How to Make a Good Author Website

[@angelawesneski5029]

As a reader, the BEST thing authors can do is keep their websites up to date with book news! More times than I can count I've checked an author's website just to see "Coming (insert date from 4 years ago): Preorder (Insert author's 3rd most recent book) now!" All I want to do is pre-order whatever the actual new release is, and making that more difficult is never a good thing.

[@panthorca]

Thank you so much for this video! I’m planning to create my author site soon,so this came at the perfect time.

[@AlexStevens-tq8jc]

How to create a website?

[@askloistherelatabletherapist]

Thanks for this valuable information. I am creating my author page and this information will definitely be used.

[@anahata2009]

Forgive me if I had a lapse of attention and missed it, but I think you left out something really important and useful: A way to sign up for a mailing list where readers can be informed of upcoming book releases, speaking events, etc. If you use social media as your sole outreach method, you are at the mercy of those social media engines, and the whims of their engineers and algorithm changes (as well as the increasing introduction of pay-to-play for favorable prioritizing of posts). If a reader is interested enough to sign up to your mailing list, then you have a way to reach them when social media fails you. You can land right in their inbox. You can also choose to maintain contact with a monthly email or essay, book review, or news or anything at all to keep yourself connected to your readership. I know many artists and illustrators who insist that they have a higher level of engagement through their "newsletter" than through social media. I'm sure the same can hold true for authors.

[@erinquill9209]

Those are some great ideas since I need to revamp my website. Thanks! 😊

[@robertcoyle1532]

I do like your website. A lot of agencies seem to make it tough to get information on the agents and the submission process. Yours is easy to navigate and really gives the tone of the agency. The only problem I've run into is ... how the heck do I Query Olive?

[@BookEndsLiterary]

😂 Olive isn't taking on any new clients just yet! 🐶

[@celesteturner6912]

This video was very helpful. As a pre-published querying author what how do I handle the page for books?

[@BookEndsLiterary]

So glad it was helpful! While querying, your website can be as simple as having a home page with your headshot and bio. Just something to show who you are and that you are working at making this a career

[@HeartspokenLife]

This is really helpful. Thank you so much. Particularly appreciated that you included very specific tips as well as some overall principles.

[@dorothynesbit8864]

Question- if you are not published but only in the query stage is an author website needed? Do you look at that when considering representing a writer?

[@josephkurtenbach1264]

(Sorry, I'm just copy and pasting my response to a similar question below:) I've seen in a number of places (maybe even here on BookEnds) the advice is, don't wait. I'm not even querying yet, but I've set up a very basic website just to have a head start--with a main or landing page, an *About* page (my bio), a *Contact* page, and even a *Privacy Policy* page. I'm doing it myself without any prior skill set, but I'm learning. Now I know I need to start doing more. (And another quick recommendation I've seen: call your website the author name that's on your books, whether that's your real name or a pen name. Not something cute, not named after your series. Make yourself easy to find. There are exceptions, like John Scalzi's "Whatever," but that site's been around for a quarter of a century, and most of us probably don't have that history.)

[@BookEndsLiterary]

We agree with the reply from Joseph! Don't wait, even if it's just a website with some basic bio info :)

[@HolliCMcCormick1]

Yes to the series list. As a reader that so frustrating

[@reclamationyoga5636]

I really need to update my website. Thanks for all these tips!!

[@BookEndsLiterary]

You're so welcome!

[@cjpreach]

Thanks for the Inside Info! I need to hire my internet-professional son to help me design my site when the time comes. But you can be sure I will review this video several times so I don't overlook anything important. I really appreciate your videos, guys.

[@orglancs]

Well...I am an inveterate book-buyer and an independent researcher and author myself, and I haven't visited a single author's website yet. I get all the information I need via ABE and Goodreads. Then I go out and order the title from my local bookshop unless it's second-hand, in which case I buy it through ABE.

[@wbelle_author]

As a former librarian, I heartily support putting your books in order and numbered if it's a series Question: should writers who write in two genres have two different websites? What websites are good for total Luddites like me? I've had two websites, both were a mess.

[@starfire451]

I'd like an answer to this as well as a multi-genre writer. Anyone passing or BookEnds, please offer any advice here. Cheers

[@BookEndsLiterary]

Hi! If you write all of your genres under one name, it's good to have them all included on your author website! You can sort them by genre on your website if you'd like. If you are using pen names to keep those identities separate, it would be up to you!

[@angelawesneski5029]

As a reader, I really like when authors' websites have different tabs for their different genres. So maybe your navigation bar would be: Home, About, YA Books, Romance Books, Horror Books, News and Events, FAQ, Contact I especially like when there is a dropdown menu for each genre that allows you to click on specific series.

[@tristen_grant]

Your website (BookEnds) only has a "light mode" or a light theme. Would you recommend only having a light theme or a dark theme?

[@lsilverthistle600]

I'm surprised there was no mention about establishing an email interest list for preorder sales. My understanding is that book sales are largely determined by preorders and that many authors will provide some type of freebie on their website in exchange for an email, like extra content or a newsletter, so they can market directly to their readers for new releases.

[@michaladkins5790]

How would your tips fit an aspiring author and do you recommend having an author web page with no published works {yet}?

[@christinedreier4668]

That's my question too.

[@josephkurtenbach1264]

I've seen in a number of places (maybe even here on BookEnds) the advice is, don't wait. I'm not even querying yet, but I've set up a very basic website just to have a head start--with a main or landing page, an *About* page (my bio), a *Contact* page, and even a *Privacy Policy* page. I'm doing it myself without any prior skill set, but I'm learning. Now I know I need to start doing more.

[@BookEndsLiterary]

We agree with the reply from Joseph! Don't wait, even if it's just a website with some basic bio info :)

[@ArtemisMS]

What indie bookstore are you supposed to link to if you have none in your area? EDIT: After watching the video, I guess y'all would recommend checking out other author sites to see what THEY link to 😆

[@Ruthie888]

Website. Using Squarespace. Ugh. Wish it were easier.

[@wbelle_author]

I've used WIX and WordPress. Both are too technically advanced for me.

[@aweebenezeroye]

​@wbelle_author you all can check out for framer or Godaddy.

[@jacobleslie8056]

First time I've ever disagreed with you two. Designing websites is part of my job. I'd warn anyone that isn't working with a professional designer to be very careful when trying to stand out. Unless you're working with a designer using a standard template someone else has built is probably the way to go. Show your personality in the words on the site and understand that writing for the web is very different to writing a manuscript. Effectively showing your personality through images, colour, typography, and layout takes experience and skill. Having a decent user experience at the same time is even harder.

[@BookEndsLiterary]

Thank you for adding to this conversation! User experience is definitely super important!

[@tristen_grant]

What about illustrator websites?

[@tristen_grant]

What about illustrator websites?

[@BookEndsLiterary]

Illustrator websites will follow many of the same principles, but should really highlight your portfolio! We recommend including lots of high quality images of your work, especially the kind of work you want to get hired to do (if you want to do kids books about dinosaurs, include your dinosaur illustrations on your website). It's also good to link to any social media/portfolio websites where people can find all of your work!