January 2, 2023
As an author in the 21st century, it is crucial that you have a website. Whether your book is still in the works, or it’s already published, a well-designed website increases your credibility and your visibility online. The good news is that your website does not have to be complicated. In addition to a home page, your author website should include 3 things.
About You Page
Like your book, your website should have an author bio or an “About” page. This is a chance for you to get a bit more personal with your audience. Consider sharing general information about your family, where you live or work and what inspired your to write a book. This page should also have 1 or 2 photos. You can include a professional headshot or a well-composed, high-quality image in a casual setting, or both. Your “About” page is also an opportunity to show your credibility. You should include where you went to college, what you studied, and when you graduated. If you don’t have any formal education, you can share other things that make you qualified to write about your topic, such as your experience in a field that’s relevant to your book.
Links to Social Media
Your author website should be linked to your social media accounts. Try to have at least 2 accounts linked to your site, using the platforms’ icons, so that your readers can easily follow you on the platforms they use regularly. Linking your website and social media accounts isn’t just about appearances. Search engines, like Google, value sites that are well-connected to the rest of the internet. In fact, it’s almost impossible for Google to detect your site if it isn’t linked to another one. To be seen, you need to attach your site to the rest of the web. Linking your social media accounts is a great way to do this. The more connected your site is, the more valuable your site will appear to search engines. And, when search engines find your site valuable, you are more likely to be seen by potential readers.
Sales Page
Lastly, you’ll want to include a sales page when your book is published. If your book has yet to be published, you can make this a “Coming Soon” page, and change it to a “Shop” page on the big day. Your sales page should include a photo of the cover of the book, a summary, positive reviews, and a way for people to purchase your book–whether that’s directly through your site or via a link to another website. This page should be well-formatted and as simple as possible. If you have published more than one book, you should have a catalog that displays each of your books and their titles. When a reader clicks on a book, they should be taken to a sales page for that book. Again, this page should be quite plain. Too many bells and whistles on a sales or catalog page looks unprofessional and can make it difficult for readers to navigate. Above all, your author website needs to be easy to navigate. It doesn’t need to be complicated or fancy, but it does need to exist and look professional.