For Writers Who Want A "Shopfront" on the Web... To Promote Yourself, Your Books,
or Your Writing Services!

How do you build a website from scratch? Do you have to know a lot of technical stuff? How do you put your books up there -  and how can people pay online? Here are your answers!

From the home office of Marg McAlister
4.46 pm, Wednesday.

If you've ever cruised around the Internet and wondered wistfully how authors and freelance writers get those professional-looking websites up on the Internet - you've come to the right place to learn how!

This e-course was designed with you in mind.  I have designed it - module by module - especially for the writer who knows little or nothing about creating websites. Believe me, I know exactly what this feels like. After all, about five years ago, that's exactly where I was! I thought it would be nice to have a website - but I didn't have the first clue where to start.

What a joke. Believe me, this was a nightmare! I spent weeks trying to find out how to do it. Oh sure, I found advice on the Internet - but the instructions said things like: "Make sure you type in the correct path to your uploaded e-book ".

???? The correct path? Well, sure. I'd be delighted - if I knew how. How could I type in the correct path if I didn't even know how to upload it? I could upload web pages - but where did the e-book go? In a page? Some other place? WHERE????

In the end, I phoned my Web Hosting company to find out. The answer was so simple I couldn't believe it. (That, of course, was exactly why I couldn't find instructions on how to do it anywhere on the Internet. It was so easy everyone assumed that people knew how to do it.)

I Promise You This... I Won't "Assume" You Know Anything!

I remember only too well those feelings of utter despair. That's why I'm not going to assume that YOU know anything. Step by step, I'm going to explain exactly what you need to do.

I'm going to give you checklists, step-by-step guides, and even some videos for those who have access to broadband. (You can still access the videos if you use dialup, but I'm not guaranteeing they'll flow smoothly - although they should be fine if you let them all load fully before you start to watch them.)

But back to this eCourse. When I created it, my intention was to make the steps in building a website so simple a child could do it. Or your great-grandmother, for that matter.

Will YOU Be Able to Build a Website That Will:

• Look professional?
   
• Be a fun place to visit?
   
• Let you sell e-books, e-courses and services (just like this website!)?

Yes, yes and yes!!!

Okay, I can't promise that you'll be able to get exactly the results you envisage. Nobody can - it depends entirely on how you can follow instructions, whether you click the right button, and so on. But I can promise you that I will make it as painless as possible - you'll get vivid, full-colour screen captures that walk you through every step.

Isn't It So Much Better to Keep Control of Your Own Website?

Just imagine what it will be like to type in your very own website address and have the pages that YOU created fill the screen! Imagine what it will be like to be able to create a new page and see it "live" within minutes!

• Want to change a page in your e-book? Fine, make the change (a minute or two); save it again over the old file, and upload it to your website (3-5 minutes). Five minutes later, it's done.
   
• Want to change the pricing for your e-book? No problem. Just log on to your payment processor, change it, and you're done.
   
• Want to quickly upload a new page to your site (say, about your experience with workshops) for a school that wants an author visit? Just type the content of the page, select any artwork you want to go with it - and a few minutes later that school can access your details online.

The beauty of mastering these skills is that YOU are the one in control. Rather than typing out what you want, then hiring someone else to get it up online - you can add anything you want, whenever you want. Now that's freedom - and big cash savings!

But just in case you're wondering what sort of experience I bring to this, here's a thumbnail sketch: I've created maybe two dozen websites by now. Some are on writing, but some are selling completely different things. Some are 'content' websites (like www.Writing4SuccessClub.com) and some are designed just to sell a single product (like www.EssentialGuideToGhostwriting.com). I also have a 'how to' site that I created just to post up answers on how to do a whole bunch of different stuff connected with websites and writing. You can see that at www.HowTheHeckDoI.com - in fact, that site will give you a very good idea of the sort of step-by-step instruction you'll be getting in this course! I've created sites using popular site builders such as Dreamweaver and FrontPage; using online web site builders, using free programs, and using a program specifically for Internet marketers. And I spread my sites around - I currently use 4 different web hosts - so I've got a good sense of who does it well. If you want to read more about my background in writing and building websites, CLICK HERE. (My bio will open in a new window... just click to close it and you'll be right back here.)

