A strong website is important for any nonfiction author looking to develop an online presence. Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting, a WordPress website offers an open and adaptable platform for exhibiting your work, growing your following, and advertising your brand. If you’re a nonfiction author interested in starting your website, in this article you will learn how to build a WordPress website for non-fiction authors.
Reasons for Creating a WordPress Website for Nonfiction Authors
A well-designed website can enrich your author journey in numerous significant ways:
1️⃣Create your author platform:
Establish your presence as a respected authority in your subject by providing excellent content and ideas. A professional website helps you connect with readers, demonstrate your expertise, and solidify your reputation in your niche.
2️⃣Promote your books:
Showcase your works with ease, featuring excerpts, interviews, reviews, and links to purchase. Your website acts as a hub to amplify your book’s visibility and direct traffic to your sales pages.
3️⃣Sell your books directly:
Add integrated e-commerce tools that let you sell eBooks, print books, and even associated goods, making the purchasing process easier for your users.
4️⃣Build your email list:
Use your website’s sign-up forms to collect email addresses and provide incentives. This helps you nurture a loyal, engaged community and maintain ongoing communication with your audience.
5️⃣Connect with readers:
Engage with fans by sharing blog posts, interacting on social media, and providing easy access to contact forms. This interaction fosters a stronger relationship between you and your readership.
Why WordPress is Ideal for Non-Fiction Authors
WordPress is an advanced content management system (CMS) that runs over 40% of the world’s websites. Its adaptability and ease of use make it perfect for nonfiction authors. Here is why:
1. Usability:
WordPress is well-known for its straightforward interface that does not require coding knowledge. This allows authors to focus on their content rather than dragging it down with the complexity of website development.
2. Customizable Design:
With WordPress’s extensive collection of themes and plugins, authors may completely customize their websites. Whether you need a professional portfolio, a blog to discuss your ideas, or an online store to sell your books, WordPress lets you create a site that reflects your unique identity and goals.
3. SEO-Friendly:
WordPress was designed with search engine optimization (SEO) in mind, providing tools and plugins to help improve your website’s exposure on search engines. This is critical for nonfiction authors who want to attract more readers and increase their online profile.
4. Cost-effective:
WordPress is completely free to use, and many themes and plugins are also available for free. This makes it an economical option for authors who wish to build a professional website without paying a large upfront charge.
5. Mobile Responsive:
WordPress themes are responsive because the majority of web visitors use mobile devices. This ensures that customers have a consistent experience across all platforms and that your website looks great and functions effectively on smartphones and tablets.
6. Scalability:
WordPress simplifies upgrading your author website as you grow as an author. If your needs change, you can include new pages, products, or services, such as a membership area, an updated contact form, or a separate media gallery.
7. Community Support:
WordPress has a big community of developers, designers, and users. If you run into any problems, you can quickly find tools, tips, and forums to help you fix them or improve your website.
8. Built-in Blogging Capabilities:
WordPress started as a blogging platform, and its blogging tools are now some of the best. This makes it excellent for authors who wish to directly communicate with their fans about articles, book updates, or personal reflections.
Step-by-Step Guide to Building a WordPress Website for Non-Fiction Authors
1. Select a Domain Name and Hosting Provider.
When building a WordPress website, two critical stages are to choose a domain name and a hosting company. Let’s go over what each one includes and make recommendations for the best choices.
Domain name
A domain name is your website’s internet address (for example, “yourname.com”). It is how people will discover and remember your website. Your domain name is your brand’s digital identity, so select one that appropriately reflects who you are and what you do.
Tips for Choosing a Domain Name:
▪️Keep it simple and memorable:
A domain name should be easy to spell, pronounce, and recall. Avoid using long, difficult words or phrases that could lead to confusion among visitors.
▪️Include your name or the title of your book series:
It is recommended that authors use their name or the title of their book series as their domain. This improves your brand and allows readers to locate you online.
▪️Choose the.com domain extension:
.com is The most well-known and trustworthy domain extension, however, there are others including .net and.org. Unless you have compelling reasons to change your mind, you should stick with it.
▪️Avoid hyphens and numbers:
When entering a domain name, hyphens are sometimes overlooked and might confuse users. Don’t use numbers since they can be misunderstood.
▪️Check for availability:
Before deciding on a name, ensure that the domain is still available. Check availability and register your domain using a domain registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap.
What is a hosting provider and what are the factors to consider?
A hosting provider is a business that stores your website’s files and makes them available via the Internet. Your hosting firm is essentially responsible for keeping your website up and running. When you choose a hosting provider, you are ensuring your website’s functionality, security, and uptime.
Factors to Consider When Selecting a Hosting Provider:
▪️Reliability and uptime:
Choose a service with a high reputation for dependability. Choose one that ensures 99.9% uptime to ensure that visitors can access your website at all times.
▪️Customer service:
Choose a hosting company that provides 24-hour customer support. If you run into any problems, prompt and timely support can save you time and frustration.
