Member since:
December 17, 2005

My Web Site (Saturday Writing Essential)

January 29, 2011 12:17 AM UTC

views: 0 | 8 people recommend this | comments: 44

This week I’m asking you to be a bit serious and a bit funny.

Many of the writers here on Gather have a separate Web site, but many do not. If you’ve planned one, here’s your chance to see if your proposed Web site will pull in some views.

Many hosting services include advertisements along with your message so that when viewers first bring up your site they see your message along with a couple of ads. Scattered somewhere around the page are going to be buttons for people to click to take them to whatever you want them to see.

However, the first thing the reader sees is what’s going to attract his/her attention. You have to write it in such a way that the reader wants to click on one of the buttons.

This sample is simplified merely so I can show you what I want you to do. There is a main message in the center and two advertisements (added by the hosting service) on either side.

This silly example took me nearly all day so I’m hoping you can do much better. Better? Yep, I want you to write your own main message, trying to keep my attention, as well as two fake/funny ads.

Don’t try to include the artwork, just put in the text. In this case I’d submit it as:

Main site:

Welcome to my Web site.
I have attempted to…

Ad 1:

Viagra Supplement
Not sure if your…

Ad 2:

Lose Weight Today
You’ve heard…

This Week’s Challenge:

Write the main part of your new Web site along with two advertising sidebars. The main portion should be as real as you can make it in order to draw people to your site and lure them into clicking on one of the buttons taking them to other messages. The sidebars should just be cute. You don’t have to put them in as a picture as I did, just label them: Main site, Ad 1, and Ad 2.

Ideas:

I have little imagination, no artistic talent, and even less advertising expertise. Therefore, I wouldn’t begin to advise you on this one.

Put in an intro of some kind and then three headings: Main site, Ad 1, and Ad2. Anything else is up to you.

I mentioned putting in the two ads strictly for comic relief. Pick a real product or make up something and write some cute advertising-type banter about them.

This is your Web site so sell yourself and your work!

Watch Out For:

If you use a real product for your ads, make sure you include any trademarks, service marks, or copyrights along with the owner of each.

Recap:

This past week was really cool. If you read the following (hint, hint) you’ll see that any number of things can inspire writers. It would also be a nice touch to click on the links to the original posts and read them as well. Oh, after you read their posts, please remember to click on the “recommend” button. Thank you.

Why I wrote This poem - SatWE- Gather Writing Essentials by Elsie Duggan

SatWE: Getting Over It Because I Should Live by Pammu Agaloos

Saturday Writing Essential: Inspiration, a Dangerous Thing by A. F. Stewart

Nudged into Inspiration - (Saturday Writing Essential) by Lynn P.

Norm Hinderliter chose to make his submission in a comment on the original challenge column and this is the first time I’ve tried to link to a comment, but here we go. Click on this to see his comment and submission.

Inspired by the Rhododendron Garden (posted for SatWE Challenge) by Alison H.

Inspiration (Saturday Writing Essential) by Len Maxwell

Inspiratioin (Saturday Writing Essential) By Ruthi C.

Inspiration - Saturday Writing Essential by Brenda Youngerman

The Rules:

Put this challenge statement at the beginning or end of your submission so readers will know what you’re supposed to do.

Challenge: Write the main part of your new Web site along with two advertising sidebars. The main portion should be as real as you can make it in order to draw people to your site and lure them into clicking on one of the buttons taking them to other messages. The sidebars should just be cute. You don’t have to put them in as a picture as I did, just label them: Main site, Ad 1, and Ad 2.

There is a limit of three submissions from each member per day. If you’re extremely prolific, spread out your work and post only three submissions per day.
Post to Gather Writing Essential.
Tag your submission with SatWE.
Include (Saturday Writing Essential) as part of your title.
I ask that you make your submission(s) by next Friday afternoon.

Good Writing!

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Find Gather groups: Not Gathering Dust, Write Write Write, The Surreal Circus, Len Maxwell's Writing, Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists, Writing Is My Passion, Gather Writing Essential

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8 people recommend this post

Angela A.

Ruthi C.

Elsie Duggan

Barbary Chaapel

Greg Schiller

Susan Budig - Mindful Poet

norm hinderliter Jan 29, 2011, 1:37am UTC

One problem, my friend. I have NEVER understood all of this computer "jargon". The last three people, who promised to teach me, REFUSED to speak to me, in plain English. This is why I have no personal web-site. No one will instruct me, in regular English, how to create a web-site. This is why all I can do is comment, and post. No one will teach this "retard", using simple English. Hopefully, others will have better luck, with this challenge. Understand that I have stated FACTS, as I know them.

