Tuesday, April 22, 2014

It Takes a Lot of Chocolate to Build a Website

I finally launched my author website. The process was grueling, even though my website is small. The site will continue to change, and perhaps I’ll add a photography portfolio. 

For me, the learning curve was steep. Here are a few tips. 

Start with Darcy Pattison’s 30 Days to a Stronger Author Website. Darcy provides step-by-step instructions to setting up a website. Thank you, Darcy! 

Learn to use Photoshop – at least Photoshop Elements. Photographs all need to be specific sizes and shapes to fit a website template. (I’ve only just scratched the surface of this program and look forward to figuring out its other features.) 

Pick a WordPress theme, any theme. If it doesn’t work out, change it. I spent a long time first choosing a theme, then trying to make it fit my vision. When I abandoned the first theme, the Live Preview function let me see how my pages would look on new themes. The sidebar options allowed me to experiment with layouts and colors before I activated the theme. 

Get a little help from your friends. I wish to thank Tim Bogar for his advice on picture sizing. Deb Pilutti generously helped with many aspects of this site, including figuring out plugins. She also was unfailingly encouraging. My critique group, as always, offered wise and thoughtful suggestions.

6 comments:

Patti Richards said...

Good for you Ann! And you're right...it does takes lots and lots of chocolate!!!

Buffy Silverman said...

It looks great Ann--Be proud! One more suggestion:
Check that you're consistent with all your capitalization/non-capitalization decisions. I noticed Home instead of home/my blog/my books etc.

Ann Finkelstein said...

Thanks, Patti and Buffy. I saw the capitalized Home too, but I forgot to fix it.

Kristin Lenz said...

Nice job! I saved that website how-to series from Darcy for when I'm ready - I never seem to be ready!

Kim Van Sickler said...

Oh my goodness, this is huge! Nice job. Is that your son flying through the air feet first? Excellent action shot!

Creating a web page is definitely on my to do list. Thanks for the tips!

Ann Finkelstein said...

Kim: Thanks. Yes, the flying man is my older son. The rock star is my younger.