Ready to Create Your Author Website?

Alessandra Torre, NYTimes Bestselling author and Inkers Con co-founder

If you don’t already have a website, it’s one of the first things that any author needs, and should be the go-to place for readers to learn about you and purchase your books.

If you are starting from scratch, here are some easy and hassle-free steps to setting up a website.

1. Choose a domain name – Your domain name is your website’s URL address, so it should be memorable, easy to spell, and relevant. I typically purchase mine on GoDaddy, but there are lots of options, and some website builders (like Squarespace) include this cost in their pricing. Be sure the purchase includes domain privacy. That will keep your personal information private from the website’s registration.

2. Choose a hosting provider – Your hosting provider is the company that will store your website files and makes your website accessible on the internet. Most authors use the same company they purchased their domain through, or they receive hosting through their website builder.

3. Design your website – Designing your website can be so fun! It can also a little bit daunting when you’re first starting out. I suggest hiring a designer or using Squarespace or Wix. Don’t try to be too fancy. It’s most important that your website is easy to navigate and includes all of the important information.

4. Assemble the content – Your author website should contain:

• your author bio
• social media links
• details of each book with all purchase links
• your newsletter subscription option
• (optional) a store selling ebooks and paperbacks directly to readers
• (optional) a blog where you post writing updates and other content

5. Optimize for search engines – Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving your website’s visibility for search engine results pages. This is important because it helps people find your website. To optimize your website for search engines, you can use techniques like keyword research, on-page optimization, and link building.

6. Set up analytics – Analytics is important for tracking your website’s performance and understanding your audience. Google Analytics is a popular analytics tool that allows you to track website traffic, user behavior, and more. I also highly suggest you use Amazon attribution links to be able to see what purchases come from your site (more info here).

7. Test your site – Before launching your website, it is important to test it thoroughly. Make sure all links and pages are working properly, and test your website on different devices and browsers to ensure it looks and functions correctly. You can also ask friends or colleagues to test your website and provide feedback.

For my author website, we use Squarespace which has all of the above features. If you haven’t created your site yet, now is the perfect time!

If you’re considering adding a store to your website, be sure to watch Katie Cross’s upcoming Inkers Con 2023 presentation. Here are the details:

Selling Directly to Your Readers by Katie Cross
One of the best ways to build loyalty and grow independent income streams is through direct sales. In this presentation, a six-figure author will teach you:

• the sell-direct process
• tips on how to run traffic to and through your site
• how to engage readers with a 1:1 relationship
• methods to sell off retailers
• tactics for finding and keeping an audience

Update: This class was part of the Inkers Con 2023 class lineup. To watch the classes online, just click here. The upcoming 2024 conference offers dozens of brand new classes, Q&As, author discussions and more! Join us in Dallas or online!

I hope you’re having a great week!

Alessandra