7 Steps to Creating a Successful Author Website That Will Grow Your Audience

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Creating an Author Website

For all aspiring authors looking to make their mark in the literary world, having an online presence is essential. In today's digital age, an author website allows authors to share their work, build their own fanbase, and establish a connection with readers and other members of the literary community. Additionally, a website can help establish the author's professional identity and connect them to even more work opportunities.

Creating an author's website might seem like a daunting task for those unfamiliar with building a website, but this guide will explain all the steps necessary to have the perfect platform to share an author's work with the world.

The first step in creating an author website is deciding what content the website will contain. Depending on the specific sub-genre that the author writes in, or what sub-topics the author wants to discuss related to their field, this can be a difficult decision. An author website could be as simple as a blog, or it could contain pages for book updates, interviews, reviews, even hosting group events or workshops. When choosing a niche or topic for the website, authors should focus on their ultimate goal for the website and the content they will be producing in order to make it as successful as possible.

Once the author has decided what topics their website will contain, they can begin to think of possible domain names. There are a few different options for an author web domain. For the web domain, authors can use either their pen name, or use their real name, followed by the url for the site's host. It is important to choose a domain name that is easy to remember, yet still catchy, and takes into account the type of website the author is planning to create. Thankfully, there are many hosting sites that offer authors the ability to quickly determine if their desired website name is still available, and if necessary, suggest alternates.

Once the author's domain name is selected, the author must choose a web hosting service where they will create and publish their website. Depending on the type of website the author wishes to create, the hosting options will differ. For aspiring authors who are creating a small blog or website for their work, some of the more popular hosting services available are Wix, WordPress, GoDaddy, Dreamhost, and Squarespace. Each of the hosting sites available have their own unique features such as different page designs, or the ability to easily integrate different multimedia formats, but the majority are affordable for an author who is just starting out. In addition to having the ability to design a website, many of the hosting services also provide additional features such as content creation tools, analytics for the website, SEO optimization, and even domain name registration.

Once the author has chosen a hosting service for their website, they can begin the process of building the website. For authors who are new to building a website, there are many DIY website building platforms that provide an easy-to-use interface for even the most novice of website builders. Services such as Wix, GoDaddy, and Squarespace all offer a drag and drop feature that allows the author to design the layout of their website with ease.

The author will have a variety of templates available to create the overall website design. Depending on the author's desired look and feel of their website, they can choose from a wide variety of pre-made designs to help create the perfect platform to share and showcase their work. This makes it easy for authors to customize the design and layout of their website and make it unique to their own personal style.

Once the author has designed the website and crafted their desired layout, it is time to begin creating original content for the website. This content can range from personal blog posts, book reviews, articles, author interviews, or even workshops or events related to the author's field. When it comes to creating content, it is essential that the author chooses a writing style and tone that reflects their personality and captures the audience. From catchy headlines to engaging copy, creating content can be a challenge, but there are many tools available to help authors write quality, engaging content.

While many of the DIY website building services offer an easy to use drag and drop feature when building the website, authors who have more technical experience can also modify their page designs using basic HTML and CSS. While learning the fundamentals of HTML and CSS is not necessary when building the website, it is a useful tool for authors who want to make additional edits to the look of the page. As a result, authors can make changes to the design and layout of their website without the need of an additional third-party service.

In order to make the author's website as engaging as possible, they must be able to effectively convey their message using other mediums such as images or videos. To do this, the author must be able to accurate integrate images and multimedia into their page designs. Using images and videos can help an author create content that is more dynamic and engaging for their audience, as well as create a more personalized experience for readers when visiting their website.

When designing the layout and user experience of their website, it is essential that the author makes it as user-friendly and easy to navigate as possible. The layout and design should reflect the overall theme of the website, and be easy for readers to quickly find the author's content. Additionally, it is important that authors create a clear navigation structure to help readers easily find what they are looking for. Including a search feature or a clear menu bar with dropdowns of the related topics can make the website even easier locate specific content.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a key factor in ensuring that the author's website is seen by the most people. SEO consists of a few different tactics that help website rank higher in search engine results. Factors such as proper website titles, meta descriptions, keywords, and image tags can make a huge difference when it comes to SEO rankings. Additionally, creating content with locally-targeted keywords, and using backlinks in every post can also help website rank higher for relevant search terms.

When creating a website, it is important to make sure that it is optimized for both desktop and mobile devices. Mobile responsiveness gives readers a better user experience when viewing the website, as it will automatically reformat the content to fit whatever device they are using. This includes resizing images and text to accommodate different devices, as well as creating clear sections on the website to avoid readers having to zoom in to various elements in order to view them.

Since the majority of readers are now accessing content from social media platforms, it is essential that the author integrates their website with these networks. By adding social media sharing buttons to their website, authors can increase the visibility of their website content on platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. This can help the author gain new readers, connect with even more members of the literary community, as well as create a larger fanbase.

The importance of website security should not be underestimated. When creating an author's website, the author must pay close attention to the security of their website, as it can the website vulnerable to an attack. From data encryption to investing in a secure web hosting service, there are a variety of different steps the author can take to ensure their website is secure.

Analytics and tracking tools can be extremely helpful to authors when it comes to understanding how their website is performing. Services such as Google Analytics allow authors to monitor the performance of their website, including the number of visitors on the website, where are the visitors coming from, which pages they are viewing, and more. Tracking tools can also help authors create more targeted content for their readers, as they will have an understanding of the topics that the readers are more interested in.

Creating an author website can seem like a daunting task for those unfamiliar with designing and building a website. However, with this guide, authors have all the tools and resources necessary to begin building the perfect platform to showcase and share their work with the world. From choosing a domain name and selecting a hosting service, to designing the website and creating content, author websites can open up an entirely new world of opportunities for any aspiring author.

Creating an author website is an important step for any aspiring author, and with the right tools, the process can be much simpler. By taking these steps and following best practices, all authors can create the perfect website to share their work and connect with their readers.

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