Thank you Sarah for allowing me this guest spot on her blog. It’s a pleasure to be here. My name is Charlotte Duckworth, and I’m a seven-times published author, but more importantly I’m ALSO an author website designer, and I’m super excited to be here to bust some myths about author websites!
You’ll be surprised at the number of authors I talk to who say they don’t think author websites are necessary.
“I’m focusing on social media,” they say. “Readers can find me on Facebook if they want to.”
I get it—authors are busy people and social media seems like the easiest option. The audiences are already there (well, some of them at least—more on that later!) and the barriers-to-entry are basically non-existent.
But if Musk’s purchase of Twitter and Trump’s temporary TikTok ban have taught us anything, it’s that the grounds these platforms are built on are incredibly shaky.
The truth is that relying on social media to be your main online presence is like building your house on someone else’s land. You never know when it might be sold from underneath you.
Unlike your author website, which is yours and yours alone!
So, let’s talk through the many benefits of having your own author website:
1. It gives you total creative control
One of the biggest advantages of having an author website is the ability to control how you present yourself to the world.
Social media platforms can change their algorithms, limit your reach, or - as discussed - even shut down, leaving authors scrambling to rebuild their presence elsewhere.
With your own website, you dictate the look, feel, and content, ensuring that your brand remains consistent and professional.
You can design it to reflect your writing style, whether that’s sleek and modern, whimsical and literary, or dark and mysterious.
2. It offers you a direct connection with readers
Having a website allows you to establish a direct line of communication with your audience. Social media and third-party platforms often act as middlemen, filtering how and when your audience sees your content - or trying to get you to pay up to have your posts shown to your fans.
With a website, readers can visit whenever they want to learn more about you, read your latest updates, and even contact you directly via a contact form or email.
Additionally, having a blog on your site allows you to share personal insights, writing tips, book recommendations, or behind-the-scenes details about your books.
This fosters a deeper connection between you and your readers, encouraging them to return to your site regularly and remember you when they’re looking for a new book.
3. It’s a hub for all your writing-related projects
We all know that most authors don’t earn that much money from their books alone, which means that diversifying—whether that’s writing in different genres, or offering writing-related services—is the name of the game.
Your website serves as a one-stop hub where readers can find everything they need - links to your books, interviews, upcoming events, press features, and more.
Instead of sending readers to multiple sources, you can guide them to your website where they can easily explore all your work in one place.
4. It boosts your credibility and professionalism
This is one I’m particularly passionate about!
Imagine a film or TV agent searching for more information about you and finding nothing but scattered social media profiles.
Now imagine they find a well-designed, content-rich website instead.
Which scenario makes a better impression?
A professional website signals to publishers, agents, journalists, and potential collaborators that you take your writing career seriously.
It’s like having a polished resume available 24/7.
True story: I have had multiple film agents get in touch with me through my author website to enquire about optioning the rights to my novels!
5. It’s important for Search Engine Visibility (SEO) and discoverability
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a crucial factor in modern marketing.
When someone Googles your name or book title, your website should ideally be the first result.
Having an SEO-optimized website with relevant keywords, blog posts, and updated content ensures that readers, journalists, and industry professionals can easily find you online.
A website also allows you to rank for specific search queries, such as “best mystery novelists of 2024” or “historical fiction writers with strong female leads.”
If you have the time and energy, maintaining an active blog and using strategic keywords can hugely boost your visibility and make it easier for new readers to discover your work.
6. It’s crucial for building your email list
One of the most powerful marketing tools for authors is an email list, and a website is the perfect place to build one.
Unlike social media, where algorithm changes can reduce the number of people who see your posts in an instant, an email list gives you direct access to your readers.
By offering a free short story, bonus content, or exclusive updates in exchange for an email subscription, you can grow a dedicated fan base that’s eager to hear from you whenever you have a new book or event.
7. It offers opportunities for monetization
Many authors don’t realize that a website can also be a source of income!
