Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sophie Schiller on December 20, 2012 at 1:03pm

Blogging websites like eblogger allow you to create your own free blog using your name (if no one else is using it). They have easy interfaces, intuitive designs, and you can pretty much train yourself to "blog" in a couple of hours.  If you want a website with your name, you have to go to hosting sites like hostgator.com or some other such site and hope that your name is not already a registered domain name. Actually, I think the name "kathleenkern.com" is available. check it out!

Permalink Reply by Leigh Michael on December 20, 2012 at 1:04pm

Not a silly question at all. I'm sure there are many ways to create a unique URL, but I happen to use Blogger.

There's the option to simply add your name to the URL: http://[your name].blogspot.com

Or..

For a $10 annual fee, you can create your own URL. This is what I did (www.leighmichaelbooks.com). Figured $10 in the grand scheme of things (hiring editors, promotions, etc) isn't gonna break the bank.

Have fun creating your site!

Permalink Reply by Holly Hughes on December 20, 2012 at 1:08pm

I use wordpress, also a free blog- there are plenty of upgrades that cost money, but they are happy to give you one for free. You just have to come up with the blog title and hope the address isn't taken. Good luck!

Permalink Reply by Judith Newton on December 20, 2012 at 1:09pm

I googled domain names and was taken to go daddy's list of names.  You can use the list to see if your name is taken.  Then I bought my name from godaddy, along with the names of my memoir and an upcoming mystery.  I parked two of the names, that is, I reserved them for later use.  It's good to buy names ahead of finishing your projects because they can get taken and then maybe auctioned for a high price.

Permalink Reply by C. Michelle Ramsey on December 21, 2012 at 5:26am

Judith that is a wonderful idea to purchase the names in advance of finished projects. I had not thought to do this before and it will be useful for a project I am currently working on. I am a relatively new author, and this question may sound silly, but do you purchase names to create sites for all of your works?

Permalink Reply by Lianne Simon on December 20, 2012 at 1:12pm

You'll need a domain name. Unfortunately, kathleenkern.com is taken. Kathleenkern.us, Kathleenkern.info, Kathleenkern.net are all available. Or you can pick something else.

You'll need a web hosting service. I use startlogic.com. They're offering a special now--$2.95 per month. (I can forward the offer to your e-mail address.) You'll request the domain name when you get the account from them.

Then set up WordPress on your website. It's easy, but I can walk you through it. Or startlogic will.

Then set up your e-mail on your website. Again. It's easy.

Permalink Reply by Mary Wallace on December 20, 2012 at 1:44pm

Years and years ago, at the beginning of what we now call the internet, I bought the url for my name.  It's almost impossible to get yours these days, because everyone tries, so don't be afraid to be creative and add letters, etc.  People will find you via web search if they are interested in more about you.  So pick a name and go with it, if it's available.  I also decided that I want my own url instead of using blogger, or other websites that include their name in the url.  There is NOTHING wrong with those and if you are a beginner, go that way and practice writing blogs.  Since no one will probably see the first ones you do, you can test it out, see how to get a photo on a blog post, etc.  I personally now use hostbaby.com as the 'host' for my website, marywallace.com, because they have done some of the work to make it easy to sell books via my website, which I have not yet begun to do.  I think that many of us are blazing a new trail, and you should do it too!  Good luck!

Permalink Reply by C. Michelle Ramsey on December 21, 2012 at 5:30am

Great information. I have been researching selling books via my website, but I've not been that successful at finding information on selling ebooks via my site. Would you happen to know where I can find information on that at?

Permalink Reply by Michelle Ziegler on January 17, 2013 at 11:52am

i just saw this post and didn't think anyone had answered yet?  You need to have a host that allows eCommerce.  Google eCommerce and whoever you use for your site and see what comes up.  Bluehost supports eCommerce and wordpress does too.  Blogger does not.  I don't actually use this feature so I can't give you too many details.  Bluehost has a great blog though that you might be able to get some answers there and make them work for you.

Permalink Reply by Yolanda I. Washington on December 20, 2012 at 1:59pm

Since my blog/website is set up on Wordpress, I pay them yearly to register the domain name so that no one else can use it. 

Permalink Reply by Karma on December 20, 2012 at 2:05pm

Hi Kathleen,

Social Media consultant here. There's three sides to the process, which may be creating some confusion

1. you need to actually buy the url, as Sophie says below, can do with a site like HostGator.
2. you need to have a webhost that you pay to keep the site up and running, eg a server. This is basically just a computer in a room somewhere that will be running 24/7, and your site lives on it.
3. you need a content management tool like Wordpress to actually manage the webpage.

Though the answer to your question is really only #1, the people selling this stuff often bundle it together, which can be confusing. In particular, the sites that do #1 will try to get you to use them for #2, even though they're not the same thing. You definitely don't want to use the provider of #2 for #3. I highly recommend using Wordpress for your site (for #3), or if you want something baby-simple, go with Tumblr. Both will let you use your own domain name after you purchase it. You can go ahead and set up the website first  (#3), as Leigh has done. You can always add the domain once you figure out what you want it to be, and buy it.

Also GoDaddy is terrible, so fine to use them to look up names but you should buy from a different domain provider.

Don't feel too bad if you can't get your own name. You're probably better off naming your business something catchy that people are likely to google, or at least something more specific to what you do. Besides, those alternative url endings (.info or .fm etc.) are way more expensive. Better to come up with something clever like Kathleenthewriter.com or articlesbykathleen.com instead of kathleenkern.info (assuming your name isn't available as a .com).

Permalink Reply by Fiona McGier on December 20, 2012 at 2:16pm

I use www.weebly.com for my website.  At first I had a free website, which made the e-dress: www.weebly.com/fionamcgier.  Then I decided to pay about $40 per year for one that has only my name in it, so it's now: www.fionamcgier.com.  Anyone using the old e-dress is automatically sent to the new one.  It's easy for even a beginner like myself to use.  I can track how many visits there are each day, and easily make changes.  I have the first page as my blog, and I've linked that to other places like my Amazon page and my Goodreads page.  Both get my new blog postings up almost as soon as I hit "publish".  So does Facebook.

I hope this helps.  I don't know how to use other places, but Weebly is where my son who got his degree in computer engineering, sent me when I first got published.

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