What is the purpose of an author website, and do you really need one as an author?
Whether you’re a published author or not, you absolutely need to be searchable, hence you’ll need a website. Readers, publishers, agents, and any literary party will more than likely open the google search bar and attempt to learn more about you as an author and your literary work.
An author website not only showcases your literary works but also provides the author professional credibility, instantly connects you with your readers and provides an opportunity to build an audience. Your website will serve as a hub for all of your literary works and it’s a place where individuals can get to know you on a more personal level. Think of it as your official online presence – a one-stop shop where you can market your books, share your writing content, and display what you have to offer your readers, potential agents and/or publishers.
So, what content should an author’s website contain? I highly recommend that you do your homework and research several authors in your genre before you proceed with an author’s website. Every author has different layouts and information that they share, however, I have outlined a few critical bullet points that will guide you when building your website and what it should contain.
- Home/Landing Page – The landing page is important because it is the readers first impression of what to expect. It should quickly identify who you are and what you have to offer the visitor.
- A quick “welcome” or “introduction”
- Links to social media sites
- Cover to your novels or literary works
- Reader reviews and/or media coverage (if applicable)
- About/Biography Page –Your author bio should always be written in third person. Learn more about how to write an author’s bio on my blog post labeled, “Draft a Compelling Author’s Bio.”
- Start off with a brief description on what inspired you to write and then close with your personal hobbies and interest. Be sure to include any credentials that credits your ability to write. Readers want to get to know and connect with you on a more personal level so why not take advantage and highlight it.
- Books Page – You should have a books page whether you have published literary works or not. If you do not have any published works then highlight your work in progress and focus on any release dates, media coverage, etc.
- Include a list of your books along with book covers, a brief description, links for purchase and any other relevant material that you are offering.
- Contact Page – Readers, potential agents, publishers and even third parties interested in your books, interviews or speaking engagements will want to contact you. Do not miss these wonderful opportunities due to lack of contact info.
- Include email address and mailing (if applicable)
- Blog – I personally do not feel that a blog is a must, however, it can help drive traffic to your website thus providing more visibility for you and your book sales. Be sure to write about something clever that will attract visitors to your site and keep it tasteful. I’d like to note that writing a blog does take up a lot of your time so if you’re unable to commit, then do not even start one.
- Disclaimer/Privacy Policy – This one is a must! Every website needs one to avoid plagiarism and to inform your visitors what happens when you collect their personal information like name, email, and even physical address. I would google a few examples to determine what language and information is applicable to your website.
Now that you know what information or content an author website should have, you need to move on to the most interesting yet confusing aspect of actually building it. There are several options and companies that offer hosting and website building, but which one should you use? Again, more research will be required before committing your hard-working money and investing time on building your website. If you have the means and don’t have the time to spare then hire a professional.
- Website Platform – A website platform is your website builder where all of your content will be shared and posted. It is the foundation to your website and provides interactive features for your visitors. I must say that it took me almost two months to build my site but that’s because I was very particular on how I wanted it to look. There are lots of YouTube videos that can provide guidance on how to build your site and this can only be accomplished with lots of patience.
- WordPress – most website platforms partner with hosting companies that offers support to both. I have used WordPress for almost a year now and it has been amazing and user friendly.
- Web Hosting – In layman’s terms, a web hosting company basically provides internet space for a fee and ensures that your website is broadcast on the internet around the clock. The web hosting company does not own your website but rather rents you internet space. Without a web hosting company, your website will not work. Now for the real question, which company should you use. I recommend to research what each company has to offer, the fee they are charging and the amount of time they will be providing this service to you.
- Bluehost – I decided to go with this company because of the reviews, the fee was modest, and it was easy. They also provided a package which ended up being very beneficial, so I didn’t have to go to ten different places to get started.
- Domain Name – Your domain name is your URL aka your web address. There are several ways to register for a domain name and to confirm whether the one you have in mind is already in use. Remember to keep your domain name simple, professional, and as clear as possible. I recommend using your Author name (whether that is your real name or pseudonym) so that it is easily searchable. So, where can you obtain a domain name? Your hosting company usually provides a package where you can purchase a domain name, hosting, domain registration and domain security. I would first:
- Go to www.domainsearch.com to see if the URL you are thinking of using is available or already taken.
- If the name you have in mind is not already taken then write it down and proceed to register it with your hosting site.
- Domain Security – You will definitely want domain security which protects your personal information from being shared or sold to other companies. As previously mentioned, your web hosting company will usually offer a package that includes this feature.
I hope this information has been helpful and provides clarity for whenever you decide to build your website.
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