An artist or author website is the place to market yourself as well as you book apps. It's a place to interact with your readers and for agents and publishers to easily contact you. One of the easiest ways to create a website is to use Wordpress (wordpress.org). Below is a list of the basic features that you will want to have on your website or blog.

Features For A Good Website:

1. Installation of WordPress on your website

   You will need a domain name and web hosting account. Many people use GoDaddy for registering your domain and HostGator for a web hosting service. HostGator and most other web hosts have an easy-to-use wizard to install WordPress on your account.

2. Choice of theme from the Wordpress Themes Directory

   WordPress.org offers many free WordPress themes. You can install the theme of your choice directly from your WordPress site.

3. Custom header or Image Slider

   A custom header image or jQuery Image Slider is the first thing your site visitor notices about your site. You could have a slide show of images from your latest book app.

4. General settings including Permalinks and XML Sitemap

   Permalinks and an XML Sitemap help search engines find your website.

5. Google Fonts (optional)

   You can use the free Google fonts to add a touch of interest.

6. Custom Error 404 Page Redirect

   Set up Wordpress to redirect dead or missing links on your site to your home page.

7. jQuery Multi-level Drop Down Menu

   Some WordPress themes display only a top level (Parent page) menu of links on your website. Use a multi-level drop down menu that will also display sub-level (Child page) links.

8. Easing Slider

   jQuery based image slider may be installed in place of your header image or within the content on a specific webpage of your site.

9. Lightbox Plus

   jQuery based image overlay script.

10. Social Integration with at least Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube (ShareThis, Follow Me, Social Media Icons Widget)

    Blog: Installation of Share buttons at the end of each post. Website: Social Follow Me buttons installed in the sidebar or footer.

11. Google FeedBurner Integration

    Google FeedBurner is a free feature-rich option for publishing your WordPress feed. Your site visitors receive notification of updates to your posts via RSS feed or signup to receive notice by email.

12. Google Analytics Integration

    Google Analytics collects stats about the number of visitors to your website and the top most referrers.

13. Contact Page with Contact Form 7 and Contact Form 7 Honeypot

    Add a Contact page to your site containing a Contact Form 7 form with Contact Form 7 Honeypot security.

14. SEO by Yoast Plugin

    Installation of the SEO by Yoast plugin optimizes your website for search engines and allows you to add additional keywords and descriptions for individual pages or posts on your site.

15. Askimet Plugin (optional)

    Protects your website from spam. Requires an API key available at https://akismet.com/wordpress/.

16. Text Captcha for Comment Form

    Protects your website from comment bot spam by adding a small question that must be answered by the user.

17. Simple Trackback Validation

    Works behind the scene to prevent trackback spam

18. WP DB Manager

    Automate database management and backups.