What Should Be on Your Author Website

Your homepage is the first impression visitors get of you as an author. Within seconds, they should understand who you are and what you write.

Must-Have Homepage Elements

Every author website needs these core components:

About You:

Clear introduction explaining what you write
Professional tagline (e.g., "New York Times bestselling author" or "Award-winning mystery novelist")
Mention of prizes won or major accolades

Your Books:

List of published works with covers
Direct buy links to major retailers
Clear call-to-action buttons for your latest release

Reader Connection:

Newsletter signup form (essential for building your audience)
Active social media links
Contact information

Creative Author Website Design covers a number of aspects for an alluring, and functional page.

Nice-to-Have Additions

These elements can elevate your site:

Social proof: Author testimonials, press quotes, and "as seen in" media logos (link to articles when possible)
Visual appeal: Banner image matching your book themes
Content preview: Latest blog post snippets
Local support: Links to independent bookstores carrying your work

Quick Tip

Keep your design clean and your navigation simple. Readers should find what they're looking for in three clicks or less.

A well-designed author website turns casual visitors into loyal readers—make every element work toward that goal.You should also list local independent stores where your books can be purchased. This is Phygital Marketing.

An app you can use to organize your writing is here.

What should Be on Your Author Website