21 ways to level up your author website
Thirteen tips for creating a simple and amazing author website.
Why You Need an Author Website
Do authors need an author website? Do writers need an aspiring author website–even if they’re currently unpublished?
The short answer is YES. An author website is an essential element of your online presence.
Today we’ll discuss author online presence, why you need an author website, the elements of an author website and how to create a writing website.
First, let’s cover the broader topic of establishing your author online presence.
How should authors use social media?
Here’s the scenario. We ask the above question, Google, and most visible examples are authors who love social media.
Like, live-tweeting their breakfast.
Or we see the authors doing it badly—silent except for a constant refrain of “Buy my Book!”
For writers who are also introverts, those things sound mega-unappealing—as well as unhelpful. But what exactly should we be doing instead?
My goal is to keep advice simple, actionable, and updated. If you want to more in-depth—and don’t have time to read the latest social media for biz book—then grab my free email course which covers these topics in more depth.
Now let’s get to the 21 tips already!
The point of your author website:
- To show you’re a real legitimate person
- A place where readers (and publishers, agents, employers, etc) can learn about you after hearing about you elsewhere.
- To be a step in the process of a reader hearing about you, researching you, and eventually buying your book.
That’s right. It’s a step in the process of showing your book to readers. Very few, if any readers will click on and purchase your book after one exposure.
Testing 1,2,3.
This isn’t bad news. It’s good news!
If the goal was to write copy so amazing readers can’t help but instantly buy. Well… that’s a ton of pressure!
Read: 21 essential tech tools for writers
Author Website Basics
Now that we’ve talked about the purpose of your author website, here’s what you need to get it up and running.
The basics of your author website include hosting, content, and infrastructure.
Tip #2: Self-host your website
Here’s the scenario: I meet someone impressive in a facebook group.
Wow, this person has really got it together. This is someone I need to follow ASAP!
Then…I go to their site and realize they have a blogspot address.
If this is you, know your presence is sending a mixed message. Your words and work tell me you’re someone to be reckoned with. But your online presence is saying something else entirely.
To be taken seriously you need to go self-hosted.
Tip #3: “Just” choose a hosting provider
Buy into that and it’s time to choose a hosting provider.
For many bloggers and writers, this is where the analysis paralysis starts. You go to Pinterest and search “best hosting” or read the advice of your favorite blogger. Then before you know it, three hours have passed and you’re no closer to your goal.
Why it’s not your fault:
The problem? Many of the top bloggers and writers are basically commercials for hosting providers such as Siteground and Bluehost because of an affiliate relationship.
While they’re not doing anything wrong, these posts make it seem like you’re making a pivotal decision: choose wrong and you’ll destroy your blog’s credibility.
But… what if I told you as a new blogger or writer, you’ll probably notice little difference between the major hosting providers and their services?
Let me repeat that. You can just…choose and let the analysis paralysis stop you from choosing a hosting provider today.
Note: I’m actually an affiliate for HostGator, and you can use this link to receive hosting for as low as 2.95/month. My site’s never gone down, I’ve never had real issues, and the one time I called for support they were quick and helpful.
What this means:
Knowing there are tons of legit hosting options out there means you can make an easy decision. Just pick one!
More resources for you:
If you want to read a more detailed comparison of the major companies then check this out. And for a more in- depth article about the importance of self-hosting, please check out the secret truth about self-hosting every writer should know.
Actionable tips for migrating today:
- Pick a hosting provider from among the major providers such as hostgator, blue host, or siteground. If you already have a domain name with a specific hosting company, then consider that one.
- Sign up for basic hosting
- Export your old content. Use a solid tutorial like this one, if you need a more step by step approach.
Tip #4: Establish Basic Author Website Content
The next part of your website is the actual content. This is the easy part for you, right?
Here are the basic elements you need to include on your author website:
Homepage – Who you are and what you’re trying to accomplish. Links to your writing and portfolio, and social media accounts.
About Page – This is one of the top visited pages on your site, so pay attention to this one. This is a more complete telling of your story.
