If you read my Script Mentor thread, I was going to offer services through The Dan Ball Brand that would help screenwriters create an online presence (personal website, project sites, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and market themselves to producers, etc.

Here's where you come in: I've done no market research on the idea. So...

Would, you--the many talented and most excellent writers of Simply Scripts--benefit from an online presence or is it snake oil, mostly?

In my opinion, any professional (especially freelancers) should have a nice-looking website for themselves. But if they're doing just fine without it or a website's not very relevant to attracting business in their industry, then they don't really need one. I'm not sure where screenwriters fall between those two extremes.

For those bold enough to participate in my little survey, thanks a billion! Sorry I can't send you a nice gift card or something.


(Note: I'm not actually trying to recruit business. Just conducting research!)

Hollywood isn't going to spend time looking at every writer's website.  There's too many of them and they all favor the writer.


Phil

Dan, I'll offer my amateur opinion, which of course is ever subject to change and various other limitations.

I don't believe the emphasis for a writer should be on marketing. There, I said it.

I am probably alone in this. In my opinion, if you market away like a mad man, yes, you are much more likely to get produced, and yes, a film credit can open some doors for you. So nothing wrong with marketing...

...except to the extent that it drains time and energy.

I contend that the only way to really sustain work as a screenwriter is to be able to write great scripts. That means writing every day, but also studying film and reading scripts, doing research, reading short stories, philosophy, history, etc. If marketing cuts into that, it's a mistake.

If a writer can't write great scripts, he does not have a career. He has a fun hobby. Nothing wrong with that. But should one invest in a website for something that's a hobby?

And if a writer CAN write great scripts, eventually his work will surface. Because it's freaking hard to write truly great scripts! Once a writer can do that, he will eventually find work.

Does anyone know anyone that writes truly great scripts and is not working?

I don't mean someone who is very talented or someone who writes pretty good scripts. I mean someone who has put it all together. When you reach that level, you don't need a website. Before you reach that level, you shouldn't want one.

Again, just my approach, Dan. Most people don't share it, so you might do pretty well with your service. Worth exploring for sure.

I'll be happy to take a survey for you Dan but I don't have any money I"m one of those poor writers ya know

I have had a website for a year and I don't think it hurts or helps to be honest. I think a writer could possibly get more attention from a daily blog..... maybe.

Thanks for the insights, Phil and leitskev!

I kind of suspected this was the case. As a graphic designer, a website's everything because that's where people see your work, for the most part. For screenwriters, as you said, Phil, producers aren't going to go looking for a needle in a haystack. And LK, you made a great point by saying that writers typically get recognized whether they have a website or not, because great writing will eventually surface.

Basically, I just didn't know if this was the case or if it was a surprisingly novel idea.

A marketing perspective might not be the best way to pitch this, but what about an organizational one?

If a writer makes a lot of connections, they can refer people to their website, using it as an online business card/portfolio. After the initial setup/design fees, it would only cost about $5.99 USD/mo for hosting and $12 to renew the domain for the year. Whenever they wanted to update it, they could do it themselves or ask their web guy to do it if they didn't have the time. The setup's really the biggest hurdle.

Anything wrong with that idea or has it kinda been done?

Quoted from Pale Yellow I'll be happy to take a survey for you Dan but I don't have any money I"m one of those poor writers ya know I have had a website for a year and I don't think it hurts or helps to be honest. I think a writer could possibly get more attention from a daily blog..... maybe.

Thanks, Dena!

Well, a daily blog would certainly help when it comes to Google rankings. (The Google-botses like fresh activity!) Have you ever used it in a business card/portfolio capacity, though?