te layers of information that enable different people to get the level of information they want about you and your book. With too much information, some people will leave before realizing your book meets their needs. With too little information, some people will not be sure whether your book is what they want. Websites allow you to meet the needs of the widest audience through the use of layered information.

5. Disorganized content in too many locations on the page

A website must be focused. It needs to quickly and clearly communicate essential information. When there is information in different parts of the page visitors don’t know where to start reading and

A website is your chance to make a first impression with readers. It’s design, readability, and ease of use is a reflection of both you and your book. When done well, an effective website can do wonders for an author’s career. Whereas a poorly crafted website can result in lost sales and missed opportunities. Here is part 1 of the top mistakes that you should avoid:

1. The home page takes more than 5 seconds to load

The Internet is a source of immediate gratification where people can find information instantly. People are not used to having to wait when they use the Internet, so they aren’t going to wait for your website to load—especially if they don’t know anything about you (they’ll just determine that you don’t respect their time). This is the reason why websites that primarily use Flash have poor marketing results. People are usually gone by the time the progress bar reaches 20% loaded. If your website’s home page is heavy with images or software that has to load before visitors can determine if your site has information they want, then scale it back to make the page load more quickly.

2. The home page contains more than one paragraph

When people first visit a website they scan the content to determine whether the site meets their needs. You have mere seconds to communicate the value of your home page. Multiple paragraphs require a commitment by visitors that they aren’t yet ready to make. The home page of your website is your opportunity to build a rapport with visitors. It must say, “I have what you want and you’ll find the information easily.” On the home page it is essential that people can scan your page to see if you have what they want.

3. Paragraphs with more than three lines of text

Put long paragraphs on your website’s underlying pages rather than on the home page. Use the home page to let visitors know you are the right author with the right book to meet their needs. Do it in a clear and concise way that tells the visitor what they need to know right away. When people are unconvinced that you have what they are seeking they are not willing to read long paragraphs online in order to find out.

4. Lack of bullet points

Again, since people on the Internet scan content before they commit to reading information, they first need to know whether the information they want is present. A few key bullets summarizing a plot to a novel or conveying what you’ll learn in a non-fiction book will be read far more often than carefully written paragraphs. This means you’ll have more potential book buyers. After your bullet points, use a link to more information allowing those who are interested to learn more. The goal is to create layers of information that enable different people to get the level of information they want about you and your book. With too much information, some people will leave before realizing your book meets their needs. With too little information, some people will not be sure whether your book is what they want. Websites allow you to meet the needs of the widest audience through the use of layered information.

5. Disorganized content in too many locations on the page

A website must be focused. It needs to quickly and clearly communicate essential information. When there is information in different parts of the page visitors don’t know where to start reading and i

nything about you (they’ll just determine that you don’t respect their time). This is the reason why websites that primarily use Flash have poor marketing results. People are usually gone by the time the progress bar reaches 20% loaded. If your website’s home page is heavy with images or software that has to load before visitors can determine if your site has information they want, then scale it back to make the page load more quickly.

2. The home page contains more than one paragraph

When people first visit a website they scan the content to determine whether the site meets their needs. You have mere seconds to communicate the value of your home page. Multiple paragraphs require a commitment by visitors that they aren’t yet ready to make. The home page of your website is your opportunity to build a rapport with visitors. It must say, “I have what you want and you’ll find the information easily.” On the home page it is essential that people can scan your page to see if you have what they want.

3. Paragraphs with more than three lines of text

Put long paragraphs on your website’s underlying pages rather than on the home page. Use the home page to let visitors know you are the right author with the right book to meet their needs. Do it in a clear and concise way that tells the visitor what they need to know right away. When people are unconvinced that you have what they are seeking they are not willing to read long paragraphs online in order to find out.

4. Lack of bullet points

Again, since people on the Internet scan content before they commit to reading information, they first need to know whether the information they want is present. A few key bullets summarizing a plot to a novel or conveying what you’ll learn in a non-fiction book will be read far more often than carefully written paragraphs. This means you’ll have more potential book buyers. After your bullet points, use a link to more information allowing those who are interested to learn more. The goal is to create layers of information that enable different people to get the level of information they want about you and your book. With too much information, some people will leave before realizing your book meets their needs. With too little information, some people will not be sure whether your book is what they want. Websites allow you to meet the needs of the widest audience through the use of layered information.

5. Disorganized content in too many locations on the page

A website must be focused. It needs to quickly and clearly communicate essential information. When there is information in different parts of the page visitors don’t know where to start reading and

e paragraphs require a commitment by visitors that they aren’t yet ready to make. The home page of your website is your opportunity to build a rapport with visitors. It must say, “I have what you want and you’ll find the information easily.” On the home page it is essential that people can scan your page to see if you have what they want.

3. Paragraphs with more than three lines of text

Put long paragraphs on your website’s underlying pages rather than on the home page. Use the home page to let visitors know you are the right author with the right book to meet their needs. Do it in a clear and concise way that tells the visitor what they need to know right away. When people are unconvinced that you have what they are seeking they are not willing to read long paragraphs online in order to find out.

4. Lack of bullet points

Again, since people on the Internet scan content before they commit to reading information, they first need to know whether the information they want is present. A few key bullets summarizing a plot to a novel or conveying what you’ll learn in a non-fiction book will be read far more often than carefully written paragraphs. This means you’ll have more potential book buyers. After your bullet points, use a link to more information allowing those who are interested to learn more. The goal is to create layers of information that enable different people to get the level of information they want about you and your book. With too much information, some people will leave before realizing your book meets their needs. With too little information, some people will not be sure whether your book is what they want. Websites allow you to meet the needs of the widest audience through the use of layered information.

5. Disorganized content in too many locations on the page

A website must be focused. It needs to quickly and clearly communicate essential information. When there is information in different parts of the page visitors don’t know where to start reading and

ay. When people are unconvinced that you have what they are seeking they are not willing to read long paragraphs online in order to find out.

4. Lack of bullet points

Again, since people on the Internet scan content before they commit to reading information, they first need to know whether the information they want is present. A few key bullets summarizing a plot to a novel or conveying what you’ll learn in a non-fiction book will be read far more often than carefully written paragraphs. This means you’ll have more potential book buyers. After your bullet points, use a link to more information allowing those who are interested to learn more. The goal is to create layers of information that enable different people to get the level of information they want about you and your book. With too much information, some people will leave before realizing your book meets their needs. With too little information, some people will not be sure whether your book is what they want. Websites allow you to meet the needs of the widest audience through the use of layered information.

5. Disorganized content in too many locations on the page

A website must be focused. It needs to quickly and clearly communicate essential information. When there is information in different parts of the page visitors don’t know where to start reading and

te layers of information that enable different people to get the level of information they want about you and your book. With too much information, some people will leave before realizing your book meets their needs. With too little information, some people will not be sure whether your book is what they want. Websites allow you to meet the needs of the widest audience through the use of layered information.

5. Disorganized content in too many locations on the page

A website must be focused. It needs to quickly and clearly communicate essential information. When there is information in different parts of the page visitors don’t know where to start reading and it creates a sense of confusion. Make sure the information on your website is carefully organized and use links to other pages rather than putting all of your content in on only a few pages.

6. Lack of headlines

People go to websites looking for specific information and headlines help them find what they need. Without headlines, visitors waste time searching rather than learning about you and your book. If this process takes too long, they may simply decide you don’t meet their needs. Create headlines that stand-out from the main text and clearly communicate what information is contained beneath.