Can I create an author website for free? Of course!
It’s already clear as day and night the necessity for writers to have some form of online presence.
But here is what’s the most surprising: You don’t have to break the bank in order to design a nice looking professional site.
Correct, you can create an author website online for free!
In this guide, I’m going to explain the concepts in an intuitive fashion to boost your confidence and give you a go ahead.
Best Free Platforms for Creating an Author Website
To post your writing online does not have to be an activity inflicted with web design costs.
In fact, there are numerous free platforms which are available to create a professional presence on the web, irrespective of the authors’ knowledge of web design.
Let’s examine some exemplary options:
A. WordPress.com
For those looking for free website builders, WordPress.com is the best.
It’s perfect for authors because of its multi-use purposes.
If you want to promote your books, write some blogs, or even get in contact with your readers, WordPress will be able to help you.
Not to mention the in-built blogging option, which will allow you to post things for your fans without any difficulty.
B. Wix
Wix should be your pick if you value aesthetics.
This multi-purpose platform allows you to create a breathtaking website by doing just a couple of clicks.
If you’re a writer and need to showcase your book or a personal blog, it offers templates suited for your needs.
Let’s say you want to feature a gallery or a video as a background, look no further: Wix has you covered.
C. Blogger
Blogger is unarguably one of the easiest to use tools for authors who enjoy blogging.
Setting it up is not burdensome at all which lets you concentrate on writing!
The fact that it is connected to Google ensures that you are able to leverage tools like Analytics to determine how your audience interacts with your content.
D. Olitt
Olitt is another free tool which you can use to create a slick, professional-looking author website.
You do not have to know anything about coding – just select a template, and alter it, and you are ready to go!
It is also ideal for increasing visibility of your website with its integrated SEO tools.
E. Weebly
Weebly is great if you require a basic website because it’s no frills and gets the job done.
The website is pretty straightforward to create, with a variety of templates already there for you to use.
If you want to sell your books directly to your readers through your website, Weebly has impressive built in e-commerce features to make that easy too.
F. Medium
Like other sites, Medium can be used to craft content, however, its main purpose is to blog.
But if you want to promote your content and interact with a great number of readers and authors, this platform is a good fit.
It is easy to navigate, uncluttered and most important, it presents your work effectively.
G. Google Sites
When all you want is an ordinary site for presenting your work, Google Sites suffices.
It does not have any extravagant applications like some other platforms, but then it is user friendly and serves its purposes efficiently in a reasonably timely manner.
A Guide on How to Create Your Free Author Website.
Creating an author webpage is easier than you imagine!
That said, do not get sidetracked.
Your website will be ready for a nominal fee.
Do pay attention as we lay down the steps.
Step 1: Select Your Preferred Website Platform
Here is a quick comparison to help you choose easily:
| Platform | What Makes It Great | Best For |
| WordPress.com | Customizable themes, great for blogs | Authors who want flexibility and control. |
| Wix | Drag-and-drop builder, lots of templates | Authors focused on a visually stunning site. |
| Blogger | Simple and blogging-focused | Writers sharing their journey. |
| Olitt | Easy to use with SEO tools | Simple setups for beginners. |
| Weebly | Drag-and-drop simplicity | Quick and straightforward websites. |
| Medium | Great for blogging and reader engagement | Authors who want to connect with readers. |
| Google Sites | Basic setup and Google service integration | Creating simple portfolios. |
These are some free options available.
Select any that best suit your preferences—Blogging, Book Featuring, Connecting with the Readers are some of the many uses.
Step 2: Register and Establish a Free Account
Always start your freelance website in the following manner:
Browse to: (https://wordpress.com/ or olitt.com)
Click on the button that states ‘Sign up’ or ‘Get Started’.
Fill in your credentials such as email, password, and most importantly your username.
Check your email for a verification link that is inside a confirmation link.
Once the verification is done, and if needed, fill in your profile information.
