As an author, having a website is essential for establishing your online presence, engaging with your readers, and advertising your works.
Consider your author’s website to be a digital home base, where readers can learn more about you, examine your works, and communicate with you in a more personal setting.
Don’t worry if you’re not sure where to begin!
This article will provide the complete guide to making an author website (step by step), from selecting the best platform to ensuring your site is search engine optimized.
Why do authors need a website?
Before we go into the how-to, let’s understand why authors need a website:
▪️Showcase your work:
A website allows you to display all of your books, including snippets, reviews, and purchase links, making it simple for potential readers to discover and purchase your work.
▪️Engage with your audience:
Blogs, newsletters, and contact forms give you the opportunity to build a relationship with your readers.
▪️Credibility and professionalism:
A polished website helps establish you as a serious author and can lead to new opportunities, such as interviews or book deals.
▪️SEO and discoverability:
By following proper SEO methods, your website can rank on search engines, attracting new readers looking for writers or books in your category.
How to make an author’s website
Step 1: Select the appropriate website platform.
When it comes to constructing your author’s website, the first decision you’ll have to make is choosing the right website builder platform.
A reliable platform can help you manage and grow your online presence while also providing the tools and functionality you need to build a professional and effective website.
There are several website builders available that cater only to authors, each with varied levels of customization, ease of use, and design possibilities. Here are a few of the popular ones.
1️⃣Olitt
For authors looking for a modern, fast, and budget-friendly option, Olitt offers an intuitive platform with features tailored to small businesses and creatives.
It’s especially good for authors who want a simple, clean website without spending a lot of time learning complicated tools.
Olitt provides pre-designed templates that are easy to customize and have built-in SEO optimization to ensure your site ranks well in search engines. Olitt can help you get started quickly and efficiently, whether you’re building a simple landing page or a complete website.
2️⃣Wix
For authors who want a user-friendly option with plenty of creative freedom, Wix is a great choice. This drag-and-drop website builder allows you to effortlessly construct and personalize your site without the need for technical experience. Wix has several attractively designed templates geared to authors and creatives, making it a good choice for those who value aesthetics yet want an easy, hands-off approach to website creation.
3️⃣Squarespace
Squarespace is well-known for its excellent design templates, making it great for authors looking for a visually appealing website with minimal work. Its platform is simple and intuitive to use, making it ideal for individuals seeking a clean, polished appearance without the technical complexities. While Squarespace has fewer modification options than WordPress, its pre-made designs are sufficient to produce a decent website for most authors.
4️⃣Weebly
Another beginner-friendly option, Weebly, is perfect for authors who want a straightforward, no-fuss website-building experience. With simple drag-and-drop tools, Weebly allows you to quickly create a site that’s both functional and easy to use. While it doesn’t offer as many advanced features as some of the other platforms, it’s an excellent choice for authors who want a no-hassle setup.
5️⃣WordPress
WordPress is one of the most powerful and adaptable platforms available. It’s ideal for authors who desire full control over the look and functionality of their website. WordPress has a vast choice of customizable themes and plugins, allowing you to design a unique website.
However, keep in mind that WordPress can be difficult to understand, especially if you’re new to website design. However, once you’ve mastered it, you’ll have a limitless number of possibilities at your disposal.
Step 2: Select a domain name.
After deciding on a platform, the following step is to select a domain name. Your domain is the address of your website (for example, www.janedoeauthor.com), and it plays an important role in how visitors find and remember it. When selecting a domain name, ensure that it reflects your author’s brand and is memorable to readers. Here are some tips for selecting the ideal domain.
▪Use your name.
If your name is distinctive and available, consider using it as your domain name (e.g., www.johndoe.com). This ensures that your website is consistent with your brand and easy for readers to find.
▪Keep domain names short and simple for simpler typing, spelling, and remembering. Avoid using lengthy sentences or complicated names that readers may difficult to remember.
▪Avoid using numbers and hyphens.
While it may be tempting to experiment with digits or hyphens, they can be confusing and difficult to recall. Keep your name simple and easy to type.
▪Check Availability.
Before you commit to a domain name, be sure it is available. You can check domain registrars such as GoDaddy or Namecheap to determine if your preferred name is already taken.
Tip: If your name is already used, you can add “author” to your domain (for example, www.johndoeauthor.com). This helps to personalize the moniker while still identifying you as an author.
