Four Basic Things Every Author Website Needs
You know you need a website as an author, but you’re not sure what you should put on it. The information is often contradictory, and you may find sites touting all the bells and whistles while others advocate for a more simple, basic approach. In all likelihood, your website will probably fall somewhere in the middle of the two extremes. But the only way you’ll truly know what your site needs is to start adding in your content. Below are four of the elements you should start with.
Your Photo
One of the main reasons people may be heading to your site is to get a look at the person who writes the books they’ve been reading. Unless you have a good reason for wanting to remain anonymous, make sure to put up a professional photo on your site.
Information About You
About the author sections vary from a single paragraph to an entire page. Some authors present aspects of their personal life. Others focus on their writing influences. What you choose to include in your about the author section is up to you, but you do need to make sure you have a clear section that is easy to find.
Information About Your Books
The question of whether you want to sell your books on your site or not can come later. However, you do need to make sure that you have your titles well-organized with a bit of information about each book. Additionally, if you aren’t selling directly from your site, you will need a link to a location where the books can be purchased.
Contact Information
You need a way for readers to contact you. Ideally, this can be done with a form to protect your email address. You may also want to include a PO box so fans can send physical mail, but this is up to you.
That’s it. If you put together a website with this content, you will have what is known as a “business card website.” It gives the basic facts about you and ensures that you have an online presence with very little fuss or maintenance. After you have these basic necessities, you can add on the features that are specific to your readers and will make your website shine.
