Did you know what the bestselling writers have in common apart from stellar books? It’s an engaging author website. As you enter the writing world through the virtual realm, you need a home base to help you get started. And that’s what an author website offers.
Not only is it a base, but it is also a beacon that attracts the online audience. And it doesn’t stop there. Through proper use, you can even boost your book sales. Learn more about author websites and their benefits through the following blog. We’ll talk about the author’s website and why you need one, and apart from that, we’ll also shine a light on the author’s website creation process.
In addition, we’ll also share with you the best author website design tips to make it engaging. So, if you are new to writing or thinking of a website revamp, this is the place to learn more about author website designs.
Must-Have Features for an Author’s Website
With a professional author website designer, you’re well on your way to creating an engaging website for your audience. But before you begin, we’ve gathered the best author website design tips to help you boost your website engagement. Here are some must-have features to include in your author website:
1. Your Author Brand:
As an author, your way of writing defines you. Think about it: every great writer has a different writing style that reflects in their work. For instance, J.K Rowling focuses on building fantasy stories through expertly crafted and detailed narration, while Stephen King utilizes realism to dictate his fiction novels.
PRO TIP: Your website should reflect your personality, add animations, attarctive pictures , design or content that make them stay longer
The respective writing style an author follows is their respective brand. So, just like your writing, your website must also depict the same author’s brand. You need to reflect your brand in every aspect of your website, from its content to its color scheme. A strong author brand would help improve audience engagement. Communicate with your website designer regarding your brand so they can craft your website accordingly.
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Author website design for authors
2. Author Bio:
This is one you should not miss. As an author’s website is the first place to get information about you, it must have a section about the author. An author bio is like an author introduction that helps first-time visitors learn more about you. The author bio is written on a separate page titled “About the Author,” “About Me,” “Biography” or “Author Bio.”
Your author bio does not need to include your complete life story but rather needs to offer a brief overview of yourself. Consider including personal information in your author bio to make it engaging, such as where you were born, where you lived, or what inspired you to write.
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3. Books:
A book page is a must-have for an author’s website. It should include all the books you have written in the proper categories of each genre, like fiction books, non-fiction books, mystery books, novels, historical books, science fiction books, romance books, horror books, or any other specific genre that you write. It will make it easier for your readers to navigate books of the specific genre they want to read. Each book page should have a proper book cover, a title of the book, a book description, a release date, awards and recognition, and last but not least, a buy or free download option.
The homepage of your author’s website should have a link to your book page. This way, they can easily get access to your books, reducing your website’s bounce-back rate.
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best author website design example book page
4. Blogs:
Blogging is another key element to include in your author’s website. Today, information is what drives us. A person visits a website for either information or entertainment. You can’t expect traffic if your website doesn’t offer any of those. That’s why you must constantly update your website with new content in the form of blogs, news, press releases, etc.
In addition to sharing information, it can also help with your website search engine optimization. The more information you offer, the more chances your site will appear in search engines. Ensure the information you share is unique, credible, and valuable to readers.
5. Lead Magnets:
Although having an author website is great, you can’t expect to make money from traffic. As an author, writing is your career. But what good is it if you cannot pay the bills? So, it’s necessary to use and implement strategies through which you can transform your online visitors into potential customers. That is possible by using a lead magnet.
The lead magnet is a must-have tool for any website, as it helps turn visitors into potential customers. Lead magnets can be anything, from buying books to hiring authors for book writing or other services.
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author website lead magnet
6. Social Media Presence:
Create your profile on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Gmail. Add those social links on the top of your homepage, It will make it easier for your readers to reach out to you and could help them engage directly with you, This way, you can offer more personalized answers to their queries
You should also include a sign-up or contact form on your page. Your potential readers will sign up there, and you can create a mailing list for them. Email marketing will help your users stay up-to-date with all of your website’s new updates. You can share more specific information through the email list, such as bonus material and special discounts, to help turn visitors into loyal fans.
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7. Leave Comments Portals:
Comment sections are another way to improve your audience engagement. Visitors who read blogs could use the section to share their opinions with others. It offers a means through which the community can explore content and share their personal beliefs. A stimulating discussion can help create a sense of belonging in the community.
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8. Mobile Functionality:
A recent survey indicates that 50% of web traffic comes from mobile users. So, your website must be optimized for mobile functioning as well. Ensure your author’s website can open on any electronic device, either a desktop or a smartphone. You may need to create a website wireframe for both formats. Take the assistance of expert designers. They have the best author website design tips to improve your author website functionality.
Final Words
In conclusion, an author’s website is the best way to engage with your audience. Through it, you create your online presence and share information about yourself and your work. Every writer, whether published or self-published, must have a website. Apart from audience engagement, an author website can improve your credibility, help you compete with other authors, and even help you get publishing deals. Use the steps provided to help with the author’s website creation.
Partner up with Wrightbookassociates for author website design services to help with website design. To improve your site engagement, be sure to use the best author website design tips provided. You’re sure to make your mark in the literary world through it