Lynn P. Jan 29, 2011, 2:14am UTC

LOL You really made me laugh out loud (and I swear, I'll wake up hubby some day doing that), because I so relate. Website I can do. html I couldn't do after trying for a year.

Plain English? Try a site that is a FREE "What you see is what you get" site. (also called wysiwyg. The intials for the phrase.) Tripod is cool. Of course, you do have to read the directions and play around with it, but, remember I couldn't learn html, but could create a couple of websites using that before I even knew all the prime and proper stuff that's supposed to be done to make websites. ;)

(Don't worry about prime and proper yet. Go with two adages, "Just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should do it." and "Don't do anythig you wouldn't want to find on another site." If you want to know how the two are related to creating a website, just remember black background with hot pink letters and stupid little hearts floating around where you think your arrow ought to be, is a terrible thing to do to anyone visiting your site. lol)

Oh, and, because I am fluent in both "plain English" and typos, feel free to PM me if you need more plain English spoke to you. I've created 2 sites and 2 blogs and don't know Jack about how to talk websitese. ;)

Len Maxwell Jan 29, 2011, 12:45pm UTC

norm, this is just for practice. I'm not asking you to design a Web site, just write the text that will appear on it.

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Lynn P. Jan 29, 2011, 2:30am UTC

Okay, sorry, Len (and sorry norm, but this is SEO/advertising knowledge getting in my way, so don't confuse that with me understanding website jargon. ;) )

I think my problem might stem from understanding how to get websites noticed and how freebie website platforms target ads to profit from freebie sites. First, I love your ads better than what would really appear on sites, but that's also my problem. Those ads wouldn't show up on your site, based on your message. Ads pick relevant words from the content and pop up ads that seem to relate. I would think for that message you'd probably get an ad for poetry.com or maybe some secondhand "antique" store that sells "eclectic" stuff. Poetry and eclectic being your most relevant words on content. Sooo, I'm asking if you prefer us using what we already know about websites, go for humor, or go for something different?

Or, since you probably don't want to go technical on this one, are you suggesting we come up with extremely clickable ads (Ads that seem to get the most space and probably the most clicks out of all of the possibilities) and then try to out do the ads with content that will keep visitors on the site?

I've never done sites to profit from the ads, but I know how to. You've picked a topic that is near and dear to me, so I'm more stuck on which way to go with this prompt, then struggling for a way to go. With that, I'm trying to figure out what you're thinking to come up with something you'd recognize as a response to your prompt.

Len Maxwell Jan 29, 2011, 12:46pm UTC

Don't worry about the ads. They would, as you said, apply in some way to the overall theme of the site. I'm just asking for something cutesy.

Lynn P. Jan 29, 2011, 3:02pm UTC

Oh, cutesy? My "expertise." lol

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Ed Da Head Toker Jan 29, 2011, 3:10am UTC

I hate web page design.

Len Maxwell Jan 29, 2011, 12:49pm UTC

Everyone has to hate something.

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Allen H. Jan 29, 2011, 3:32am UTC

I can do it, but only for serious money,
or to save the Planet - it's so boring!
If you want to see web design,
look what my genius mate Stefan
did for my Rotary Club:

Allen H. Jan 29, 2011, 3:33am UTC

That's me on the front page!

Bernard C. Jan 29, 2011, 8:04am UTC

That's an interesting page Allen - Was reading through very quickly didn't find what are the requirements were for becoming a member - Have bookmarked it for later when I have a bit more time :-)

Greg Schiller Jan 29, 2011, 8:19am UTC

I am impressed, Allen. The site is very professional and easy on the eye. It suits its purpose well.

I was also drawn to The Rotary Four Way Test. What a wonderful list of principles! I wish we would all apply them to what we write.

Len Maxwell Jan 29, 2011, 12:49pm UTC

Allen, does Rotary still sponsor Interact clubs in high schools?

Allen H. Jan 29, 2011, 5:26pm UTC

Bernard
To be a Rotarian you need to have a Vocation - a Business or a Profession, you must be prepared to work for your fellow man (Motto is "Service above Self"), and you need to be invited to join by a Rotarian.
Greg
Rotarians are asked to apply the Four Way Test to everything we think, say or do. It is the ethical standard Rotarians are judged by.
Len
We do still sponsor Interact Clubs in High Schools and Rotaract Clubs for School leavers (18 - 30 year olds). We now have an Interact Club at James Ruse Agricultural College.

reply to this comment

Bernard C. Jan 29, 2011, 7:56am UTC

Sounds like a good challenge for anyone who has a website - I do not have one on hand - though good luck to all particpants- thanks for the prompts :-)

Thanks for submitting to
The Surreal Circus.