Book or Portfolio Page – Have a link to your books (or works-in-progress) page. If you’re a freelance writer, you need a place to link your work. If you’re an unpublished author, you can include some writing samples or a blurb about your WIP.
Blog – A blog is a place to connect with readers, share your interests, and keep everyone up to date on book news.
Tip #4: Be Smart About Author Website Infrastructure
The next part of your website is the actual setup. This is the part where many authors get hung up and take the easy way out.
What’s the easy way? I’m talking about throwing money at Steve at stevesupercoolwebsites.myspace.info who promises you a free instant website. Plus, he’ll host it on the server in his basement!
Nu-uh. Back up and read the bit about self hosting. This is your business, your brand! So put some thought into your url and email.
Tip #5: Put some thought into your URL
Think about what you want your future brand to be. As a writer or author, it’s likely your best option is your name.
After all you plan to write more than one book, right? Your name lasts forever but a book name [or a cutesy name like cutelilauthor23] is hardly relevant.
If your name isn’t available, the second best option would be your name and author or writes at the end.
What about yourname.bizusa? It’s only 2.99.
Skip it! Dot com is definitely better than dot-anything-else. And, like we discussed in self-hosting, you want to avoid wix.com, wordpress.com, etc in your url.
The Fix: Use this link to get your new domain, hosting, and email for just $3 to start from Hostgator. You can also have them help you set up a free content migration.
Tip #6: Collect emails ASAP
You need a place to capture emails. This is configured with email marketing software such as Convertkit, Mailchimp, or similar.
Even if you don’t have amazing news—or anything to give away yet—you should start collecting emails from Day 1.
Tip #7: Set up a professional email address.
Last year while I was writing 400,000 words, I spent a lot of time researching literary agents. And among the dozens of fancy NYC addresses, there are multiple–ostensibly successful–agents out there who have aol email addresses.
Seriously? How can that be?
Set up a professional email to go along with your hosting [ie bethany at bethanyrutledge dot com.] If you can’t do that for some reason, then a simple first.last at gmail will suffice. Nix the hotmail, weirdmail, and definitely the aol.
Tip #8: Design for mobile first
If you’re a DIY web designer, be sure to select a mobile friendly theme and design for mobile first. If you’re looking for a place with cool elements, definitely check out Creative Market.
Once you’re spent lots of time creating your shiny new author website, the last thing you want is for it to turn readers off. Here are some of the most common website mistakes I see.
Tip #9: Don’t throw tons of money at a web designer
It’s easier than even to make your own site, and in most cases I would recommend it! Don’t fork over a couple thousand dollars to a web designer.
But. If you want to DIY but have no wordpress experience, I’d recommend a some-support option like this 21 day supported course my friend Kathryn hosts. PS…use code Bethany to get $30 off!
When I was switching up my site in early January, I got an alarming email from Google Console. My site was taking ten plus seconds to load. No wonder my traffic was nil. I can’t even expect family members to wait that long much less strangers or potential customers.
We get bored and click off while your page is loading. I didn’t realize until recently that your google results are affected by google pagespeed insights.
An easy way to avoid this pitfall is to get an updated modern theme and go easy on the plugins. Also, be sure to compress your images.
Tip #11: Don’t use a design straight outta 98
I remember my very first website. It was a single page geocities page on pole vaulting that I wrote with my friend Chandra in high school. My first “blog” in the early 2000s was for a personal training business I started. It was a straight up blogger site, with cheesy stock image photos and a self designed logo in paintbrush.
I’ll never win any visual design awards, but I do know how to pick and use a modern template. And you can too!
Action Step – Explore pro themes on themeisle or similar. This blog uses their Hestia theme.
A good rule of thumb is that 16 pt text roughly equates to 12 pt text on paper. As a blogger, you need to be thinking 16 – 20px plus.
As a point of reference this text is 20px.
If your text is too tiny, a reader’s eyes will strain reading, it will seem like too much work, and they will eventually give up. The same applies to white text on black background, by the way, or anything other than a standard-ish black text on a white background.