This step ensures that your experience will be catered through a personalized manner.
Step 3: Choose A Website Template or A Theme
It is critical that the general aesthetic of your website that is being built is thoroughly kept in mind.
Selecting a theme is quite easy, such as:
Fit To Your Preference: Select a theme which is appropriate with what you write.
For example an enigmatic, bold theme works wonders for mystery authors while children book authors should select a playful theme.
Consider Functionalities: Does the theme match your requirements?
Is it able to display books or allow a blog?
Check Before Committing: There are numerous platforms that allow you to view how your content will look with a theme.
Make use of them before making your final decision.
Step 4: Add the Essential Pages
Your site must have the essentials to capture the attention of your visitors.
Include these pages:
Home: Let your visitors in with a warm introduction along with a tagline which states who you are or what you write about.
About: Tell the audience what makes you write and how you ended up here and what books you have written. This fosters a more intimate feeling.
Portfolio/Books: Present your work through depiction of book covers, elaborations, and hyperlinks to purchase or read further.
Blog (Optional): Let your readers actively participate by providing advice on writing, going over some intriguing and unusual aspects on the subject.
Contact: Include a contact form or your email address to facilitate communication between readers and publishers.
Step 5: Optimize Your Content
In order to create a site that is both engaging and easy to locate:
1. Use Keywords Naturally: Make sure to incorporate features such as keywords within your text, but again, do not make it excessive.
2. Meta Descriptions and Titles: Remember, there is a need for a title and description for each one of your pages.
They assist search engines in determining the purpose of your page.
3. Engaging Writing: Make it relatable to your audience and speak to them clearly while ensuring the reading process is enjoyable!
Free Tools for Developing your Author Website to the Next Level
In most cases, a free website won’t be as fancy as a premium one.
But that can’t stop the music.
There are some great tools to pimp up your free website and make it looking all classy and expensive if you like.
Some resources for you are:
1. Templates that are Free to Download
A proper starting point is with your template.
WordPress.com offers a variety of themes made for authors and with personal customization options.
Mobirise on the other side ensures ease and guarantees a breathtaking website with their user friendly templates, they cater to all genres.
Weblium offers more than 300 free templates that help you immediately begin the web design process.
Colorlib also offers responsive and SEO resolving templates that help ensure your site’s significance in search engines further perfecting the website.
Lastly, is ThemeWagon. Use it to check the “Author” theme out.
Apart from being simple to customize for writers, it is equipped with essential options such as great header and action buttons.
2. Free Stock That Will Transform Your Appearance
There’s nothing that grabs a visitor’s attention more than breathtaking images.
The following websites offer free images that will set your website apart from the competition:
Unsplash: A collection of beautiful, high-quality pictures from professional photographers around the globe.
Pexels: Be it pictures or videos, there’s an extensive collection available on the site that will go well with your business.
Pixabay: It’s a one stop shop for all your requirements such as pictures, drawings, videos etc. Best part? You don’t have to give credit!
3. Free Graphic And Branding Creation Tools
In order for your website to look sleek and professional, with the following tools, it’s a piece of cake:
Canva: Create banners, graphics, and social media posts with ease.
Since authors frequently seek out visual aids, the platform provides ready-made layouts that give the impression that you employed a graphic designer.
Google Fonts: There are a lot of great free fonts available that will give your site character and setting.
Just choose a font that is easy to read.
Conclusion
There are many free platforms and tools available that can aid an author to create a great website.
So go ahead and bravely create your free author website, and don’t shy away from being creative.
Of course, storage limits, advertising, and not using a personalized domain are some restrictions that come with free sites.
Still, they are an excellent starting point!
Once again, they allow you to grasp the concepts of web design and online promotion without investing a single penny.
And as you expand and your requirements shift, you always can move to a paid plan to gain additional features and flexibility.
Now the ball is in your court – Use the free author site to your advantage and build your website and see the great things that come with it.