If you’re an author, you’re also a book seller. And your website is your storefront.
There is so much to do as an author, especially if you’re self-published. You’re a creator as well as a business. When we begin our writing journey, we dream of putting our story into the hands of appreciative readers while we pen the next project.
Rarely do we imagine ourselves as entrepreneurs hustling through the marketing maze. But just as the characters in our books must surmount incredible challenges, so must we. The good news: modern websites are easy to make, even for a beginner. But why bother?
Firstly, your website is the one avenue of connection to your readers you fully control. Amazon and Barnes & Noble are great places for readers to buy your book, but your website is where they connect to you as a creator. It’s the place they immerse in your world without distraction. Secondly, it’s the place you ask your reader the most important question: Do you want to come on this journey with me?
This could be in the form of a blog or email newsletter—ideally both. Having a newsletter subscription on your website lets you speak directly to your dedicated readers without having to rely on social media and aggregator ad spend. It allows your readers to invest in your most important asset: your personal brand.
Fantasy authors, you may think your readers only care about the world you transport them to. If you’re on the thriller side, perhaps you believe your readers are only here for the edge-of-their-seat ride. Dedicated readers want to know the person behind the pen. Getting them invested in you as a creator allows you to grow as an author.
Look at author Andy Peloqin. If you visit his website, you notice something: the man is a genre-bending wizard. Grimdark Fantasy? Check. YA Adventure? Ready to go. Cyberpunk? Why not. It’s all there, wrapped up in a slick website that communicates a unified massage: No matter what book you pick up, it’s going to be one hell of a ride!
A good website bolsters an author’s credibility. Does it have to be an encyclopedia of your fictional world? No. N K Jemison is known for her poignant speculative works, but also for her minimalist web presence. There’s also nothing wrong with having an extensive website, as in the case of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishvarse, which is separate from her author website.
Many indie authors value creative control. But even traditionally published authors covet autonomy in their public voice. Your website is how you project your creative vision.
Where do you start? There are many great web-building options. Wordpress has been the reigning king of web development. But it’s difficult to use without web-development experience or a third-party web builder. If you plan to sell direct with fulfillment like Ingram or Lulu, Shopify is a good choice. It’s the middle of the pack pricewise. Wix is affordable and easy to use. I’ve used Squarespace over the last decade through multiple businesses. It offers email marketing and an ever-expanding store fulfillment partnership (no book printing yet, though).
Let’s say you choose a web platform and get a domain (I recommend Google Domains or GoDaddy). Now what? How do you make your website engaging? Study the greats. Here is a list of great author websites ranging from bestsellers, to establish indies, to pre-publication baby authors:
Established Trad Pub Author Websites:
N K Jemison: https://nkjemisin.com/
Leigh Bardugo: https://www.leighbardugo.com/
Book World-specific site: https://grishaverse.com/
Rick Riordan: https://rickriordan.com/
Miquel Reina: https://www.miquelreinabooks.com/
Established Indie Author Websites:
Rupi Kaur: https://rupikaur.com/
Mark Dawson: https://markjdawson.com/
Andy Peloquin: https://andypeloquin.com/
New Author Websites:
Atlas Creed: https://www.atlascreedauthor.com/
K R Solberg: https://www.krsolberg.com/
Book World-specific site: https://www.palimarsaga.com/
Most web services have beautiful starter templates, and the possibilities from there are endless. Start simple with info about the author, the book(s), and a contact form or newsletter signup.
Canva is a great design tool for creating beautiful visuals, even without graphic design savvy. It’s free (with limitations) and the pro plan is affordable.
Several web-building tools have a free or trial option where you can play around. Squarespace also offers 10% off to new customers (Code: GIMME10).
I hope this inspires you to create an engaging web presence.