Tip #13: Update Posts
This sounds obvious. What I mean is, continue to update evergreen posts. For example, if you write about chicken care, and authored an ultimate guide to chicken care in 2016 that gets tons of traffic, use it! Update it every six months with the latest advances in chicken care, and update the posted date along with it!
If you link me to a post from 2017, readers are wondering why you’re still sharing that? Is that really the most relevant thing you’ve written? That question will haunt me to the point I can’t even get through your post.
If your post is evergreen, then consider taking this tag off your posts altogether. OR, change it to show date updated.
Tip #14: Don’t go nuts with ads
I get that the goal of many sites is to monetize with ads. But you want to make sure those ads look attractive or at least neutral. None of those ones you can’t close out, or that obstruct your entire field of vision. Just no.
Tip #15: Don’t forget the https
For credibility–not to mention security–you need your site to start with https. Even if you’re not a tech-y person, this is a short job. I promise!
The Fix:Here’s a great primer to learn the ins and outs of getting your security certificate. Your hosting provider probably has it’s own DIY tutorial. If this seems overwhelming, then simply give your hosting provider a call and tell them what you need.
Tip #16: Make clean, inviting images
Use a tool like Canva to make beautiful images for your author website, blog, and social media accounts.
Tip #17: Tell me what I’m opting in for
If you have an opt-in, tell me what to expect. Will I hear from you regularly? What will you write me about?
Tip #18: Hook me with your intro
Start with a story, example, or illustration, something I can’t help but agree with. Raise a question, something I’ll have to keep on reading to find out. Tell me you’ll help solve my problem, then deliver.
Tip #19: Start with rapport
A good about page will either make me subscribe or think “nah” and click off. If I’m feeling you as a person, I’m much more likely to stick around.
Tip #20: Invest in a course
The best investment I made when getting started is the course Ready, Set, Blog for Traffic. Not only does course creator Elna Cain explain the ins and outs of blogging, she provider a bunch of free templates, email scripts, pinterest board references and more.
Tip #21: Don’t get overwhelmed
Let me help! Subscribe to my free email series where we’ll cover one of these tips in depth each week. I’ll share my favorite resources to get up-to-speed on all my tips, so your author website can really shine!
What are your best tips for writers and authors websites? What’s the worst mistake you’ve made on yours? I’d love to hear! Please leave me a comment below, then go forth and make the best author website of 2019!
Looking for courage to try something new? I’m here for that. Join 1470 others for a mostly-weekly dose of mojo.
More Author Website Tips:
How to Get Traffic to Your Author Website: 30+ Tips for Discouraged Writers | Your Writer Platform
3 Essential Blogging Tips For Your Author Website
Marketing Tips: Engaging Readers with Dynamic Author Website Content
Author Website Fully Optimized? 7 Best Practice Tips
7 Tips for Keeping Your Author Website Fresh
5 Tips for a Perfect Author Website
Search Engine Optimization: Basic SEO Tips Every Author Website …
- Social Media Platforms for Authors
- 21 ways to level up your author website
- Listen to your wip on the go with google docs
- Get Published Podcast- Using Pinterest to Build your Email List
- 21 Online Tools Writers Need to Make an Impact
Like this idea? Pin it!
Other resources for your author website:
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
4 Comments
Naomi Lisa Shippen · April 13, 2019 at 1:25 am
A great answer to my question – do I need an author website, I can see that I do. Invaluable advice here for the uninitiated,
6 Online Tools Writers Need to Make an Impact — Bethany Rutledge · June 13, 2019 at 2:03 pm
[…] recommend for your website, social media, and brand. But first, let’s talk about how it’s paramount to have an author website, even if an aspiring author website right […]
How to get Google Docs to read aloud — Bethany Rutledge · July 16, 2019 at 2:38 pm
[…] Read: why you need an author website—even if you’re unpublished […]
Social Media Platforms for Authors — Bethany Rutledge · July 17, 2019 at 3:26 pm
[…] Read: What should be on your author website […]
Comments are closed.