't already own your domain name, others WILL register a domain for your name, allowing them to do anything they want with it and it may not be in your best interests. Sure, they may sell it back to you... for a significant profit, but they could also use it for nefarious purposes. For the more nefarious stuff, sure you can get it removed, but then there's legal costs and it will take some time.

It's far easier to direct someone to "firstnamelastname" or "firstname-lastname", than to redirect them to "myname-author" or "mywritingplace". You are welcome to add a middle initial to your name, just make sure the domain name matches the name you publish your writing under.

In the event that you have a popular name and can't register your name or any iterations of it, maybe consider writing under a pen name?!

If you do have a popular name and you think there's tons of "myname" out there, but the domain name is still available... grab it! Having a popular name and having the base domain for that name is golden.

It will sure help people find you when they search for you.

The biggest reason is that YOUR domain is always under YOUR control! You can do anything you want with it and it will follow you no matter where you go in life. Even if you only have a Facebook page, most domain registrars allow you to FORWARD your domain, so you can tell people to go to "yourname" instead of that long domain name to go direct to your Facebook page. Then when a new, best, social platform becomes your favourite, you can just redirect your domain name to that and all the previous footprint building you've done is not lost! Although, you really should have a website/webpage.

Where do you register a domain name?

Some hosting services, like Wix, SquareSpace, Weebly, etc allow you to register your domain name directly through them when you create a website with those services. We DO NOT recommend doing this, because it locks you into their service. Sure, they may offer you a free year of domain registration, but it often creates problems in the future if you ever want to move away from that service.

The Diamond Valley Writers' Guild uses and recommends GoDaddy.com, they're one of the largest domain registrars on the Internet and they have a good DNS management system (Domain Name Services), and you can build/host your website with them as well if you choose.

NOTE: Kevin Kindle, our webmaster, is also a GoDaddy Reseller through his Dawn Patrol Publishing, so he can help register your domain name, or answer any questions you have and can often assist you if you want.

Create your Author Site

Even if you don't have anything published, you need to begin establishing your online footprint. You don't need to spend $$$ to create a professional website, there are free alternatives out there, plus most domain providers have the ability to do domain forwarding.

You can get started with a service like Wix for free (they put a small ad at the top of your site), but then when you can afford it, you can easily upgrade to one of their Premium Plans and then watch for their 50% deals and lock your site in for three years cheaper than most of the other pay sites.

Social Media Platforms

Hopefully, you're not putting all your effort into a single social media platform as your readers and future fans probably use multiple platforms. Just like having a domain name, you should probably try to establish at least some presence on the most popular ones.

Then, even as a basic author website, you can make a single page website that contains a contact form and a list of the social media platforms they can find you on.

Build Your Brand

There's a number of ways to build your brand, the trick is to always do them and make them habit!

Email Address

Now that you have your own domain name so, just like the website, you should use it to create an email address for your writing. Having an email address on your own domain name, means you will never lose control of it! Using an email address that is NOT your domain name can work, but if it gets hacked, you may lose it and all your brand building is kaput! Having an email with your domain name also helps direct traffic to your website!

Email Signature

Make sure the email address you use for your writing has an email signature that includes a TEXT link to your Author Website. Avoid putting links to all your social sites... the more links you include in an email the higher the chances are that your message will get marked as spam. This is what your author website is for, it is your HOME, under your control, that is linked to everything you want the public to access on the Internet.

Business Cards

If you attend events with other writers, it's always a good idea to bring business cards. These business cards should point people to your domain name, so they can always find you. I would warn against advertising email addresses, unless the email address uses the domain name that you control. If you don't have an email address under your domain, then just advertise your domain name and let them use a contact form or whatever other information you have on your website.

I would also advise against advertising your phone number or mailing address, if you really want someone to have that information... write it on the card for them! That's why the back of the card should be plain white paper (not glossy)... it's easy to write on! Oh, and always carry a pen or three!

You can have stuff printed on the back, but leave space to write.

We hope this guide helps you establish your digital author footprint. If you have any questions, feel free to email DVWritersGuild@gmail.com.