▪️Performance and speed:
The speed of your website is crucial for user experience and SEO. Make sure the hosting provider offers fast server speeds and efficient loading times, which will help keep your visitors engaged and improve your site’s ranking on search engines.
▪️Security features:
Your website will be vulnerable to hacking attempts and cyberattacks, so pick a hosting provider that has strong security features like firewalls, SSL certificates, and malware protection.
▪️Scalability:
As your website grows, you may need to update your hosting package to meet increased traffic or add new features. Look for a supplier who offers scalable hosting solutions, allowing you to simply upgrade as your requirements evolve.
Recommendable Hosting Companies
Several hosting providers provide outstanding WordPress hosting services, including simple installation and dependable support. Here are some of the most popular options:
✔Truehost:
With low costs and flexible options, Truehost is an excellent choice for authors seeking versatile hosting solutions. It offers easy WordPress installation and good customer service.
✔Bluehost:
Bluehost, known for its low cost and user-friendly interface, provides a simple WordPress installation process, making it an excellent choice for novices. It also includes a free domain name for the first year and 24-hour customer assistance.
✔SiteGround
This offers excellent customer service, robust security measures, and fast website speed. SiteGround is suitable for authors who want high-performance hosting and excellent customer service.
✔HostGator:
HostGator is another excellent choice for authors searching for a dependable, low-cost hosting provider. It also allows for easy WordPress installation with a single click.
Once you’ve selected your domain name and hosting provider, you’ll be ready to start building your WordPress website. With these foundational elements in place, you can begin creating an online presence that represents you and engages your audience.
2. Install WordPress
Most hosting providers provide an easy, one-click WordPress installation. After you’ve purchased your hosting plan, go to the control panel and select the WordPress installation option. Once installed, you can enter your website’s dashboard and start editing and adding content.
3. Select a theme.
A WordPress theme determines the appearance and feel of your website. WordPress offers several free and premium themes built specifically for authors and writers. When choosing a theme, look for one that has the features you need, such as:
🔹️A basic and readable layout.
🔹️Options for showcasing books and writing samples.
🔹️Integration of social media profiles.
🔹️Responsive design for mobile devices
You may always change themes later, but it is critical to choose one that is consistent with your author’s brand from the beginning.
4. Customize Your Website
After you’ve activated your theme, you can start personalizing your website. WordPress’s Customize tool makes it simple to change layouts, colors, fonts, and other aspects. Your nonfiction author website should comprise the following pages:
🔸️Home page:
The home page is where a visitor is directed when they first visit your website. Keep it polite and professional, and provide a brief introduction to yourself and your work.
🔸️About This Page:
Explain your background, writing process, and why you write nonfiction. This website allows readers to communicate with you on a personal level.
🔸️Books Page:
Make a separate page to showcase your books. Include descriptions, purchase links, and any accessible reviews or testimonials.
🔸️Blog Page:
A blog allows you to share insights about your writing process, industry trends, or book-related topics. This can engage your audience and improve your SEO.
🔸️Contact Page:
Make it easy for readers, the press, and possible partners to get in touch with you.
5. Add the necessary plugins.
WordPress plugins improve the functionality of your site. As a nonfiction author, consider using the following plugins:
✔Yoast SEO:
This plugin boosts the SEO and visibility of your content.
✔WPForms:
This plugin lets you create contact forms for your visitors.
✔Mailchimp for WordPress:
Create and manage your email list, which is essential for marketing your books and updates.
✔WooCommerce:
If you plan to sell books directly on your site, WooCommerce is a powerful plugin for setting up an online store.
6. Add Content
After you’ve set up your site, it’s time to add content. Here are some suggestions for each section:
🔸️Home Page:
Create an engaging introduction that highlights your skills as a nonfiction author and includes a call-to-action (CTA) urging readers to learn more about your books or sign up for your newsletter.
🔸️Books Page:
Include high-quality book covers, and summaries, and buy links to sites such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your online store.
🔸️Blog posts:
Keep your audience engaged by posting frequently. Consider writing tips, book reviews, and the story behind your works.
🔸️Media Kit
Although it is not required, this is helpful if you intend to speak at events or during interviews. Make sure to include press contacts, your biography, and pictures from the book cover.
7. Optimize for SEO
Make sure your website is search engine optimized so that potential readers may quickly find your information. Use the Yoast SEO plugin to provide meta descriptions, image alt text, and relevant keywords. To reach your target audience, keep your material current and focused on nonfiction topics.
8. Launch and Promote Your Website
Once your website is ready, it’s time to launch! Announce your new website via social media, email newsletters, and any other avenues through which you engage with your readers. To promote participation, try providing early visitors with exclusive information or special discounts.
Conclusion
Building a WordPress website is an excellent way for nonfiction authors to increase their online presence, engage with readers, and promote their books. WordPress, with its user-friendly interface, customization possibilities, and strong features, provides everything you need to establish a professional and effective author website. Follow the steps in this article and you’ll have a working website up and running in no time, allowing you to advance your writing career and reach a larger audience.