Author website: Four key principles for your digital hub
If you’re serious about building a successful author career, having a professional website is crucial. It will be the cornerstone of your author platform and the foundation of your business. Hence, it is vital to make a powerful impression.
When you’re starting as an author, your budget is likely tight. On top of the essential costs of editing and the cover design, adding the expense of hosting and building a website might seem excessive. However, investing in a professional website from the beginning is one of the smartest moves you can make.
As your career grows, your website will be the cornerstone that supports your business expansion. However, if you invest in a well-structured and visually appealing site, you eliminate the need for costly overhauls or rushed fixes later.
Besides social media, an author’s website is often the first point of contact between you and your audience. Unlike third-party platforms, where you must adhere to their guidelines, your website allows you to release content on your terms. You’re free to post the content you want, advertise how you see fit, and engage with your audience on your terms.
Your website's main purpose is to help grow your author business. To make sure it serves your needs well, apply these four key principles:
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Four reasons authorpreneurs need a website
Today’s digital age offers many opportunities for authorpreneurs to promote themselves. Still, the website remains essential for an author’s platform. It’s an investment in their brand and their long-term success.
1. Stay on brand
A website is more than a digital storefront. It’s your personal hub and online home base where readers can always find you. Your website should reflect your branding that matches the tone and theme of your products. No matter how unique or creative the design is, your logo, images, and fonts must stay on brand. Ensure that colors, graphics, and content express your values and support your messages.
That’s why I opted for a minimalist template. While not flashy, the simple design complements my brand's emphasis on straightforward information and entertainment.
If you write two very different series, like slasher horror fiction and paranormal romance, you might need to launch two separate websites. Alternatively, consider if this mix of genres aligns with your overall business strategy.
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Branding for beginners: a primer for authorpreneurs
To truly excel in today's literary market, you must set yourself apart in the crowded marketplace. This is where your brand comes into play. The booklet “Branding for Beginners: An Authorpreneur's Primer On Creating A Compelling Brand” will guide you through the essential steps of crafting your brand.
2. Have clear and visible call-to-actions
You can use your website to sell books or merchandise. However, it's unlikely to happen at the beginning because people don't know you yet. So, use your website to grow your fan base.
Your website lets you control how people find you online, what they do on your site, and their overall experience. Thus, a targeted call-to-action (CTA) strategy enhances your website’s engagement and conversion rates. Place various CTAs on your website. Encourage visitors to sign up for your newsletter, or connect on social media profiles. You may not sell directly, but you should still link to the online stores where you sell your books, such as Amazon and Kobo.
Optimize your CTAs. Use clear and attractive buttons that prompt visitors to act. Make it tempting for readers to click!
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3. Establish a good user experience
Give equal consideration to both the functionality and design aspects of your website. Responsive design is crucial, allowing your site to function flawlessly on both desktop and mobile devices. While the branded visuals should pique your visitors’ interest, it's important to ensure smooth navigation and functionality. Visitors should quickly find the information they’re looking for. Also, slow-loading images or broken links can deter visitors from exploring further.
4. Optimize your content
As an authorpreneur, one of your key objectives is to ensure readers can easily find you online. If people haven’t heard of you, they’re unlikely to visit your website directly. Instead, they’ll rely on search engines to discover your site. This is where search engine optimization (SEO) becomes invaluable. Optimize your site with keywords about you, your books, and your genre, and more readers will find you online. The higher your site appears in search results, the more traffic you’ll attract, and the greater your chances of turning visitors into readers.
Takeaways
One major perk of having your website is that you’re in control. Unlike social media platforms with their rules, restrictions, and shifting algorithms that can limit your reach. Optimize your website for both visitors and search engines. A well-organized site is easier to use and gets you higher search rankings.
You don’t need advanced tech skills or a hefty budget to create an effective website. What matters is a clean, user-friendly design that is fast, and regularly updated.
Sign up for the "Essentials for Authorpreneurs"
Are you ready to unlock your potential as an authorpreneur? Then sign up for my newsletter “Essentials for Authorpreneurs”, and get “Branding for Beginners: An Authorpreneur's Primer On Creating A Compelling Brand” for free.
