What to Include in Your Author Website

9 things to remember when launching an online platform

By We Are Seven

Are you ready to put your book and brand on the internet? Congratulations on taking this step in your journey as an author. As a web designer who works specifically with authors and other creators, I’ve got a list of nine things you website should include.

Here’s what to expect:

I’ll start with the very basics. It’s easy to overlook the ubiquitous.
Then I'll get intoideas you may not have considered. These are probably what you came to this post for.
Finally, I'll list optional items that can boost your chances for success. They might not work for every author, but you ought to give them a glance.

And, by the way, if you find this helpful, you can sign up for our mailing list to get more tips delivered to your inbox!

The 3 Must-Haves

#1. Your name

It sounds like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how hard it is for some writers to prioritize their name above their work. As an author, your name is your brand, so you need that to be front and center. Your logo should be your name, and that logo should be clearly visible on every page and every device.

#2. Your books

Specifically, you want one book prominently displayed on the home page. This can be your most recent publication, your best-selling work, or even something that you feel deserves more attention than it’s gotten so far. You should have clear links to all of your books, but remember that a good sales funnel offers a through-line to the buy page, not a bunch of distractions.

#3. An email list sign-up

One of the top advantages of having your own author site (as opposed to just an Amazon sales page) is that it gives you the ability to interact with your fans directly. Don’t overlook this opportunity to add as many fans as you can to your mailing list. These are the people who are going to pre-order your upcoming books and leave you reviews when you ask. Your email list signup needs to be a focal point of the home page and present on every other page.

To sum up:
*Who you are
*What you sell
*How to stay in touch

3 Things You May Have Overlooked

#4. An "about the author" page

I know that even amazing authors hate writing their own “about” pages, but it’s vital you have one. You know how more and more people are setting up drop-shipping sites that run on auto-pilot, making it hard to figure out which online sellers are the real deal? The same is starting to happen with bloggers and, sadly, authors. Now that LLMs can churn out more or less convincing novels (and they’re only going to get harder to discern), you need to set yourself apart as a real person.

Of course, an LLM can pop out an About page even more quickly than a novel. But this isn’t about one-upping the LLM. The point of your About page is to offer your readers a genuine connection. Your readers want to know you. They want to get a glimpse of the person behind the pen. Give them a reason to believe that you write because it matters to you.

I plan to post a blog about writing an author about page soon, so subscribe using the sign-up form below to be notified when it’s published!

#5. Something free and valuable

This can be a freebie they’ll get for signing up to your mailing list, information about the genre you write in*, or a coupon code for your books or merchandise. Reward people for stopping by your site and you’ll encourage them to return.

#6. A way to contact you directly

If you’re an indie author with no staff, you might not want to share your email with the world. But your fans still need a way to ask you questions and leave comments. If you have a blog, you can do that via comments. You can also link to your social media platforms (though you should share those no matter what). I typically recommend a form that visitors can submit via the site. The contents will go to your email without revealing it to the sender.

These 3 are all about connecting with you as an author

3 ways to give your site that je ne sais quoi

#7. A design that speaks to your genre

To really take your author website to the next level, leave the ‘white site’ template behind. Yes, there is a reason that a sleek, minimalist, white look is so popular—it’s easy on the eyes and the mind. But it’s also forgettable. It should be clear from the moment someone lands on your homepage what kind of books you create.

To give your author website a little extra staying power in your readers’ minds, make sure you have a custom designed site (or, at the very least, a color scheme) that reflects your genre and/or intended audience.

#8. Exclusive insights

#9. Easter eggs

In the late 90s and early 00s, website designers were really flexing their skills. Small animations and image maps meant that viewers could interact with parts of the page that seemed inert and, occasionally, be reward with a surprise. It made being on the website an experience in itself rather than just a way to get information.

If you want visitors to see your website as comparable—or preferable—to social media platforms, this is how to do it. Make your website a welcoming, rewarding place on the internet.

Those are my top nine tips for creating an author websites that goes far beyond just checking all the necessary boxes. I encourage you to browse my other blogs for more information on creating a successful site, either on your own or with a designer.

Advice for Authors

Get professional tips and advice on building a successful author website from We Are Seven

If you'd like to discuss your project with me, you can fill out the preliminary request form here

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