In the world of digital publishing, the book cover secures the first look. Yet the website is the main determinant of the long-term relationship between authors and their readers. A lot of authors treat their website as an afterthought that is feeble and static. They turn it into a simple business card that does not recognize its true function.

How important is a proper author website?

A premium author website is the digital HQ for authors (like a central command center). This is where you capture reader data, establish professional credibility, manage the brand’s narrative, and drive traffic directly to high-royalty sales channels. But if the website does not look professional at all, then readers will assume the author made his book in the same way, too.

Author website design services are there to help authors design their websites nicely. The immediate judgment readers can base on visual quality is the single biggest obstacle to building a long-lasting career. A generic template or a website that is poorly optimized and loads slowly kills reader trust quicker than anything.

But there is a way to succeed in this area. The investment in a premium website design service is not a luxury. It is a non-negotiable necessity that indicates the author means serious business.

How can this blog post help?

This blog post will serve as a brief guide detailing essential components of a high-converting and premium author website. It will also explore how specialized design services are on tactical elements such as mobile responsiveness, integrated email capture, and genre-specific aesthetics. This ensures an author’s digital presence is polished and professional.

What do authors look for in the best website builders?

When authors are searching for the best website builder, they are focused on the features that help them showcase their work, connect with readers, and sell more books:

• Templates that are customizable and author-specific: They help make the books, bio, and events stand out when reflecting their personal style.

• Blogging platforms: A blog gives them a space to share updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes stories. 

• Email list building tools: Authors prioritize website builders that make it simple to collect emails. This helps build a loyal readership and promote future releases directly.

• Marketing and book promotion tools: In-built SEO, social media sharing, or analytics, website buildings must have them to help authors quantify the website’s performance.

• eCommerce integrations: Selling books, merchandise, or courses directly from a website is indeed a game-changer. This is something authors desire so they can integrate online stores and payment processors.

Which website-building tools to use?

Here are three factors to consider when it comes to choosing tools to build the site:

• Cost: Unpublished authors or those not earning much money should probably start with free or affordable options.
• Ease of use: People who are not tech-savvy appreciate platforms that are user-friendly. However, the so-called easy-to-use platforms have drawbacks and can cost authors more money and frustration.
• Portability and longevity: Not all platforms stand the test of time, and proprietary systems are much more robust.  Geocities and Apple iWeb are renown examples. Open-source platforms tend to benefit users over the long term as they are not locked to one service provider or hosting company. However, they are more difficult to learn, especially for authors.

Experienced professionals and website designers for authors give the following recommendations in this regard:

• Those who want free options that have stood the test of time can try using WordPress. It is an open-source content management system (CMS) powering almost every one out of five websites in the world. If authors desire more functionality or features, they can upgrade their WordPress account to a paid plan or move to self-hosting.
• Authors who desire a much easier option that requires no tech skills, yet does not offer much control or customization, then they can examine BookBub or Tertulia. However, if authors want eCommerce integrations on their site, then they need to examine Squarespace (more expensive and complicated).
• Ghost is a stronger platform compared to WordPress. It incorporates an email newsletter functionality too. It does have a monthly fee, and authors must set it up on their own hosting server.

Authors must buy their own domain

The domain is the URL (Uniform Resource Locator), and it is the website’s address. It should be based on the name they publish under, i.e., the author’s name. Why? Because it is the brand name that will go on for decades. Each book the author publishes will be done under their name in the obvious sense.

In case they cannot get a domain name with a .com, they can go for a .me or a .net. They can also consult the author’s website design services for assistance in this regard.

Which services should authors consider?

A lot of first-time authors ask the following question:

Are author website design services worth it?

No mistake should be made because authors are embarking on a business of sorts (self-employment). That’s right, being an author means being self-employed, and authors themselves need to be willing to step beyond the creative space and market their product. They must get involved in the process of driving traffic to their bookstore.

Websites are no longer optional investments for anyone in this century. Authors must have websites so they can connect with their readers easily. Social media pages are good, but not as good as they.

Professional author website design services recommend the following website building platforms and services for authors and creative writers.

Wix

Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder, and it uses easy-to-use templates. The problem it has is a lack of a personal URL. Moreover, the company no longer offers the free variant as all options are now paid. Authors can have both their names and email addresses featured in the contact us page if they want to.

Web.com

Another worthwhile DIY website builder is Web.com. They offer a free domain with the website package. Drag-and-drop website templates are provided. They also provide a one-hour free tech support with their experts. It can work with WordPress, eCommerce, and shared hosting platforms, and an existing WordPress website can be migrated to the platform.

Web.com provides a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Yet some websites can crash, but ones built on their platform don’t crash.

WEEBLY

WEEBLY is known to be impressive. They have a clean and simple interface, and everything is easy to find. Their price structure is indeed affordable, and they have a drag-and-drop builder. Yet it has extras that are not common anywhere, especially:

• Advanced animation effects.
• Custom fonts.
• Video background elements are needed for dynamic designs.
• Adding custom videos.
• Built-in photo editor.

Square Space

Square Space has a 50/50 reputation. Some recommend it while some don’t because it does not offer a free plan. The cost to build a site with them depends on the number of pages, custom features, and functionality to choose. Authors must pay extra for search engine optimization (SEO) and pay more for a project deadline (a book launch).

The cost of author website design services for Square Space is $100 an hour. Authors will end up paying at least $2,000 on the low end for their help with the design.

Conclusion

The platforms mentioned here are recommended by experienced author website design services providers because authors need to have user-friendly websites that they can maintain easily. If they are unable to do so, they can go for expert help, but they should not break the bank in this regard.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Who offers author website designers services, and why can’t I just use a free website template? 

A: Specialist web design agencies specializing in designing sites for authors are viable. Free templates often lack mobile responsiveness and the necessary conversion features (like strong email capture) required to build a sustainable author business.

Q: What is the most important page on an author’s website? 

A: The Email Signup/Landing Page. Its primary function is to capture reader data, which is essential for future direct marketing.

Q: How to find reliable author website design services? 

A: Reliable author website design services aren’t that hard to find. It is wise for authors to consult their networks apart from online searches. Moreover, they must ensure that they understand all terms and conditions properly.

Q: Should my website focus on my latest book or my backlist? 

A: Both, but the homepage must feature the latest release prominently, with clear calls-to-action (CTAs) directing traffic to the rest of your catalog.