This e-course - like the others that we offer or are planning - has been designed to get you up and running quickly without taking months of your time. It has also been carefully planned to fit in with you and your specific needs. You have the option of sending in an assessment task once each week for feedback - or you can use the Analyze It! Task Analysis Sheets to cast a critical eye over your own results.

This is a great 'safety net' for all our courses. Even though each task (if you opt to take advantage of the feedback) need to be completed during the week of the related Website building modules, if for some reason you don't get around to sending one in, you can relax knowing that you will receive a really useful tool for self-assessment. A tool that can be used over and over again!

MORE ABOUT THE
SPOTLIGHT ON WEBSITES
e-Course!

How is the Course Structured?

Length of e-course:

• 5 weeks (Monday week 1 through to Sunday week 5)

Content of e-course - you will get:

• 5 Website Building modules, one delivered each week. Each module will cover a different aspect of building your website.
   
• A set of exercises for each module to help you master the content taught.
   
• 5 Assessment Tasks: one to reinforce each week's lesson content. You may choose to send this in for critiquing or use the task analysis sheets delivered the following week to assess your own performance.
   
• 5 Analyze It! Task analysis sheets - one for each module. Use these to check your own performance and understanding for the e-course tasks or to build as many new websites as you want in the future!
   
• End-of-Course Summary Sheet - this handy 'website creation cheat sheet' will be an essential tool for building a new website or modifying an existing one.

The Content of Each Website Building Module

Website Module 1: Start with YOU - and exactly what you want your website to do for you! Here we cover all the basics!

	Why you need a writer's website - plus super strategies to use if you want a website to promote your published paperback and hard cover books and novels
	"Show them who you are!" How to build a site that will delight your readers and clients.
	E-publishing: where to start
	How to show your availability for author talks or workshops (with simple yet powerful strategies to get you more bookings!)
	How to create a website designed to sell your books, manuals or eCourses
	How to win clients for your services as a ghostwriter, proofreader or freelance writer
	How to decide on a name for your website - (it might not be what you think!)
	How to register a domain name cheaply - and where to find a good web hosting service
	What you need to consider before deciding on which website creation software to buy
	What is best? An online or offline website builder?
	A superb Get-Organized Checklist to make sure you don't overlook a single thing!

 

Website Module 2: A step by step guide to creating your website - two top-notch programs explained!

	Essential tools - get these organized before you start!
	How to create your website - step by step!
	Photos: how to resize them easily - should you use jpegs or gifs?
	The building blocks of your web pages - as easy as 1-2-3
	How to choose and use a background colour and design (check out this page - the background is created from white dots on blue squares - this is so easy to do!)
	How to write an easy blurb to 'sell' your products and/or services
	Useful templates for your website - the work is all done for you!
	A quick comparison of two popular website creation programs - watch video demos of both, then you choose!

 

Website Module 3: Going Live!!! How to upload your site - All about folders, html pages, and images

	How it all works - from your computer to Cyberspace!
	FTP programs (and what is FTP, anyway???)
	How to upload images, web pages, first chapters for download, and manuals
	How to use autoresponders to stay in touch with your fans and clients - and never be accused of spam! (Why it's not a good idea to use your normal email inbox!)
	Email addresses: how to protect yourself from spambots (this might sound like something from a science fiction movie, but it's easy when you know how!)
	Zipping and unzipping files
	Tips on downloading files and organizing your folders and computer desktop
	How to create directories and sub-domains - super-easy instructions!
	How to password-protect directories for clients and special fans

 

Website Module 4: Why it's important to develop copywriting skills - the difference it makes to your website pages

	What IS "copywriting"?
	How to write promotional material to sell your services and make people want to buy your books
	Some excellent free training sites for copywriting skills
	Why a title is the most important part of your web page
	What should go in the body of your page (your existing writing skills will come in handy here!)
	How to understand exactly what your fans or clients want
	Writing tips for e-books and e-courses
	How to create and upload e-books
	How to create an effective e-book cover to really sell your work
	How to spread the word about what you do - viral marketing: more contagious than a sneeze!

