I offer to answer freelance writers’ burning questions on the blog. (By the way, if you have a question you’d like me to answer, you can send it to lindaformichelli@gmail.com.) Have a lot of questions? I’m offering a 10% discount off my phone mentoring services through August 20.

Here’s Shaundra’s question: “Is it worth creating a website for myself if I don’t yet have clips, and if so, what kind of information should I include until I do have publications to my name?”

I’m not a website expert, so I turned to someone who is: Reese of DesignByReese.com, who designed my Linda Formichelli website, my Write for Magazines site, and the Creative Professionals for Animal Welfare site. Reese shared info not only on what to include on your website if you have no clips, but how you can build a winning writing website and start building your reputation online. Here’s what she had to say:

We live in a time where, in order to compete and stand out, you want to be as ubiquitous as possible, even if you’re new to the writing space. Even if you don’t have clips ready yet, establishing an online presence helps:

• Secure your name online sooner than later.
• “Season” your website. Older domains do better in search engines over time.
• Give you an immediate launching pad for when you do have gigs to feature.

To begin, before you have clips to showcase, a home page with contact information can be enough. Think of it as a promotional brochure or expanded business card. You might want to include a photo, too. Create a home page with succinct information about you (your education, your experience, your goals). If you have a unique world view (e.g. you’re a mixed martial arts fanatic) put this in there, too. Special topics can often pique editors’ interest.

When you get your first clip, feature it on the home page you built. When you have three or more, build a separate “work samples” (or “clips” or “writing”) page and move them over there.

Even before you have your first clip, here’s what you can do to start building an online presence:

1. Free and easy: Make sure you’ve got your name secured in places like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google profiles, and even Youtube. Set up accounts on all. Even if you don’t want to put a ton of work into each area, get your name on there.

2. Also free and easy: Start reaching out in LinkedIn. Answer ‘questions’ in their marketplace. Be humble and confident at the same time, and let people know you’re a new writer who’s seeking gigs.

3. Website: Buy a domain, preferably your name as a .com domain if you can secure it (e.g. reesespykerman.com). If you have a common name, go by a middle name, too, or get a domain like “lindasmithwrites.com.”

Go to godaddy.com or namecheap.com (I prefer to latter) to register it. Then, if your budget is minimal, go to wordpress.com and set up a free blog/site there (it also lets you just have pages to a site, too). Link your domain to this for $9.97 a year (there are instructions right here).

Then, once you have clips, you’re already set up to link to them. When you make pages in this, make a page about you, a page to contact you, and showcase any writing you’ve done pro bono if you have it.

Go back to your Facebook, LinkedIn and Google profiles, and add a link back to your website.

4. Website (alt): If the above feels too overwhelming and you’re ready to commit to a more professional website, you can also contact me over at www.designbyreese.com to be notified of a new product next month for writers and start ups on a budget that gets you a professional site at a reasonable price.

5. Get published: Even if you’re seeking magazine gigs, be willing to stretch, and go to a place like Linda’s creativepaw.org to offer your writing services for free. You’ll help a shelter in need, and build up a portfolio of writing that you can link/point to from your site. As the saying goes, get thee to the mountain — don’t wait for it to come to you. [lf]

If you liked that post, you might also like:

• Getting Started as a Freelancer? Here’s What You’ll Need
• Calling all Anglophiles
• You ask, we answer: How can I show off a handful of clips?
• How to Decide What to Do Next
• New Site for Magazine Industry Members