How to inspire, inform—and never annoy your audience with email newsletters. (Especially if you are an author.) Here’s my newest article for BookPromotion.com.

It is tempting–oh, so tempting!–to go for the free options when building your site. I wrote this article for BookPromotion.com to break down the pros and cons of free hosting verses self-hosting in WordPress, particularly when it comes to author sites and publishing in general.

The site I designed for author, actress, comedienne Julia Sweeney launched this week! The site showcases the entire oeuvre of her work—from memories of her tenure on Saturday Night Live to her stage shows, and her books. In fact, her new book, If It’s Not One Thing, It’s Your Mother pubs today!

Plus, she wrote me one of my favorite testimonials: “Okay, whenever you send me something new I am so gobsmacked by how beautiful it is, I can barely look for the possible problem areas. Seriously, it takes me a couple of days to recover. I was just thinking, Lisa has the most fun job that she is most wonderful at doing. (Awkwardly worded, yes, but when I think, I’m clunky) Unclunkily, I thought, ‘She must be smiling every day!’ (Of course I know that’s not true, as I live in the real world, but still, that’s really what I was thinking just now…) Lisa, you are so good at your job!”

Whitney Moss and Heather Flett are perhaps better known online as the Rookie Moms.Together, they have a wildly popular Web site (which I just redesigned), two books under their belt, and thousands of followers. They asked me to help them pull together a more attractive social media presence that better promotes both themselves and their various properties.

This article for BookPromotion.com breaks down exactly what I did to better design both their Twitter and Facebook pages.

I just joined BookPromotion.com as a contributor, and my first article launched today. Entitled What Is With All the Lousy Author Web Sites, I think you can guess what it is about. This is my tough-love letter to authors out there to get their (ahem) sites together.

On a related note, I am going to be speaking on a panel with the amazing Lori Culwell at Book Expo America this May on this very topic and more.

I originally worked with the Rookie Moms—Heather Flett and Whitney Moss—designing their 510Families.com site a few years ago. They recently came to me, asking to help them refresh the look of their original site, RookieMoms.com. Since they launched the site in 2005, it has grown substantially. (As have their respective children—five in all! Rookies no more.) They have an avid online following on both Facebook and Twitter, and two books under their belt. They wanted a site that retained the original look and feel, but reflected the earned sophistication and depth of content. Last, but not least, the site is integrated with their advertising network, monetizing all that content. I love seeing these smart, savvy women succeed in their work!

This is phase one of the Egg & Dart Press site launch–a placeholder introducing four new cookbooks that come out this Spring. As you might imagine, the only thing I like better than books is cookbooks. Can’t wait to get my hands on these.

I was absolutely thrilled to work with Pamela Druckerman when she sought a redesign of her site to coincide with the launch of her new book, Bébé Day by Day, 100 Keys to French Parenting. The press she got from Bringing Up Bébé was astounding. This book was translated into various other publishing markets and TIME chose her as one of the 100 most fascinating people of 2011. She wanted her redesigned site to build from that momentum, but introduce readers to her new books, and (of course) make it easy to purchase.

On a personal level, this book came along at the perfect time for me, too, as I wrangled the will of my own adorable, but assertive four-year-old and very American child. It’s never too late!

Two more incredibly exciting clients are now added to my roster: Saturday Night Live alum and author Julia Sweeney, and best-selling author (of Bringing Up Bebe) Pamela Druckerman. (And one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most fascinating people of 2011.)

Favorite longtime clients Amy and Trisha from I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids asked me to design some quotes from their book and site that social media users could share online. It was a blast designing these pithy, often racy quotes. Check them out on Facebook!