Website Module 5: Let's Talk Money! How to set up payment for your books, services and products for writers

	Selling your e-books, e-courses, and writer's services
	How you can get paid online - an overview of your options, from Clickbank and Paypal to using your own merchant facility
	What is a shopping cart? How hard is it to install one?
	Case studies of actual writers' websites that make money through selling products and services! (See how others do it!)
	How to create payment links
	How to check and test your payment links
	Why it is essential to have organized checklists for every step of the buying process
	How to use autoresponders to create e-courses on any subject under the sun!
	Where to from here? All the options open to writers - some great ideas for making money online

Phew! Imagine trying to learn how to do all that, searching all over the Internet for information on the hundred and one little things that crop up while you're trying to set up your website!  Imagine how much easier it will be to have another writer walk you through the whole process - by the time you finish this e-course, you can have your website online! And you'll have all the information and tools at hand to gradually build your website business over the coming months!

Commit to Just 5 Weeks of Planning and Setting Up Your Website - and Watch the Benefits to Your Writing Career!

How Much Will A Website Cost? Your basic website-building expenses in addition to the course costs: Please note that to set up your website you will incur added expenses - just like anyone else who builds an online presence. Think of your website as being like the digital equivalent of a shopfront or an office - it is designed to promote you as an author, or to sell and promote your services and products. Therefore, you should expect some business expenses. In comparison to establishing a bricks-and-mortar business, it is incredibly cheap. (For a software program that will last you for years, you might pay roughly the equivalent of a week's rent!) I have searched for products and services that are reasonably priced, reliable and easy to use. The biggest up-front expense you will have is the purchase of website building software, if you don't have this already. I do NOT recommend using free software to build your website - I've tried several of these programs, and they can be incredibly frustrating when it comes to doing simple things. This e-course has been structured to show you how to build a website quickly and easily using either Microsoft FrontPage or XSitePro, another top-quality, super-easy site builder I recommend. (XSitePro is a program that will let you create a simple writer's website very, very easily - yet you can use it to sell many products later on.) Note that XSitePro is DOWNLOADABLE software - around 60 mb, so you'd need a broadband connection if you want to download it. (You can pay an extra $10 and get a disk sent to you, but this might take some time for overseas clients.) You can find out the pricing of XSitePro here. If you would like to use Microsoft FrontPage (which is similar to Microsoft Word in many ways) I suggest that you check out the price of Front Page at a computer software retailer near you. For this course I will be using FrontPage 2003 version. If you are a teacher and you do not intend to use FrontPage for commercial purposes you should be eligible for the Education Price. I include step-by-step instructions for both software programs. Your costs to register a domain name and to buy web-hosting will be relatively inexpensive - around $15 USD to register your domain for a year, and $10 a month (USD) for your web host.  For your information, here are a few examples: I have created these websites in FrontPage: www.writing4success.com and www.writing4successclub.com and these using XSitePro: http://www.wedding-etiquette-101.com and www.career-booster.com; - as you can see, there are plenty of writers and their book covers featured on www.career-booster.com!

  Here's how it works:

	As soon as you sign up for the SPOTLIGHT ON WEBSITES e-Course, you will immediately be able to download Bonuses #1 and #2 (see below). (Bonus #3, the Website Owner's Resource Manual, will be sent to you along with Module #1 on the first day of the E-course. Bonus #4, the Website Cheat Sheet, will be sent to you when you complete the course.) Your first bonus, the Website Analysis Sheet will help you understand what you really want before the e-Course starts. This is a huge advantage - it will really save you time in the first week. You will also be sent a general introduction to the course and the due dates for Weekly Tasks. Note that the e-course runs over a specific time frame. (No assessment tasks will be accepted outside the due dates - but you WILL have the Analyze It! Checklists as a 'safety net' if you miss a deadline or opt not to send in a task for assessment.)
	This is a 5-week e-course. It begins on Monday of Week 1 and finishes on Sunday of Week 5. Each Website Building Module is sent out via email on Mondays. Each module will be in the form of a PDF document, as an attachment. We use PDF format because it can be viewed on either Macs or Windows computers, and gives a high quality result when printed. The module will also be posted to a private folder on this website on the first Monday of each week, and will stay there until the course finishes. Even if your email goes astray, you will still be able to download your eCourse materials from the website!
	Each Assessment Task for that week's module is due 14 days after the module is sent out, by 9.00 on Monday morning (Australian Eastern Standard Time). (This will give those who work during the week the opportunity to work on their tasks at weekends.) You should aim at sending it on Sunday evening (or sooner) - but at any rate, so that it arrives by 9.00 am Monday. Remember, you do not have to send in a task - the decision is yours. When each new training module is sent out, it will be accompanied by the Analyze It! Checklist for the previous week's task.
	The Analyze It! Checklists are provided as a self-assessment guide. You can use this if you choose not to send in a task - or if you miss the due date - and to analyze all future website projects.
	The End-of-Course Website "Cheat Sheet" is sent out on the final day of the e-course. Put it somewhere safe! You'll be using it over and over again to create pages and to load content up to your website.

