Are you a writer looking to establish an online presence and connect with your audience? Look no further than creating an author website. An impressive website can serve as a central hub for promoting your books, developing your personal brand, and even monetizing your work. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of building an author website using WordPress. The best part? You don’t need any coding skills or technical expertise. Let’s get started!
Choosing the Right Platform
The first step in creating your author website is selecting the right website building platform. We highly recommend WordPress.org, which powers a large number of websites on the internet. Unlike WordPress.com, WordPress.org gives you complete control and ownership over your website. To get started, sign up with a reputable hosting provider like Bluehost, SiteGround, or WP Engine. Bluehost, in partnership with WPBeginner, offers a free domain name and an impressive 60% discount on hosting.
Installing WordPress and Setting Goals
Once you’ve signed up for a hosting account, installing WordPress is a breeze. Most hosting companies, including Bluehost, provide a simple one-click installation process. After installation, you’ll gain access to your WordPress dashboard, where you can set goals for your author website, determine its appearance and layout, and plan the features you want to incorporate.
Choosing an Attractive Design
The design of your author website plays a crucial role in grabbing visitors’ attention and conveying your brand identity. WordPress offers a vast library of free and premium themes to choose from. For a clean and professional look, opt for a theme with a minimalist layout and ample white space. If you desire more customization options, consider using the powerful SeedProd Drag and Drop Page Builder plugin, which allows you to create custom layouts without any coding expertise.
Creating Essential Pages
An effective author website includes several essential pages that engage visitors and showcase your work. Start by creating pages such as Home, About, Books, Blog, and Contact. Depending on your specific needs, you might also want to add pages like Events, Press, or Shop. With WordPress, it’s easy to create and manage these pages using its block editor or plugins like SeedProd.
Showcasing Your Books
As a writer, featuring your books is paramount. WordPress offers multiple ways to highlight your works throughout your website. Create a dedicated page for your books and include images of your book covers along with links to online retailers where readers can purchase your works. You can also prominently feature your latest book on your homepage, complete with a persuasive call-to-action button that directs users to an online retailer.
Promoting Your Author Website
Now that your author website is up and running, it’s time to promote it and expand your audience. Here are some essential tips utilized by successful authors:
1. Launch an Email Newsletter: Stay connected with your readers by starting an email newsletter. Consider using Constant Contact, an email service seamlessly integrated with WordPress and beginner-friendly.
2. Build Your Email List: Actively promote your newsletter across your website using conversion optimization software like OptinMonster. This tool provides features such as pop-ups, banners, and timers to capture more email subscribers.
3. Optimize SEO for Your Website: Boost your website’s visibility in search engine results by utilizing All in One SEO, a robust WordPress plugin that aids in search engine optimization. It also allows you to add schema markup to represent yourself as an author.
4. Incorporate Contact Forms: Simplify the process for visitors to reach out to you by adding contact forms to your website. WPForms, a user-friendly contact form plugin, offers additional features like surveys, polls, and spam protection.
5. Sell Online Courses and Subscriptions: Monetize your expertise by offering online courses and exclusive membership content. MemberPress, a top WordPress membership plugin, facilitates easy subscription and course selling.
6. Analyze User Activity: Gain valuable insights into your website’s performance by tracking user activity. Consider using MonsterInsights, a reliable Google Analytics plugin that provides user-friendly reports and helps you identify conversion opportunities.
By following these steps and implementing effective promotion strategies, you can create an engaging author website that connects with readers, promotes your books, and establishes your personal brand. Good luck on your author website journey!