Beyond book sales, you can offer premium content, writing courses, personalized coaching, or even sell signed copies directly to fans.
You can also monetize your blog through ads, affiliate links, or Patreon-like memberships where readers can support you financially in exchange for exclusive perks.
8. It’s your place to showcase reviews, testimonials, and media features
Think of it like your personal trophy cabinet!
A website is the perfect place to highlight glowing reviews, testimonials, and media features.
If a blogger or journalist has written about your book, you can link to their article.
If readers have left positive reviews, you can showcase them in a dedicated testimonial section. This not only boosts credibility but also serves as social proof for potential readers who may be considering your book.
9. It’s the best place to advertise events and speaking engagements
If you do book signings, readings, or speaking engagements, your website is the perfect place to list these events.
A well-organized event calendar keeps your readers informed about upcoming appearances and allows them to plan ahead to meet you in person.
10. It’s independent from social media
As we already discussed, social media platforms are constantly evolving, and relying solely on them can be risky. Algorithms can change, platforms can decline in popularity, and accounts can even be suspended without warning.
There’s also the small matter that many authors overlook - and that is that not all readers use social media!
Especially if your readership skews towards the older generations, you may find that your readers aren’t active on these platforms.
However, most readers these days know how to use the internet, and pretty much everyone has an email address to receive your author newsletter!
A website ensures that you always have a stable, independent presence online that is unaffected by the shifting landscape of social media.
11. It can help sell books!
This sounds a bit obvious but still - your website can serve as a strategic marketing tool, helping you promote book launches, giveaways, or limited-time discounts.
By integrating an online store, you can even sell signed copies, merchandise, or bundle deals directly to fans, increasing your profits and strengthening your reader relationships.
12. It’s your digital legacy
Unlike social media profiles, which can be deleted or forgotten, a well-maintained website is a long-term asset.
It serves as a permanent record of your work and career, preserving your digital legacy for future readers.
Whether you're actively publishing or taking a break from writing, your website remains a home base for your literary presence - your own little corner of the internet.
But what if I’m not published yet?
If you’re yet to snag that elusive book deal, or you haven’t quite taken the plunge into self-publishing yet, that doesn’t mean that an author website is unnecessary.
Here are a few advantages of setting up your site BEFORE you get published:
1) It makes you look professional - I’m a mindset junkie and having your author website up and running tells the world - and more importantly, you - that you are taking this writing game seriously! And as if to prove this point even more strongly - I actually got my agent through my website. I had submitted to a bunch of agents and one of them had passed my MS on to my agent, who then found my website and got in touch with me through the Contact form. I genuinely thought it was a scam to start! But it wasn’t, and she’s still my agent 15 years, and eight book deals later…
2) It helps establish your SEO. Not the most exciting reason admittedly, but Google likes websites that have been around for a long time. The longer your site has been up and running, the more likely it is to rank in Google search, and the higher domain authority it will have.
3) It means one less thing to do when you DO publish! Trust me, when you do finally come to publish your book, you’ll be surprised by the sheer number of Things To Do that come along with it. Having your author website already up and running is one less thing on the list!
Conclusion
OK, so hopefully I have persuaded you to take the plunge and set up your author website!
When it comes to the actual building of the site, you have a few options available to you:
1) Pay a website designer (like me). Clearly the most expensive option, but will often work out to be the quickest and easiest.
2) Buy a template and customize it. A sort of halfway-house between DIYing your site and paying someone else to design it for you, template shops are all the rage in the website world. Christy Price has a template just for authors.
3) DIY the whole thing from scratch! I am actually a huge fan of authors building their own websites—which is why I launched the DIY Author Website Course. I know how tight money can be—especially when you are just starting out. And there’s something hugely empowering about building your own website!
I have plenty of advice on my own blog about building your author website, so please do check out my resources there.
I’m also delighted to be able to offer Sarah’s readers an exclusive 10% discount off my DIY Author Website Course, using code INKDROP10.
