As an author, building an author website and maintaining a website is essential for your long-term marketing strategy and platform growth. However, the task can seem daunting, especially for those who have little experience with website creation or management. Where should you start? This guide aims to address common questions and simplify the process for you.
Step 1: Choose Your Website Building Tools
Before diving in, you need to select the right tools and services for building your Author website design, whether free or paid. When making your choice, keep these three aspects in mind:
- Budget: If you are an unpublished author website or have limited income, it’s wise to begin with free options.
- User-Friendliness: If technology isn’t your strong suit, opt for platforms that simplify the design and building process. However, be aware that user-friendly platforms may come with limitations or hidden costs.
- Portability and Longevity: Not all website platforms are built to last. Proprietary systems can become obsolete (think Geocities or Apple iWeb). Open-source platforms are often more sustainable, as they don’t tie you to a single service provider.
Top Recommendations
- WordPress.com: A reliable free option that has proven its worth over time. It powers about 20% of the internet. You can begin with a free plan and upgrade later if necessary.
- SquareSpace: If you prefer a more intuitive platform and are willing to invest, SquareSpace is user-friendly but can be challenging to migrate away from due to its proprietary nature.
- Ghost: This newer open-source platform is relatively easy to learn, but it comes with a monthly fee unless you can set it up on your own server.
- Weebly and Wix: I wouldn’t recommend these due to their proprietary systems, which ultimately require payment for full functionality. If you choose a proprietary platform, SquareSpace is a better option in the long run.
Having used WordPress since 2006, I find it to be a cost-effective solution that can enhance your online presence over time, provided you’re willing to learn.
Step 2: Secure Your Domain Name
Your domain name for the author serves as the web address for your site and should represent your author name instead of your book title. This domain will become your brand, remaining consistent across all your works. If yourname.com is unavailable, think about alternatives such as yournameauthor.com or yournamebooks.com. If those are also taken, consider using different extensions like .net or .me.
Step 3: Choose a Website Theme
Your website’s theme or design template is crucial as it dictates the visual appeal, layout, and overall user experience. A good theme allows for customization and functionality, while simpler themes may lack advanced features.
Tips for Selecting a WordPress Theme
- Review ratings and feedback to assess reliability.
- Look for themes that have been recently updated and widely downloaded.
- Avoid new themes unless they come from a reputable developer with other successful themes.
For WordPress.com users, your theme options will be limited to well-tested themes. If you’re using a self-hosted WordPress site, you have more flexibility, but it can be overwhelming. Research existing author websites to find themes you admire, and check the source code to identify the theme they’re using.
Step 4: Gather Essential Content for Your Website
Prepare the following materials for your author’s website:
- Professional Bio: Write a concise bio (100-300 words) in the third person, suitable for introductions at events.
- Book Cover Images: Collect high-resolution images for each published book. Use lower-resolution versions for the site to ensure quick loading times.
- Book Descriptions: Create short (25-100 words) and long (200-300 words) descriptions for each book.
- Purchase Links: Include links to major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound for all formats (print, ebook, audiobook, etc.).
- Contact Information: Provide details for your agent or publicist, if applicable.
- Social Media Links: Gather links to your active social media for author profiles.
- Reviews and Blurbs: Compile any notable praise for your work.
Step 5: Create Key Pages for Your Author Website
Beyond the homepage, consider adding the following pages:
- About Page: Include your bio and a professional headshot.
- Book Pages: Dedicate a page to each book with cover images, descriptions, and purchase links.
- Series Page: If relevant, set up a page that organizes the books in a series in chronological sequence.
- Contact Page: Ensure visitors can easily get in touch with you, ideally by providing a contact form.
Step 6: Design Your Homepage
Your homepage will vary based on your chosen Website themes for authors but should include:
- Header: Display your name, a tagline (e.g., “New York Times Bestselling Author”), and potentially a professional headshot. This header will likely be visible on every page, so ensure it aligns with your Author branding online
- Featured Book: Showcase your latest or most significant book prominently on the homepage. Visitors should be able to see it immediately without scrolling or searching. Include a direct link for easy purchasing.
