What to Include on an Author Website.

In the lead-up to starting Wangaratta Website Design Services, I did an online survey of writers/authors asking what they wanted in an author’s website. Twenty-three people responded, which isn’t a lot, but I still found their responses informative.

Advantages of Having an Author Website

When asked about the advantages of having an author website, they said a website:

• Is a point of contact where readers can find you (6)
• Is a place to sell books (6)
• Can be used for marketing and advertising (5)
• Is a place where readers can get to know the author (4)
• Helps authors control the information given out to the public (3)
• Can be used to inform readers of upcoming news and events (2).

What Should an Author’s Website do?

The survey then asked authors/writers to tick which functions they thought a website should have:

• Advertise their latest releases (21)
• Inform readers who the author is and what they write (19)
• Include links to where readers can buy the author’s books (18)
• Include a back catalogue of the author’s publications (18)
• List upcoming events, such as book readings and writer’s festivals, that the author will be participating in (18)
• Create a brand for the author (16)
• Direct readers to the author’s social media (15)
• Include a blog so readers can interact with the author (11)
• Include a newsletter sign-up form or subscription to a mailing list form so the author can advertise their books (11)
• Sell books directly to readers (11).

One item that should have been on that list is that a website can be a very convenient first port-of-call to which an author can direct media, an agent or a publisher.

Essential Functions of an Author Website

Based on the author’s responses,  a website should be/include:

• A place for readers to find out who an author is and what they write
• Updatable so it can advertise an author’s latest release
• Show what books an author has for sale (half the authors wanted an e-commerce site that sells directly to the customer, and most of the rest just wanted links to where a reader could buy the books)
• List upcoming events an author is involved in (for some, this could take the form of a blog)
• Links to social media.

A Basic Author Website

Based on the author’s responses, a basic author website must do/contain the following:

• Tell a reader who the author is and their writing genre (it is incredible how many author websites don’t immediately inform, through image, text or style, what genre the author writes)
• List the author’s books and have links to where they can be bought
• Be easily updated to plug the author’s latest release (probably on the homepage).
• A news section that is easily updated with the latest author news (this could take the form of a blog that details upcoming events)
• Contact details for customers, as well as the media, agents or publishers
• Links to social media.

A More Complex Author Website

• If an author wants to avoid paying Amazon and iBooks a commission, or they want to make it easier for the customer, they could choose to sell directly from their website.
• If an author enjoys blogging and interacting with readers, a blog could be included (new content like blog posts help with SEO)
• I would also suggest authors have a newsletter or a subscription form so readers can be emailed information about new releases or upcoming events.

If you can think of any other functions that should be included on an author’s website, please leave them in the comments section.