Your book has been written. It’s being published or it’s already been published. Now, you’re looking into marketing to promote yourself and your book. There are many benefits to maintaining a personal website, including promotion, sales, reader engagement, and the power of working outside of the algorithms of social media. Despite these benefits, it can seem like a daunting task to build a website independently, especially if you are not confident in your tech-savvy skills. Sometimes the hardest step to take is the first one, so here are a few tips to getting started with building your website:
Creating a Domain Name:
The expense of buying a domain for a website is usually very small, about $10 to $50 annually. When choosing the name, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Your domain name be simple, easy to remember, and should relate to you, rather than any of your specific books. For example, if your name or pen name is already taken, then try adding words like “author” or “writer” after your name to narrow the options. Alternatively, you could follow your name with the genre you tend to stick to, as this will function as a keyword to help search engines find you. Try to steer clear of special characters like numbers or hyphens.
Remember, choosing a name that reflects you as an author is important because it will enable you to market yourself and any other books you write in the future under that umbrella. If you’d like to create a separate website for an individual book, then go for it!
Choosing a website platform:
There are many options available to choose from when selecting a platform for your website. Here are a few tips to help narrow down your search and hopefully find an option that suits you:
User-friendliness — your website should be easy for you to use, so if you happen to be on the less than tech-savvy side, search for pre-made templates, as this will help remove some of the confusion.
Affordability — it goes without saying that a website needs to be affordable for you. Inexpensive options are tempting, and you may be just fine with platforms where your control over customization is limited. The pricier options, while expensive, usually come with additional features and may be easier to use.
Flexibility and Longevity — ensure that whatever platform/template you use looks good on different types of devices, as some websites will look different on a laptop, phone, or tablet. Additionally, consider open-source options rather than proprietary ones, as the latter platforms are tied to the success of the companies that provide them. Open-source platforms may be more difficult to learn to use, but will help ensure the longevity of your website.
Just a few of the popular website platforms include:
WordPress — a tech-savvy option. WordPress offers highly customizable designs, as well SEO features. While it may take some effort to learn how to use, it offers broader control of your website.
Squarespace — less tech-savvy than WordPress but still requires some knowledge to utilize, offers built-in SEO and blogging tools. They offer a variety of templates to choose from.
BookBub— an inexpensive ($10/month) platform that requires less technical skill than the two above. If you don’t mind less freedom for customization, this offers a less technical route to build a website. BookBub contains templates designed specifically with authors in mind.
Wix — great for beginners, with easy to understand building tools. Like BookBub, this platform offers designs directed toward authors.
Note: When choosing a website template, keep in mind your brand. The aesthetic of the template you use will reinforce your brand. Which genre do you write in? A horror author’s website will look very different from a business author’s. Choose designs that will create a space that is both professional and will allow you to continue to grow and flourish with time.
Essential aspects of a website:
When you’ve chosen your platform and are ready to build your website, keep in mind these essential features to include:
Homepage — include your name and a blurb about yourself (ex: I am … welcome to my website!), your book covers (or select one or two), and social media links. If you decide to create a newsletter or blog, you can place the option to sign up or view them here, along with select reviews of your work.
About Me page — should contain your professional bio. You can also include other information about yourself to help readers get to know you better, like your hobbies and interests.
Contact Information page — add information on how you’d like to be contacted for promotional opportunities. If applicable, include your agent, publicist, or other professional who can be contacted in order to reach you.
Individual book pages — each of your books should have their own designated page, with an image, a description (long or short), and a link to buy the book. You could also include content, such as the first chapter, to invite readers to sample your work before purchase.
Conclusion:
Choosing to build a website can be time consuming, and it’s easy to feel daunted by it, but it is a valuable investment of your time that can eventually pay off in a boost in sales, promotion, and community engagement. Additionally, a website adds a layer of professionalism to your identity as a writer, a badge of honor for the dedication and perseverance it took to write your books! If you’d like a more in-depth summary of the benefits of building and maintaining your website, check out our Benefits of Having and Website as an Author blog post for more ideas and tips.
Richter Publishing 