Read also: Author Website Domain Name: How To Pick and Register
Step 3: Select a Website Design That Reflects Your Author Brand.
When creating your author’s website, make sure it not only appears professional but also reflects your writing style and identity. The design should provide an effortless experience for users while also highlighting your work in the best light possible. When picking a website design, consider the following:
✔Clean and Simple Design:
A crowded website can overwhelm visitors. Aim for a simple design that highlights your books and content. This helps your viewers focus on what’s truly important: your writing.
✔Mobile-Friendly Design:
With so many people accessing the internet using mobile devices, it’s necessary, that your website looks excellent on both desktop and mobile. Most modern website systems, such as Wix and WordPress, provide adaptable themes that change automatically to different screen sizes.
✔Author Branding:
Your website design should be an extension of your author brand. If you write mystery novels, a darker, moodier theme might fit your style, whereas a romance author might choose soft colors and elegant fonts. Ensure that your site’s colors, fonts, and images align with your genre and personal aesthetic.
✔Visual Elements:
Include high-quality images of your book covers, author photos, and any relevant artwork. A visual connection with your audience can enhance engagement and create a lasting impression.
✔Logo:
If you don’t already have one, consider investing in a professional logo that reflects your brand. This will make your site look polished and help with brand recognition.
Tip: Invest in a professional logo to further establish your brand identity.
Step 4: Create Essential Pages for Your Website
Now is the time to lay down the foundation for your website. At the very least, an author’s website should have the following pages:
1. The Home Page
Your homepage should be recognizable because it will be the first thing people see. Include a short introduction, your most recent book or project, and a call to action (for example, “Buy My Book” or “Join My Newsletter”).
2. About the page
This is where you present yourself to your readers. Share your biography, writing path, and any other personal information that will appeal to your target audience. Readers want to know the author.
3. Book Page
Make a separate page for each of your books, featuring covers, summaries, reviews, and links to buy. This is the page that converts visitors to readers, so make it visually appealing and useful.
4. Blog
Create a blog to keep readers interested by providing updates, writing ideas, and stuff from behind the scenes. It’s also a great technique to improve your SEO.
5. Contact page.
Provide a way for readers, agencies, and publishers to reach you. This can be done via a contact form or an email address. Make sure to include social media links to facilitate connections.
6. Sign up for the newsletter
Creating an email list is one of the most effective ways to communicate with your intended audience. Make sure your website has a newsletter signup form so that people can stay informed about what you do.
Step Five: SEO
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is critical for ensuring that your author’s website appears high in search engine results such as Google. Here are some key SEO practices for authors:
▪️Use relevant keywords:
Include keywords such as “author website” or “books by [your name]” throughout your website content.
▪️Create descriptive titles and meta descriptions:
Each page on your website should have a title and meta description that describes the content and include your keywords.
▪️Optimize images:
Use alt text for your images to improve accessibility and help search engines understand your visual content.
▪️Add internal and external links:
Link to other pages on your website and relevant external sites to improve SEO.
Tip: Consider using an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO if you’re using WordPress to make optimization easier.
Step 6: Launch Your Website
When you’ve completed building your website, it’s time to launch it! Before you continue, double-check everything to ensure that your content is right, photographs are properly displayed, and all links work. Once you’ve created your website, promote it on social media, in your books, and in any emails you send to subscribers.
Tip: Use a blog post or social media update to announce the debut of your website and urge visitors to check it out.
Read also: 12 Effective Author Website Book Promotion Features (+ How to Implement Them)
Step 7: Maintain and Update Your Website
Your author’s website is not a one-time project—it requires ongoing maintenance. Regularly update your website with new book releases, blog posts, and other content that keeps your readers engaged.
▪️Update your books page:
As you release more works, make sure to keep your book page current with new titles and reviews.
▪️Write blog posts:
Keep your blog updated with new stuff to keep readers coming back.
▪️Look for broken links:
Check that all of the links on your website work properly.
Tip: Make time every month or so to evaluate and improve your website.
Conclusion
Creating an author website is an important step toward increasing your online presence and interacting with your target audience. By following this step-by-step approach, you will be able to create and launch a website that reflects your author brand, promotes your work, and raises your visibility. With consistent effort and improvement, your website can become an effective tool for engaging readers and furthering your writing career.
Now that you know how to create an author website, get started!
Read also: Complete Author Website Launch Checklist