Enhancing Author Websites: 17 Key Strategies for Success
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Creating an Engaging Author Website
Your author website serves as the central hub for your literary works, blog, events, and contact details. The way it is designed can either attract visitors or drive them away. Ideally, you want to captivate your audience and keep them engaged for as long as possible. Here are seventeen strategies to help you develop a site that future readers will appreciate:
Section 1.2 Clear Calls to Action
Avoid confusing your audience. Make your calls to action straightforward and easy to understand. Aim for instructions that guide them rather than leaving them guessing, such as:
- "Read the first chapter"
- "Subscribe to my newsletter"
- "Purchase merchandise"
Clarify what happens when readers click buttons (e.g., "read more," "subscribe now").
Subsection 1.2.1 Facilitating Purchases
To enhance the buying experience:
- Organize series of books into distinct sections for easy purchasing
- Use a carousel feature if you have many titles
- Create a dedicated page for translations of your works
- Offer a reading order for series to guide readers on which book to tackle first
Section 1.3 Encouraging Return Visits
Maintain a casual and welcoming tone in your blog, though a more professional approach can be utilized when necessary. Consider including more than just links to your books; engage your audience with YouTube videos, audio clips, and other multimedia content. Additionally, ensure your site loads quickly and share it across your social media platforms.
Examples of Inspiring Author Websites
- N.K. Jemisin — uses branded colors aligned with her current book and maintains a clean layout.
- Neon Yang — employs vibrant colors that are hard to forget.
- Leigh Bardugo — effectively promotes multiple titles.
- Roxane Gay — features plenty of whitespace and a user-friendly design.
- Helen Hoang — displays books prominently above the fold, with a separate section for translated works.
- Halo Scot — utilizes a one-page layout that is striking and bold, with large text.
- Jennifer Regan — offers an immersive and enjoyable user experience.
Section 1.4 Useful Resources
- YouTube video on website accessibility
- Accessibe — analyze your website's accessibility metrics
- Check your site's loading speed
That's all for now, writers! Feel free to share your own tips for enhancing your website's appeal in the comments below.
The first video, "45 Ways to Sell More Books - Book Marketing Idea Checklist," provides various actionable strategies to boost your book sales effectively.
The second video, "Easy Author Websites," offers simple guidelines for creating user-friendly and engaging author websites.