Best Practices for Author Websites

About Writing     |     The Hollow Man Series, International Espionage​

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Now that we know why authors need websites, what exactly are some of the best techniques used today on author websites? Like most other industries, author websites have specific standards expected by their fans and followers. Authors need to be able to showcase their work, engage readers, and build a solid platform. These current conventions will vary according to genre and even sub-genre. Oh yeah, and they are just about guaranteed to change on a dime.

For these reasons, this blog looks at some of the general techniques for author websites that will increase traffic. Later blogs will dive deeper into the specifics of genre and sub-genre.

A clean and professional design that aligns with the author’s branding is important. It should reflect the author’s style and genre while maintaining a visually appealing and user-friendly layout. Ask yourself, does my site reflect the image best suited to my audience and brand?

A detailed author bio, along with professional headshots or author photos, helps readers connect with the author on a personal level. It’s also beneficial to highlight your background, achievements, and notable publications. Here, you are looking to display your chops as a writer. As Ben Franklin points out, “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about”.

Creating a dedicated section to boost the author’s books is crucial. This should comprise book covers, synopses, sample chapters, and purchase links for each title. Including reader reviews or testimonials can also help build credibility. See, look how lovable others believe my baby is. Just look; here is her first step, her first smile. 

An active blog or news section provides a platform for you to share updates, writing tips, behind-the-scenes insights, and other engaging content. Regularly updating this section can attract and keep readers. By the way, this is the easiest way to keep your content fresh. Something as simple as a quote or a new photo will work. You want to keep readers coming back to your site.

Including a mailing list signup form allows visitors to subscribe to the author’s newsletter or updates. This helps the author build a direct relationship with readers and notify them about new releases, promotions, or events.

Integrating social media icons and links allows readers to connect with the author on various platforms. This enables you to engage with your audience, share updates, and foster a sense of community. It’s also an opportunity to increase your reach. Online users are sometimes loyal to one platform or another. By sharing content across platforms, you can easily attract reader attention on their favorite media site.

If you take part in book signings, speaking engagements, or virtual events, it’s important to have a section dedicated to displaying upcoming events or past appearances. This helps readers stay informed and connect with the author in person whenever possible. Okay, I’ll offer a small cross to ward off evil spirits here, since most of us are introverts. Public speaking, public appearances, and public anything means fight or flight to most of us.

Clearly display contact information, such as a contact form or an email address. I suggest both. This allows readers, publishers, or media professionals to get in touch with you easily. It’s also helpful to include links to relevant professional profiles, such as LinkedIn.

Provide a downloadable media kit with high-resolution author photos, book covers, author bios, and any press releases will assist journalists, bloggers, and reviewers who may want to feature the author or their work. I admit, I need to include a media kit on my site.

Include a comment section or a guest book where readers can leave feedback or testimonials. It will foster engagement and create a sense of community. Responding to reader comments and inquiries shows the author’s commitment to their audience. A second choice would be to inspire conversation on your go-to social media app.

I will just mention one more technique so you are not overwhelmed with information. Search engine optimization (SEO) techniques deserve its own blog; we’ll get into this in more depth in the future but for now I’ll say that it helps improve your website’s visibility in search engine results. This includes optimizing meta tags, using relevant keywords, creating quality content, and building authoritative backlinks.  

Remember, the techniques used in your website should be tailored to the author’s specific goals, target audience, and genre. It’s important to regularly update the website with fresh content, maintain a consistent online presence, and ensure the website is user-friendly and accessible across different devices (such as mobiles, Kindle Fire, etc.). You must stay tuned into your reading audience and keep your competition close. Maintain open communication channels with your readers. They will let you know how you can continue to improve your site.