“Recent social media research suggests Pinterest as the ideal tool for driving traffic to an author’s blog, while LinkedIn is suitable for non-fiction writers. However, for a successful book launch, a strong marketing plan begins with a great author website. In today’s digital era, author websites hold significant value and can aid in an author’s success. Here are essential elements that an author website must have to propel their career forward.”
The Must-Have Author Website Component: A Compelling Biography
An author’s website is like a business and requires effective self-promotion. Your author biography is a critical aspect of a successful author website.
Although writing stories may come easily, crafting a self-biography can be challenging for many authors. To engage readers, consider including information on:
For non-fiction authors, emphasize your credentials and expertise to establish trust and credibility.”
Craft an Outstanding Author Website with Dedicated Book Pages.
“Incorporating book pages into your author website is crucial. Each book must have its own separate page, complete with a high-quality image of the book cover and a spoiler-free synopsis that ignites the desire to purchase. Creating a well-organized site is essential for on-page SEO, and a separate page for each book assists in ensuring that people find you when searching for a specific title. This approach boosts search engine rankings and makes it easier for fans to locate what they’re searching for, as opposed to lumping book pages together on one page.”
“Crafting Book Pages on Author Websites for Fiction Writers.”
“Designing book website pages for fiction writers requires a slightly different approach. Fiction enthusiasts crave more information and attention to detail, making it essential to include additional information on the book pages. For instance, incorporating character profiles, illustrations of settings, and maps can enhance the reader’s experience. Additionally, if the characters and settings are part of a series, providing general information about the series as a whole can be helpful.”
“Creating a Blog on Author Websites: A Must-Have for All Writers.
As a writer, it is essential to showcase your writing skills on your author website through an engaging blog. However, unlike business or e-commerce sites, your blog should be tailored to suit your audience’s preferences.
To make your blog stand out, focus on building a community and providing backstories that your readers will love. Encourage your audience to subscribe to your blog and give them quality updates.
Get creative and write short stories or character sketches that offer a glimpse into the world of your books. You can also discuss changes in the publishing industry or offer tips for aspiring writers.
Remember, the ultimate goal is to build a connection with your readers by interacting with them through comments and answering their questions.”
“Add a speaking engagements page to your author website”
Adding an “Events” or “Appearances” page to your author website is crucial, especially if you do speaking engagements. Many website builders offer pre-made pages with organized calendars. It’s important to keep this page updated with new information and immediately change any outdated information. Even if you don’t currently do speaking engagements, consider attending events or holding your own workshops. By having an “Events” page on your website, visitors know you’re open to the idea or looking for opportunities, which could potentially lead to more requests and opportunities.
Dedicate Space for Media and Reviews
As an author, you want to make it easy for your visitors to find reviews of your books without having to leave your website. So, include a section on your website dedicated to reviews.
If you have a PR team, create a Media & PR page where you can add media contact information and press releases about your latest books. You can also include links to articles about you or your books.
In addition to showcasing your achievements, your author website can also feature book reviews on each book page. Use a widget to highlight your top reviews and make it easy for readers to purchase your books.
You can even sign up for affiliate programs with booksellers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble to earn more money on each sale. Use this space to promote your books and encourage visitors to buy them.
“Author Websites Must Be Social to Succeed”
In the digital age, having a website alone is insufficient for authors. Establishing a social media presence is essential, which means linking your social media accounts to your website.
Maintain active engagement on all your social media accounts by posting tweets, selfies, and vlogs to keep your readers involved in your journey. This is especially important if you’re working on a new book release as you can build anticipation and hype around it by giving your followers sneak peeks into the publishing process.
Moreover, exploring new social media channels is vital to reaching your target audience. Determine which platforms your audience prefers to use and cater to their needs.
It’s critical to keep in mind that different social media platforms are preferred by different age groups. Younger audiences tend to use YouTube more often, while Facebook appeals to the middle-aged and elderly. Create content that appeals to your audience on the appropriate platforms and keep it updated regularly.
Mistakes to Avoid on Author Websites
Authors often make the mistake of thinking that they can publish a website and forget about it. However, it’s important to keep your site up-to-date and regularly provide new content. Just like a physical store, visitors will lose interest if there’s nothing new to see. Avoid being too cautious about giving away information, but don’t reveal any spoilers. Offer readers a little something extra, like samples of your work, and always include a purchase link. Don’t share your personal email, but do have a contact page to easily connect with readers and potential partners. Remember, if you provide a contact page, respond to messages promptly.
Author Sites: Basic Design Tips
As a wordsmith, you likely have a lot of ideas for your website design. Stick to these tips:
Ready to Create Your Author Website?
Standing out in today’s competitive world, especially in the publishing industry, takes work.
Great author websites not only introduce writers, but also connect them with readers and provide valuable extra information that can help sell more books.
To be truly unique, a custom website is key. Unless you’re an outstanding writer and web designer, you’ll need the help of qualified professionals.
Sound great? Get in touch with our team to learn how we can guide you through the process of creating the perfect author website for your style and needs.
We’ve helped other authors before and we can help you too. With a custom website, you can stand out and engage your audience in a way that no pre-made website can match.