Whether you're a seasoned author or just beginning to dip your pen into the proverbial inkwell, having a killer online presence is vital to your success.
And it all starts with a great website.
(That sounds like a lame catchphrase for a web design company, but it's true.)
Key Notes on Author Websites:
- Author websites build a direct and personal connection with your readers, fostering a relationship that goes well beyond the pages of your book while also showcasing your work as a professional in the writing world.
- A well-designed website helps to establish and reinforce your brand (which is more important than many people want to admit—including me) and it also enhances your discoverability online.
- As an author, your website can serve as a centralized hub for marketing, whether you’re promoting books, hosting giveaways, or sharing updates to engage with your audience.
- Although social media is important (don’t hate the player, but you can totally hate the game), those platforms and their audiences are owned by someone else. Your website, on the other hand, is owned and managed by you—ensuring a more stable and enduring online identity.
- Although they can be expensive if you hire a design service, there ARE plenty of free or low-cost options for building and maintaining your website yourself, with no coding experience necessary.
At the end of the day, your author website can be whatever you want it to be. I like to think of it as an extension of yourself, your creativity, and sometimes even your life.
You’re a storyteller, after all—so why not use that platform to tell your own?
1. A Captivating Homepage
What's the first thing a person sees when they visit your website?
Your homepage!
This is where you can set the tone based on your body of work or personality. You might make it as inviting as a library with a comfy reading nook, as exciting as a high-speed car chase, or as low-key and minimalist as a sheet of paper.
Think of it as your home: what is it that you want a person to feel when they step inside the front door?
Using Dark Star Lit as an example, I wanted to set a fantastical yet warm and inviting tone that would appeal to writers, particularly fiction. I also knew I wanted books and stars to be prominent visuals, given my branding. (I also love the night sky and of course, books.)
So you can start there: what elements appeal to you, your genre(s), your brand, and the audience you’re growing?
Beyond the basic design, which you'll figure out later, your homepage should provide easy access to every other section of your website, which might include:
- Your projects and/or upcoming releases
- An “about me” page
- A blog, if you have one
- Contact information
- Anything else your site offers
On your homepage, you might splash a stunning author photo, sprinkle some engaging snippets about your latest work, or insightful comments about your work, but whatever you do, don't forget to add a touch of intrigue—you want readers to feel like they're unlocking a treasure chest!
Great author website examples include:
- Roxane Gay: takes a simple approach with an emphasis on her work (most recent, other recents, and then her “about”)
- Terry Pratchett: takes a much more graphic-heavy approach but you get a feel for his universe (literally) right away; as a side note, I appreciate that even in death, his web presence lives on
- Rick Riordan: a writer of well-known adventures (Percy Jackson), his homepage takes you ON one as you scroll down the page, mimicking his stories while promoting them in a badass way
- Alison Huff: yes, I’m including my own because I love it—I wanted an eclectic slice-of-life snapshot style because I don’t adhere to a single genre, so I made Polaroid-like graphics and used them throughout for a more eclectic presentation
My best advice? Scope out author sites, note what you love about them (or don’t love about them), and use those notes as a guide for building your own home on the web.
2. About Me (The Storyteller Behind the Stories)
In the 'About Me' section, let your personality shine like a character in one of your novels. Share your journey as a writer, some of your quirks, and maybe a funny anecdote or two.
Readers love to connect with the person behind the pen. After all, who wouldn't want to know the genius who concocted those plot twists that kept them up till 3 a.m.?
There are no real “rules” here—your ‘About’ page can include anything you want it to. It is about you, after all.
3. The Bookshelf (Showcase Your Masterpieces)
Think of this as your own personal exhibit in the Hall of Fame—but with fewer marble statues and more gripping plot summaries.
Include eye-catching book covers or conceptual art, brief descriptions, and links to where readers can get their hands on your books. You want to make it as easy as you can, so if your books are available through multiple platforms, be sure to include all of them.