- Social Media Links: Add clear icons for your active social media platforms in the header, footer, or sidebar. This allows visitors to engage with you on their preferred platforms.
- Email Newsletter Signup: Encourage visitors to subscribe by crafting a unique call to action. Avoid generic phrases like “Sign up for my newsletter.” Instead, make it personal and specific to your content, similar to how James Clear approaches it on his site.
- Social Proof: Highlight any notable achievements, such as being featured in major media outlets or receiving awards. This can be as simple as a quote from a glowing review or a badge indicating a bestseller status.
- Brief Author Description: Consider including a succinct description of who you are, akin to the one on Scott Berkun’s site: “Scott Berkun is the bestselling author of seven books on culture, leadership, and how ideas work. You can book him for speaking engagements, reach out with your questions, or connect with him via email, Twitter, and Facebook.
Step 7: Ensure Clear Navigation
Your website’s navigation should be straightforward, allowing visitors to easily find information about you, your books, and how to contact you. Create clear menu options such as “About,” “Books,” and “Contact” to guide users through your site.
Step 8: If You Blog
If blogging for an author is part of your strategy, consider how it appears on your homepage. It’s often more effective to display links to your most recent posts rather than featuring the full text. This allows you to prioritize your books while still keeping your blog accessible. If your blog takes up significant space, show a featured image and a brief excerpt, encouraging visitors to click through for the full content.
Step 9: Customize and Personalize Your Site
Customize author website While it may take time to achieve, investing in a designer for a custom header image or overall site aesthetic can enhance your website’s appeal. Tailor your site to reflect your personality and the themes of your work, making it uniquely yours.
Step 10: Continuously Improve Your Site
Your website is a living document that should evolve. Don’t aim for perfection from the start; instead, focus on incremental improvement of the author’s website. As you explore other authors’ websites, you may discover new ideas and features you want to incorporate into your own.
For instance, many authors include “social proof” elements, such as logos of media outlets that have featured their work. This can boost your credibility and draw in new readers.
If You’re Unpublished
The same principles apply, but your website may be simpler. Instead of dedicated pages for published books, consider showcasing works in progress or shorter pieces that have been published online or in print. Starting your site now allows you to secure your domain early, familiarize yourself with the tools, and begin establishing your online presence.
Additional Considerations
- E-commerce Functionality: If you plan to sell books directly from your site, you will need to upgrade from free website plans. Consider investing in a self-hosted WordPress site or a SquareSpace plan that includes e-commerce features. For WordPress, WooCommerce is a popular plugin for adding e-commerce capabilities.
- Hosting Options: While budget hosting can be suitable for low-traffic sites, it may lead to frequent outages and limited support. Consider investing in a more reliable hosting plan that offers better service and features, such as automatic backups and improved site speed.
- Plugins: If you’re using WordPress, only install plugins that you genuinely need. Research options carefully to ensure compatibility with your theme and other plugins. Popular and regularly updated plugins are preferable, especially for beginners.
- Analytics: If you’re self-hosting, install Google Analytics to track your website traffic from the beginning. This tool provides valuable insights into your audience and their behavior. Additionally, consider using Google Search Console to monitor your site’s performance in search results.
- Troubleshooting: If you encounter issues, start by searching for solutions online. Most problems have been faced by someone else, and you can often find helpful answers by searching for error codes or phrases along with the keyword “WordPress.”
Conclusion
Creating an author website may seem overwhelming, but by following these steps, you can build a professional online presence that showcases your work and connects you with readers. If you need assistance in crafting a polished and professional author website, Cosmics Publishers is here to help you every step of the way. Remember, your website is a continuous project that will evolve as you grow as an author. Embrace the journey, and take pride in the platform you create to share your stories with the world.
