Your Creative Platform WordPress Masterclass Sean Cranbury | Books on the Radio c: 778-987-8774 | t: @seancranbury | e: [email protected]Surrey International Writers Conference 2013
I presented this at the Surrey International Writers Conference on Thursday October 24, 2013. Your Creative Platform: Build Your Own Website with Wordpress Masterclass Thursday 5:30pm Presenter(s): Sean Cranbury The most powerful way to market and promote your own writing is with a personal website where you control the content. Whether you're an established writer working with traditional publishers or you're engaged with the new possibilities of self-publishing having a website is essential. And it's easier than you think. In this hands-on class, learn how to create your own site, develop a simple social media strategy using channels like Twitter and Facebook to own and share your writing while building your fan base. Agents and publicists love writers with a developed digital presence. Now's the time to learn for yourself. Bring your laptop if you have one or something to write on if you don't!
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1. Your Creative Platform WordPress Masterclass Sean Cranbury |
Books on the Radio c: 778-987-8774 | t: @seancranbury | e:
[email protected] Surrey International Writers Conference
2013
2. ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WEBSITES IN
GENERAL The creative work always comes first. Youre a writer, so
write. Let that be the priority. Building a platform can be a very
creative act or it can be a strictly utilitarian one. You decide.
You can always change your mind later. The web is a digital
palimpsest. This presentation is both a launching point for
discussion and a point of reference that you can come back to in
the future. It lives on the web. Nothing replaces being present in
the same room as the people who care about you and your work.
3. YOUR CAREER AS A WRITER IS THE STORY OF THE LONG GAME A
simple digital presence and a willingness to learn over time will
help you to connect with your audience and improve your chances of
discovery
4. CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING Clarity. Discoverability.
Relationships.
5. THE INTERNET Is a distribution system for your work,
reputation, and ideas. Locally, across the country, around the
world.
6. Books and the internet will merge. Your creative work needs
a home where readers, agents, publishers, and fans can find and
share it.
7. Help your agent, publisher, bookseller, and fans To find and
share examples of your work. Provide them the means to share their
enthusiasm for what you do.
8. Provide yourself the opportunity To share new work, to speak
directly to your fans, and provide them the where/what/when for
current works.
9. BUILD THE RELATIONSHIPS That will help your work
succeed
10. GO TO WORDPRESS.COM Lets start to build your new
website
11. Find this screen Hit Get Started
12. Fill in these boxes All details can be changed later.
13. Follow the instructions
14. Hit the Activate button!
15. Create some hooks! This is how your audience will initially
relate to and remember your site. Keep it simple.
16. Choose a theme or template Keep it simple. Themes are easy
to change later on once youve learned more about WordPress.
17. I chose the Twenty Ten theme It is an easy and highly
visual theme that is fun to customize.
18. Share! Dont worry if you dont have a Twitter or Facebook
account yet. We will revisit this later.
19. What do you want to say? Theres lots of different ways to
create and share content on your new website. Relax and
experiment.
20. Create a Post Add a title, throw in some text, an image,
and some tags (for discoverability), preview, and post.
21. Yay! Were on the internet! People can now discover, explore
and share your work on the world wide web. The INFORMATION
SUPERHIGHWAY!
22. This is the Dashboard. This is where you control the look
and feel of your website. Note all of the support links and videos
designed to help you.
23. CREATING A SIMPLE PRESENCE FRAMEWORK Your website +
personal/professional social media channels + an evolving
content/communications strategy
24. THE HOMEBASE You control this space. This is where you
direct all internet traffic because this is where you can best sell
your work and ideas.
25. EMBASSIES
26. INTERNET LISTENING POSTS Get updates and information about
you, your work, your community, your competition, delivered right
to you.
27. INTERMISSION!
28. AND WERE BACK! Legs are stretched and lungs full of fresh
revitalizing air, fingers crackling with creative energy, mind
racing with ideas!
29. LETS TALK & EXPLORE Premium WordPress templates that
better reflect your style and display your work. Plugins that help
you better connect and measure your presence. Existing online
communities that will help you build your audience, connect with
others, and promote your work. Simple strategies for creating
content over time. Options for self-publishing using WordPress.
Books and websites that will help you connect.
41. THANK YOU! My name is Sean Cranbury I live in Vancouver,
BC. You can find me here: e: [email protected] t:
@seancranbury fb: /seancranbury w: booksontheradio.org p:
778-987-8774
42. ONLY CONNECT THAT WAS THE WHOLE OF THE SERMON. ONLY CONNECT
THE PROSE AND THE PASSION AND BOTH WILL BE EXHALTED, AND HUMAN LOVE
WILL BE SEEN AT ITS HEIGHT. LIVE IN FRAGMENTS NO LONGER. EM
FORSTER, HOWARDS END