Be the Owner of a Super-Useful, Easy-to-Follow Guide to Website Creation that You Can Print Out, File and Keep as a Handy Reference Forever!

You may already know a little about building websites, or you may be familiar with HTML. It's likely that you will remember quite a bit of what you do as you work through it. But believe me - you won't remember it all! There will be many times when you'll be turning to your Website Building Manual from this eCourse to come back to whenever you forget how you did something. (Because you will forget - but a quick flip through your manual will remind you of what to do!) 

And if you're ready to toss your computer out of the window because things just won't go right - stay calm. Walk away from the computer. Open up your "Spotlight on Websites" Course Modules and grab those handy Analyze It! checklists and start reading. Before too long you'll have a fair idea of what is going wrong or where you can go to find out the answer. Just imagine... 

• How it will feel to fire up your computer and visit your very own website - created by YOU!
   

• How it will feel to start earning money online from your writing efforts... sitting at your computer instead of going out to work!
   

• How you can swiftly build your profile as a writer by promoting yourself and your books on your website! (Encourage fans and schools to visit your site - offer special downloads and author's tips to visitors!)

Creating your own website is one of the most rewarding things you can do, in so many ways! (Be warned - it can become addictive!)

Now it's time to talk about the bonuses we have ready for before you even start the course (and when you finish it!)

Here are our super bonuses for e-Course participants:

	Bonus #1: Website Analysis Sheet (available on sign-up) Do you know what kind of website you want? Do you know all the different ways a writer can use a website? This sheet will help you to figure out how to build the kind of website you want now - and how you can develop it in the future!
	Bonus #2: Must-Have Tools for Your Writer's Website (available on sign-up) This will tell you where you can find really handy tools to help you set up your writer's website - like a photo re-sizer to help you reduce all those over-sized photos from your camera to the correct size for the Internet. There are some excellent trial programs that you can try out for 30 days before you decide if you want to keep them (meanwhile, you can use them during the course!)
	Bonus #3: Website Owner's Resource Manual  (sent out on Day 1) This is FANTASTIC. You get instructions and tips on how to do all kinds of things that we don't have room for in the course itself! Use some of them now - refer to some later on when you need them!
	Bonus #4: A Writer's Website "Cheat Sheet" (delivered at end of course) Another one of our famous eCourse Cheat Sheets! This goes through everything we've done - you can see at a glance what you need to do next.

Ready to Sign Up...?

It's time to take the step that you've been waiting for - enrol in your intensive SPOTLIGHT ON WEBSITES e-course now! For just $199 (Australian dollars) you can provide yourself with the tips, tricks and tuition to make creating your own website so much easier than you ever thought it would be!

BUT WAIT!

Did you know that if you are a member of the Writing4SuccessClub e-Club you get 10% discount on this course?

That's right... $19.90 off the course cost right away. That's more than it costs you to become an e-club member! (And as a member of the Writing4Success e-Club, you are then entitled to 20% discount off all future Writing4Success e-books and software - and we have quite a line-up of them planned! The e-club membership is a once-only fee - no renewals, ever!)

** When you sign up for the SPOTLIGHT ON WEBSITES e-Course, you will have the option of combining it with an e-Club membership and paying just one fee for the two. Just click the link below and you will be able to view the options. You will also find a separate link to click if this is your second Writing4Success e-Course - which gives you 20% off!

 

(Sign-up Link Will Be Made Active When The Course is Run Again)
 

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