I’ve been designing websites for about 20 years, and one of the services I provide is to give consultations to actors who already have websites. This means I’ve seen a lot of sites – the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Over time, I’ve realized there are common mistakes actors make. Read on to learn some things to avoid when creating your actor site.
Confusing Navigation
Is your navigation confusing or does it change from page to page? If so, your visitors probably give up in frustration before they find what they’re looking for. Do yourself a favor and make sure your navigation is clear and remains consistent throughout your site, so that folks are more likely to see all of your awesome pages!
Too Much Of A Good Thing
The old adage is true – less really is more. Don’t overwhelm your website visitors with too many photos or a bio so long you have to scroll several times to read it. Because if there’s too much to look at, it probably won’t be looked at at all.
No Contact Info
It seems like a no-brainer, but you must make it easy for people to contact you. At the very least, your email address along with your agent and/or manager’s contact info should be listed on your Contact Page.
No Printable Headshot/Resumé
Yes, some casting directors still use paper! Make it easy for them to print out your headshot and resumé by offering a Downloads section on each page of your website.
Old Content
If you have a Latest News section or a Blog on your website (and I highly recommend you do), you MUST keep it updated regularly. Otherwise, it might appear that you’re not working or actively pursuing your craft. Don’t worry – the posts don’t have to be long. Even a line or two, posted regularly, will keep you looking like the busy actor you are!
Are you making any of these mistakes on your actor website? If so, write down the steps you’re going to take to give your site a refresh. And I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!