For self-publishing authors, the type of website builder they choose can make all the difference in establishing a personal brand and interacting with readers.
Today, having a website has become a necessity and not an accessory.
It provides one avenue to present their works, share their experiences, and interact with the audience more actively.
Website builders amply assist in the fulfilment of these functions.
They allow you to control your branding, sales, and online presence regardless of your level of technological knowledge or lack thereof.
Gone are the days of weeding out developers or graphic designers for every other alteration.
With these tools, you have all the power.
Why Should Self-Publishing Author Have Their Own Website
As far as the world of self-publishing goes, it’s pretty competitive and the need to forge lasting relationships with the readers is a need which is required more than ever.
One of the best ways to do this is through your own website.
It’s an intermediary level that showcases your books and you as an author so that readers can interact with your books.
We live in a time whereby most of the engagements & interactions are initiated on the internet.
Therefore, a self published author having a website is a necessity.
A website is a remarkable resource that helps you connect with your audience on a much deeper level.
It’s a place where you can display your books, narrate your story and express yourself.
Moreover, if you are selling the books via your web page, you handpick most of the earnings, a lot more than when you publish through publishing houses.
This personal relationship with your readers also enhances their experience, and it fosters repeat purchase making them loyal to the brand.
But it’s not only about the sale of the books.
Your website is also a platform for informing your readers about what’s going on — and that might include news updates, facts from behind the curtains, and so forth.
Having a blog or a newsletter ensures that the readers will keep coming for more while enabling them to feel that they are part of the community you created.
What’s more, this constant interaction serves to position you as an expert in your field.
Top Website Builders for Self-Publishing Authors
If you are a self-published writer, you know the importance of establishing an online presence for marketing your content and engaging in reader interactions.
But here’s the point—a website that properly represents your brand doesn’t have to be difficult to design.
With the appropriate website construction, tools will be available to assist you.
So, in this piece, I want to take you through some of the best website builders suitable for self-publishing authors, and which have features that specifically address your requirements.
Wix
If you’re looking for an easy-to-use platform that accommodates your creativity, Wix is the best option for you.
Yes, using its user-friendly drag-and-drop system, no coding is required creating a website, almost as if magic.
With Wix centralizing templates for authors, you will be able to feature your books, blog and personal branding the way you like it.
So why wix?
Selling Your Books: Would you like readers to purchase your books through your website?
That is more than possible with WIX and its sophisticated e-commerce features including inventory management, payment options, and more.
Wix Blogging: They integrate blogging into the platform to keep updating the audience about your work.
Promote your findings, recent writings, or any progress you’ve made and expand your following.
Features For Search Engine Optimization: Those options are available through Wix provided SEO tools that guarantee you higher positions in the search engines.
This increases the chance for more readers to discover you.
Wix Customer Support: Their customer support is available all day in case you have a problem.
Wix is wonderful for authors who are looking for an overall functional website and don’t want complicated processes to control it.
Squarespace
In case you are an author who cherishes the beauty of the final product and wishes to have an appealing website such that it does not look as basic, Squarespace has to be among the top ones.
It is common knowledge that Squarespace delivers beautiful templates that automatically adjust in shape so you using squarespace guarantees that you will have a stunning and professional website.
So, in case you want to present your books in the most graceful manner the platform should be thoroughly considered.
Why Squarespace Then?
E Commerce Facilities: You can easily sell your books through your website when using squarespace as it provides tools to control stock, enable payment options and view the statistics.
SEO Improvement: Squarespace has advanced SEO tools which enables you to edit meta information, description, and URLs in order to optimize the search.
Effective Blogging: Squarespace would be great for integrating posts.
As well, you can have a section on your website that will enable you to communicate with your audience by providing them with news, updates, and your opinions.
If you are looking for a platform that provides style and simplicity then with squarespace you can with ease have a great looking website.
Olitt
Olitt is a better alternative that is easy to use and cheaper.
It is a relatively new market entrant when it comes to website builders but is becoming a hit among authors who are keen on self-publishing books.
Olitt is a budget option that has an easy to operate interface, therefore attaining a website does not become too expensive.
Why Olitt?
Costs: You get what you pay for in Olitt.
Simply put, the costs of infrastructures are reasonable while at the same time all the necessary services that are required by an author are made available.
Templates: Well, the good thing is, there are templates tailored for authors which means an aspiring author would be able to create a distinct site that would communicate his brand.