4. Blog (Fresh Content, Always On Tap)
If you’ve got the time and energy, establish a blog section where you can unleash your thoughts, share writing tips, and maybe even sprinkle in a dash of your daily life here and there. Readers love a behind-the-scenes peek into the minds of their favorite wordsmiths.
Plus, a blog is a fantastic way to keep your website fresh and climbing those search engine rankings. I’ll cover a lot more about SEO later on in another article, but a blog can help your site rank for keywords and content beyond your name and catalog. That means more traffic, more brand recognition, and more conversions (sales) over time.
5. Contact Info (Keeping Lines of Communication Open)
If you want to engage with your readers on a personal level, you should make it easy for your fans to reach out to you. Create a contact page with a simple form or provide an email address where they can shoot you a message.
One word of caution if you do the latter: I highly recommend not using your personal email address because you will get spam from scammers who are “publishers” or “movie producers” who aren’t really those things.
If you don't want folks to be able to reach you directly, that's okay—and even understandable. In that case, a generic info(at)yourdomain(dot)com email can be helpful should any issues arise on your website. For instance, someone goes to buy a book and discovers a link is broken. Who are they going to tell if there is no contact information anywhere?
(And how many sales might you lose if it takes you days, weeks, or months to discover there's a problem?)
6. Social Media Integration (Spread the Word—Literally)
Like it or not, we live in a social media age. Integrate your social media handles seamlessly into your website so readers can follow your Twitter eXcapades, Instantgram adventures, or Bookface musings without missing a beat.
And you don’t have to be on every single platform. It’s far better to choose one or two that YOU like using because you’ll be more likely to. Social media “looks” easy-breezy but it takes considerable time, too. Don’t commit to platforms you’re not going to follow through with—you’ll end up abandoning those audiences if you're not posting regularly.
(I know, because I suck at social media and am trying to become better at sticking with it.)
7. Events (Share the Latest Happenings)
If you're jet-setting across the country for book signings, speaking engagements, or literary festivals, shout it from the rooftops!
Create an events page to keep your readers updated on where they can meet the genius behind the pen. Who knows, you might even attract a few groupies—the book-loving kind, of course!
8. Newsletter Signup (Your Owned Audience)
It's a good idea to incorporate a newsletter signup feature because that's an audience you own and manage yourself. Your fabulous Facebook page with 10 million followers could disappear in a tragic Facebook accident on a dark and stormy night but the email list you own . . . that's forever. (As long as you keep your data backed up.)
You might offer exclusive content, sneak peeks, special promotions, giveaways, or even just occasional updates through your newsletter. Incentivize your readers to join your newsletter so they feel like they're part of an exclusive literary club with a backstage pass to your writing world.
Two words of caution: Don’t annoy your newsletter list by sending too-frequent updates. Make sure people know what to expect from your newsletter (daily, weekly, or monthly updates) before they sign up.
Also, if using MailChimp, note that it requires a mailing address to be included in the footer of any automated emails/newsletters you send out; you can use a P.O. box for this but it’s just a thing to be aware of.
9. Media Kit (Impress the Journalists)
Especially if you've got an upcoming release, prepare a media kit—a downloadable PDF or viewable-to-anyone Google folder kit that includes high-resolution author photos, book covers, a brief bio, and any press releases or accolades you've gathered along your writing journey.
Journalists, bloggers, and potential collaborators will thank you for making their lives easier.
10. Mobile-Friendly Design (Last, and Not Least)
Above all things, ensure your website is mobile-friendly. You want your fans to have a seamless and enjoyable experience whether they're visiting your author website on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
The truth is that most website traffic comes from mobile devices and while your site might look absolutely gorgeous on desktop, mobile viewers are not going to return (or think very highly of you) if it looks like absolute crap on their phones.
(That’s why I love using Ucraft for building my websites—I can tweak the mobile view separately from desktop to make sure it looks nice on both. But that's a convo for another day.)
The Last Word on Author Websites
An author website not only showcases your literary prowess but also invites readers to step inside your world for a little while—and they love having that sense of connection with you.
Make it as captivating as the climax of your bestseller, and may your online presence be as epic as your storytelling!