Website Design for Authors – Podcast Episodes & Resources

Two- Part Podcast Series

This Website Design for Authors two-part podcast series is a special production of Writing Works Wonders for our listeners and authors. What do authors, and others, need to know about website development? Dr. Kathy King is center stage and uses her nearly 20 years of website design and publishing experience to guide our authors through the process. Kathy provides recommended development stages, platforms and steps to follow. And Cheryl makes sure she explains the technical aspects and keeps it all in perspective!

 

 

 

Episode Descriptions

Episode 44 – Website Design for Authors, Part 1

Website guidance in everyday terms! Straightforward examples, proven strategies and accessibility are our focus in this timely series. This episode begins the two part series to support authors, and others, to make  informed decisions about website development. In their typical dynamic style, Kathy and Cheryl start off with an overview of design stages and demystify the process and terms.

Episode 45 – Website Design for Authors, Part 2

Part Two of our special series providing website development guidance in everyday terms! Kathy and Cheryl delve into the final two steps of designing and maintaining author websites. They discuss how to create the basic site framework, keep your message focus, design accessible sites, and more. This episode also explores WordPress benefits and features, including an overview of powerful plugins/add-ons and specific steps. Even if you have never used WordPress, it will be a concise introduction to this popular website development platform.

 

Resources for Website Design for Authors

Hosting (Server space to install website)

• Hostgator
• Godaddy
• Dreamhost

URL Purchasing – Buy your web address

• Hostgator
• Godaddy

Website Platforms

WordPress Themes

• Generate Press is a highly accessible theme for website creators and users.
  • You install themes from within WordPress, but you may read about  Generate Press at its website.
  • As of January 2022, when this page was posted, Generate Press is free. Please note, if you find it beneficial, you may consider supporting the developer with a donation or upgrading to the premium version for more features.
• Through the WordPress dashboard, you may review thousands of themes. Many may be optimized for greater accessibility with custom design and plugins. For example, Writing Works Wonders customizes the Savona Edge theme.

Accessibility Guidelines

NOTE- Regarding web accessibility, we suggest using the links we provide on this page. General web searches will lead to many commercial products which are costly and may not always completely work.

• WCAG – Web Content Accessibility Guidelines – Recommendations to support comoliance with ADA requirements for web accessibility
• W3.org – Provides comolete information for individuals planning and designing websites
• Create an Accessibility Policy- Use this free tool to generate an Accessibility Polocy/Statement for your web site.

Plugins for WordPress

Thousands of free plugins, powerful add-on fearures, are available for WordPress. The following list are those we recommend because we have used them with success. Most plugins are simply installed through the WordPress dashboard with just a few clicks. If you find a plugin useful, you may consider supporting the developer with a donation or upgrading to premium versions. When this list was posted, these suggestions did not require payments.

• Accessibility
  • One-Click Accessibility
  • Accessibility Tool and Alt Text Finder
  • Media File Renmer
  • W3.org- Accessibility Guidelines- (Not a plugin)
• Backup
  • UpDraftPlus Backup/Restore
• Broken Link Checker
  • Link Checker
• Button Maker (Accessible buttons)
  • MaxButtons
• Form Maker
  • Ninja Forms
  • WPForms
  • MailerLite Form plugin for Mailerlite system
  • Mailchimp plugin for Mailchimp system
• Payment Processing
  • WP Easy PayPal Payment Accept
  • WP PayPal
• Podcasting
  • Pinecast WordPress Sync
  • WP RSS Aggregator
• Security
  • WordFence Security
• Social Media
  • Social Media Follow Buttons Bar
• Statistics
  • Rank Math SEO
  • WPStats

Website How-To Books/Articles

• Writing Works Wonders’ new book! – Coming soon!
• How-To Design Author Websites
  • 5 Things Authors Website Need for Success

 

Two- Part Podcast Series

Episode 45 – Website Design for Authors, Part 2

Part Two of our special series providing website development guidance in everyday terms! Kathy and Cheryl delve into the final two steps of designing and maintaining author websites. They discuss how to create the basic site framework, keep your message focus, design accessible sites, and more. This episode also explores WordPress benefits and features, including an overview of powerful plugins/add-ons and specific steps. Even if you have never used WordPress, it will be a concise introduction to this popular website development platform.

 

URL Purchasing – Buy your web address

• Hostgator
• Godaddy

Website Platforms

WordPress Theme

• Generate Press. Highly accessible for creator and user.
•  Many other themes  can be made more  accessible  with custom design and plugins.

Plugins for WordPress

Thousands of free plugins, powerful add-on fearures, are available for WordPress. The following list are those we recommend because we have used them with success. Most plugins are simply installed through the WordPress dashboard with just a few clicks.

• Accessibility
  • One-Click Accessibility
  • Accessibility Tool and Alt Text Finder
  • Media File Renmer
• Backup
  • UpDraftPlus Backup/Restore
• Broken Link Checker
  • Link Checker
• Button Maker (Accessible buttons)
  • MaxButtons
• Form Maker
  • Ninja Forms
  • WPForms
  • MailerLite Form plugin for Mailerlite system
  • Mailchimp plugin for Mailchimp system
• Payment Processing
  • WP Easy PayPal Payment Accept
  • WP PayPal
• Podcasting
  • Pinecast WordPress Sync
  • WP RSS Aggregator
• Security
  • WordFence Security
• Social Media
  • Social Media Follow Buttons Bar
• Statistics
  • Rank Math SEO
  • WPStats

Website How-To Books/Articles

• Writing Works Wonders’ new book! – Coming soon!
• How-To Design Author Websites

 

 

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