E-Commerce Features: Features such as basic e commerce tools enable self publishing authors to sell the books as soon as the site is ready without much hassle.
SEO Settings: Olitt would also help in boosting the seo of the site for the greater visibility required to access the right audience.
For authors looking for an easy convenient option with cost in mind, Olitt is a great option.
WordPress – Self Hosted
For those who prefer complete authority and a wide range of customizable options when building the site, WordPress is their go to site.
It is a little advanced and would need more technical skills as compared to the others.
It’s a hit which allows the user to have full control of the site with the help of plugins, themes, and widgets.
Why WordPress?
A Design for Everything: Being one of the largest and most popular website development platforms, WordPress has an extensive catalog of themes and plugins that allow one to design and customize their website as they see fit.
E-Commerce with Woo Commerce: Whenever the need arises to sell your books online, it is possible to do so via the Word press ecommerce plugin, Woo-Commerce, which allows your books to be sold on a full scale.
SEO Ready: The WordPress ecosystem encompasses plugins like Yoast SEO which allow for the optimization of content targeting a specific audience and improving the ranking of your site.
The authors who prefer working in an unrestricted environment may find WordPress to be the perfect platform although it may necessitate a bit of a learning struggle.
Shopify
Shopify may be a preferred option by book writers even though it is widely known for being an e-commerce behemoth.
It helps the readers in easier purchasing and makes it easier for authors to manage their sales and promotion because of its strong features.
What is it about Shopify that makes it great?
The management of online shops is done better with Shopify because an easy to use frontend interface is created, as are logistical controls and a wide range of payment methods.
If you do not want the headache of keeping stocks but still want to sell hard copies of your books, Shopify has the answer, as it can easily connect with print on demand services.
Even when you’re not very proficient in technology, Shopify is easy to understand. You’ll be able to create and manage your store without so much as breaking a sweat.
When looking for a dedicated print on demand service or when needing a high volume of sales, Shopify is the ideal choice.
Weebly
Weebly is a good option for beginners as it isn’t intimidating nor too complex.
It provides authors with the right amount of customization options while allowing the author to focus on the primacy of creating a website.
Why is Weebly Ideal as a Self-Publishing Website Builder?
Ease of Use: You can build your site with or without coding as Weebly has a drag-and-drop feature to help you create your site semi-autonomously.
Email Marketing Tools: Uses email marketing tools so that you could interact with your readership through newsletters and email updates.
E-Commerce Features: Thanks to the e-commerce features of Weebly you can showcase your books and sell them directly from your website.
If you’re a first-time writer aiming for an accessible way to establish your online presence, Weebly might be the right platform for you.
Substack
Substack has become a popular service among writers who seek to communicate with their audience through newsletters.
This is a great way to have a loyal following and earn money off of the content you provide.
Why Substack?
Newsletter Centric: You can start with newsletters with Substack where you can provide added value to your audience and make money through monthly subscriptions.
Easy to Use: The use of Substack is easy because the author can reach out to his/her audience without middlemen.
Monetization: With Substack, writing becomes comprehensively transforming into a subscription-based business.
If your intention is to provide unique content that will help you engage your audience on a more substantial level, then Substack is suitable for you.
Important Features When Selecting A Self-Publishing Website Builder
When selecting a self-publishing website builder, there are features that should allow you to reach more of your target audience while providing a unique experience:
SEO Capabilities
SEO capabilities such as meta tags or clean URLs are very important so that internet clients can find your website easily.
E-Commerce Features
In case you are selling books, the website builder should come with secure payment systems and stock control to encourage more sales.
Contact Forms & Newsletter Sign-ups
These make things easier for readers to reach you and create an email list for updates and promotions.
Reports & Analytics
Reports & analytics that come with the site are a great advantage since they monitor client behavior allowing you to alter your marketing and better the experience offered on the site.
Simple Content Management
The content management is very simple and this means that you will be able to update the blogs, publish books and post updates on your site regularly.
Conclusion
For self-publishers, an ideal website is key in achieving a professional outlook in order to reach out to your readers, by making your work visible.
The appropriate website builder makes this easier for self-publishing authors.
Each one of the website builders we have discussed has distinct benefits for self-publishing authors.
Pick one that suits you best and make use of these tools to market your books, gain a dedicated audience, and communicate with the targeted audience.
Everything self-publishing begins with a perfect website hence the right builder.