Web presence

I've been reading agent blogs obsessively of late, learning as much as I can about the publishing business and the current state of the YA market. The census seems to be that these days an author must have a "web presence" to become successful. A web presence ensures attention from readers, bloggers, and reviewers and is a necessity when it comes to marketing and promoting your book. Here are some ways you can create your own "web presence":
1. Create a blog
A blog gives you the means to keep readers and followers updated on what you're doing. An interesting and well kept blog means you maintain followers, which may someday become potential readers of your published work and reviewers, who are crucial to your book's success. Positive reviews propel your book's sales in today's competitive market. Also, a blog is more personal so people can get to know you and your voice better. Blogging has become quite the rage for authors as a tool to promote themselves by means of blog tours and guest blogging on another author or agents' blog.
2. Twitter
There are endless opportunities to network on Twitter. Become a follower of your favorite author and leave them a tweet and they might just answer your comment. Follow publishers and agents to learn up to the minute updates about what's happening right now in the publishing industry. Tweet about your own work and the work of others to create networking buddies and gain followers to get your name out there. Twitter is a great resource for staying on the up and up and being informed.
3. Personal website
A personal website is the place you advertise all that is you; your latest book coming out, your future books plans, book tour dates, book signings, squashing of rumors, and any other exciting news fans want to know. Here you can consolidate all your other online endeavors in a single stop shopping trip. Provide links to your blog, Twitter, fan pages, book reviews, and also provide your bio and picture. This is where fans go to really get to know you.
So far I have the blog and the Twitter, and with a manuscript nearing completion more every day I am feeling good about my web presence. When I first started writing my novel I had no idea there was so much more involved than just the act of writing. To be a successful writer these days, you need more than good writing going for you, you need to clamor for attention and get noticed because there are a million other authors out there but you need to differentiate yourself and make them want to follow YOU!