Len Maxwell Jan 29, 2011, 12:51pm UTC

Now's your chance to start planning yours. I'm not asking for an entire Web page, just the text you'll use to keep your readers interested.

Ann Marcaida Jan 29, 2011, 1:11pm UTC

Now featured.

Len Maxwell Jan 29, 2011, 1:18pm UTC

Nicest thing a writer can hear, Ann; thank you.

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Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jan 29, 2011, 7:57am UTC

I loved last week's prompt, didn't get to it. I already have a webpage with very little on it and no ads except for the host's tiny pitch.

Len Maxwell Jan 29, 2011, 12:53pm UTC

It's a good start.

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Dotti P. Jan 29, 2011, 10:01am UTC

It is a good challenge but I also do not have a website: Welcome to my website though...are you stopping in or dropping in. Good luck to all the participants.

Len Maxwell Jan 29, 2011, 12:52pm UTC

This is your chance to start planning your Web page. What text would you put up there to tell readers what you're all about?

Dotti P. Jan 29, 2011, 12:59pm UTC

My love for animals and my accomplishments that I have achieved.

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Ann Marcaida Jan 29, 2011, 12:02pm UTC

Thanks for sharing with Gather's Best Writers and Artists. Now featured.

Len Maxwell Jan 29, 2011, 12:52pm UTC

Thank you for the feature, Ann.

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Barbary Chaapel Jan 29, 2011, 3:42pm UTC

I was very, very lucky in that a friend designed my website for me at
http://barbarychaapel.eveusa.com
He did it long distance - everything passed back and forth via computer - which was not easy,but we finally got on the same page... I just let him design as he pleased with my material.

Len Maxwell Jan 29, 2011, 5:39pm UTC

That is a lovely site.

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Elsie Duggan Jan 29, 2011, 5:24pm UTC

I have a web site that was done for me by another gatherite , I go to it and look at the pictures she put up for me and some of my poetry and then she has a link into Gather, my grand daughter who is educationally retarded, has used this to read everything I write, or at lease look at family pictures here, She calls me everyday to tell me something new she found, I will give this a go. as always, love, Elsie

Len Maxwell Jan 29, 2011, 5:40pm UTC

Would you care to share the address, Elsie, or is this a private site for family?

Elsie Duggan Jan 30, 2011, 11:46am UTC

no, it has a few pictures of me, some poetry not on Gather, and of course the gather site, It also has the first story I ever wrote on it, and I just read it and realized how I went into so much detail, but I guess I needed to write it,
here is the link if you want to look at it, and there is a guest book, if you go to it please sign it, love, Elsie

http://www.freewebs.com/elsieduggan/elsieduggan.htm

Len Maxwell Jan 30, 2011, 12:18pm UTC

That's a great site, Elsie. One question. In one of the stories you talked about moving to the flat where you saw your first pull-out bed. Are you talking about a trundle or murhpy bed?

Elsie Duggan Jan 30, 2011, 1:55pm UTC

I am talking about a sofa, that had removable cushions, and the top pulled out to make a double bed, or two twins, this was in the early forties. I just knew it as a pull-out bed. I don't think it was a trundle, and know it was not a murphy as they come out of the wall, it was an adventure for me, thanks for looking at the sight. Bhawana made it for me,

Len Maxwell Jan 30, 2011, 2:01pm UTC

Oh, Elsie, we had one of those. We called it a "convertible sofa." That two-inch mattress that was included in it was so uncomfortable. The metal bars underneath that held everything together worked their way up into your back while you were sleeping.

You're making me remember more and more things from my childhood. Thank you.

Elsie Duggan Jan 30, 2011, 2:08pm UTC

yes, that is what it was called,thanks for remembering the name. I am glad I am stirring childhood memories, they were the best of times , never have them again, Thanks for reading, love, Elsie

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Brenda Youngerman Jan 29, 2011, 6:23pm UTC

I am just throwing the popcorn in the air and catching it as this conversation is so enjoyable!
Can't wait to share mine! (Fictional one at that!)

Len Maxwell Jan 29, 2011, 7:03pm UTC

I'm jealous. I used to do that -- toss popcorn in the air. My problem, though, was that one kernel would hit me on the nose, another in the eye, one on the chin, and one would miss me completely.

Real or fiction, I'm looking forward to it.

Lynn P. Jan 30, 2011, 3:20am UTC

Len, could be worse. My problem was the popcorn fell into the next room. lol

Brenda Youngerman Jan 30, 2011, 12:05pm UTC

Lynn,
I think that is where the three blind mice come in!

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Ruthi C. Jan 29, 2011, 7:56pm UTC

Interesting challenge, Len! As you know, I do have my own website. It's undergoing a much needed re-design this year, but all are welcome to have a peek at abitosunshine