Meet Writer’s Residence 2.0

My mission since launching Writer’s Residence in 2008 has always been to provide a service that enables writers to show off their work and market themselves professionally. Last year I recognized that the platform was starting to show its age. That’s why, for the last six months, I’ve been working hard with the help of some great developers and fellow writers to bring the site up to date. We’ve just relaunched and I’m so excited to share with you the changes. 

Here’s a summary of what we’ve done: 

• We’ve rebuilt the entire codebase from the ground up - let’s face it, a lot’s changed since 2008, especially in the computer world. The code was aging and becoming unstable, with a growing risk of our server failing. This was the initial fire that really fuelled the relaunch. 

• Three new themes, mobile-friendly, and totally customizable - we used to have 10 static themes with fixed headers, fonts, etc. With Writer’s Residence v2.0 you can choose from three different theme layouts, a set of headers (or you can upload your own), customized color palettes, and custom fonts. Don’t worry - if you’re not techy, we’ve got default settings that you can rely on. If you want to take it to the next level, there's an option for extra customization, all included in the same subscription plan.

• Enhanced security. Have you ever gone to a website and got a warning that the site was not secure? That won't happen here. Writer's Residence now employs an advanced SSL certificate, which encrypts the communication between the web browser and the server. This encryption ensures that sensitive information, such as login credentials and personal data, remains secure from unauthorized access, bolstering the overall security of the site.

• SEO features. We’ve added enhanced features to the portfolio pages that allow you to specify SEO features like meta title and description so you can more easily be found in search engines. Again, don't worry - we've kept all our optimization features simple and effective with on screen tips that beginners can follow.

• Better support. We now have a help ticketing system built into the website so you can raise a request directly from the dashboard. There’s also a chat feature so you can talk to us in real time if you have any issues.

I like to be transparent, so it's worth adding that all of these changes have largely come about because of YOU and the support of our amazing subscribers. So thank you! We've invested some of our own funds too, and will continue to invest and re-invest to help Writer's Residence fulfill this potential. That said, we decided not raise our prices, which have not increased since 2008. This allows us to offer a competitive, compelling and achievable alternative to creating a professional website, even for writers taking their first steps in the professional world.

Coming soon…

We’re actively developing the site to make it better than ever, with improvements happening almost every day. We are keen to understand the needs of today’s writer when it comes to an online writing portfolio and we welcome your feedback. Feel free to drop me a line personally at monica@writersresidence.com.

Click here to give Writer's Residence a try.