Building Authors Websites That Work
by Mary Kole | Former literary agent, now a freelance editor, writing teacher, and IP/story developer for major publishers and creators.
Authors websites are essential for any writer who wants to do book promotion for their work. Authors websites provide a platform for readers to learn more about the author, and their books, as well as being a place to promote your book and connect with readers. Authors websites should include several key elements in order to be successful, but the good news is, they’re very simple to learn and execute.
Authors Websites: An Overview
The home page of authors websites is the first thing visitors see when they arrive. It should provide a brief overview of the author and their work, as well as links to other pages on the site. Ideally, all authors websites in this modern day and age will be optimized for mobile as well, since a lot of users will be using phones to view the sites. This page should also include a call to action, such as signing up for the author’s mailing list or purchasing their book.
The about page or author biography is another important element of most authors websites. This page should provide a detailed description of the author and their work, writing credits, and any awards or accolades they have received. It should also include a photo of the author and a link to their social media for writers accounts.
The Book page is where visitors can learn more about the author’s books. This page should include a brief synopsis of each book, as well as links to purchase them. This could be a great, passive way to make some book sales. It should also include reviews from readers and other authors, called blurbs in the publishing industry, as well as any awards or accolades the book has received.
The blog page, if there’s enough time and effort to maintain a blog without letting it go dormant, is a great way for authors to connect with their readers and share their thoughts on writing, publishing, and other topics related to their work. This page should include regular posts from the author, as well as links to other blogs and authors websites they find interesting. If an author isn’t able to update the blog, it’s better not to have one, as a dead website or social media channel can get in the way of effective book marketing.
What Should Authors Websites Include?
Other pages to include on authors websites is an event page, where authors can list any upcoming events they are attending or speaking at, including book festivals and writer’s conferences. This page should include the date, time, and location of the event, as well as a link to purchase tickets or register.
The mailing list or email newsletter page or pop-up is where authors can collect email addresses from their readers. This page should include a sign-up form and a brief description of what readers can expect to receive from the author. This can also go in the footer of authors websites.
The contact page is where readers can reach out to the author with questions or comments. This page should include the author’s email address or a contact form, as well as links to their social media accounts. Authors who receive a lot of reader mail might think about putting up a FAQ page that can answer some questions, rather than leaving readers to email the same questions over and over.
Finally, the media page is where authors can showcase any press coverage they have received. This page should include links to articles, interviews, and reviews that feature the author and their work.
Authors websites are essential for writers who want to self-publish or go after traditional publication. Authors websites provide a platform for readers to learn more about the author and their books, as well as a place to promote their work and connect with readers. An author website should include several key elements in order to be successful, such as an about page or author bio, a book page, a blog page, an events page, a mailing list page, a contact page, and a media page. By including these elements, authors can create a successful online presence and platform for connecting with readers and promoting their work.
For those eagle-eyed readers who are wondering just what kind of editor or publishing professional would have an article with the clunky phrasing of “authors websites” over and over on their website, I applaud you for noticing that this reads awkwardly. Please note that I picked this keyword phrase on purpose, as part of my SEO (search engine optimization) strategy. If you’re curious about writer marketing techniques, check out Good Story Marketing.
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