Q. What will my site name look like?
A. You will get an easy-to-remember name. The address format will be: www.name.alaskawriters.com (with your name or the word of your choice in place of “name”).

Q. What if I want my site to be called www.myname.com?
A. You can do this, too. Basically, you need to find a registrar and register your domain name, then arrange for a “redirection” to point your name to the alaskawriters.com site. (It works like a forwarding address.) It’s not too complicated, though there are some minor technical issues. If you’d rather not deal with that, I can handle it for you for an additional fee.

Q. Web designers charge much more for this kind of service. And that doesn’t include hosting and getting a domain name. How come this costs so much less?
A. Part of my commitment to this site is to make the service as inexpensive as possible. I’m also sharing design layouts, server space, software and a domain name (alaskawriters.com), so that cuts costs, too.

Q. What is Alaska WebWriter?
A. This is a software program accessed through the Web and licensed for use on this domain. Your password gives you access to update your site and update its text and photos from anywhere on the Web— perfect for authors on book tours, for example.

Q. Do you back up the sites? What happens if your site goes down?
A. Alaskawriters.com and all its member sites are automatically backed up regularly. If the site suffers an outage, I will restore affected sites as soon as possible.

Q. I don’t describe myself as an “Alaska writer.” I’m just a writer.
A. If you don’t wish to brand yourself as an Alaska writer, that is up to you. But I highly recommend that Alaska writers do capitalize on it, at least on the Web, where the Alaska cachet does help attract attention (and hits).

Q. What other advantages are there to being an AlaskaWriters member?
A. I am committed to helping support AlaskaWriters members. I offer tips for promoting your site, as well as occasionally feature member sites in my own advertising—and am seeking other ways to promote and support AlaskaWriters members and services.

Q.Why are you doing this?
A. Glad you asked! See my letter to Alaska Writers for more on how this effort came about.

Q. I already have a site that I’m happy with. Can I use your Web Writer to update it?

A. Alaska Web Writer is only licensed for sites that are on the alaskawriters.com domain. You have three options:

1) Select the appropriately sized membership package and move content there from your existing site.
2) Purchase Package 1 (a one-page site). Use it just for your timely announcements (like book tour info), and link it to your existing site.
3) Request a custom quote for preparing your existing site for use with Web Writer and moving it to the alaskawriters domain.

Q. What is the set-up fee for?
A. Much as I would like this entire service to be automated, it isn’t. Setting up each new site does require hands-on work. The set-up fee pays for that time.

Q. What is the monthly fee for?
A. This covers your use of Web Writer and up to 10 MB server space, along with basic e-mail support, and is based on the number of pages in your package.

Q. Do you offer institutional memberships or discounts?
A. Commercial or nonprofit groups, or anyone who wishes to set up multiple sites at once (10 or more) can take advantage of group discounts. Contact editor@alaskawriters.com for details.

Q. Will my site show up on search engines?
A. As long as alaskawriters.com is doing well in search engine listings, members’ sites will benefit. Whether search engines will list your individual page or site can be influenced by what you put on it, what other sites link to you, and other variables (see my article on promoting your site). Read my tips page and subscribe to my newsletter for more information on how to get the search engine results you desire.

Q. How does starting a site on this service help other Alaska writers?
A. Having links to a well-trafficked site with valuable and changing content is a huge advantage for anyone hoping to be noticed on the Web. The more alaskawriters. com grows, the better for everyone connected to it. Your pages add content to this site that helps search engines identify it as a useful and dynamic source of information on Alaska writers.

Q. Are there any limits to what I can post on my site?
A. Alaska Writers Homestead does not take responsibility for any information posted on member sites. However, if I am notified that a site contains materials inappropriate for a writing-related site or that may violate the terms of my agreement with my Web hosting company, I may terminate any account without notice. Also, depending on site package chosen, data file size limitations may apply.