Author Websites

10 Things Every Author Website Should Include (and 3 to Avoid)

In today’s publishing world, your author website is your digital home base. Whether you're traditionally published, self-published, or still querying, your website should do more than just look pretty—it should work for you.
Here’s a quick checklist of the must-haves, along with a few common pitfalls to avoid.

​10 Things Every Author Website Should Include

1. A Clear, Simple Homepage
​First impressions count. Your homepage should instantly tell visitors who you are and what you write. Use your author photo, tagline, and a short welcome message or current book highlight.
2. An Easy-to-Find Book Page
List your published works with cover images, blurbs, and buy buttons. Bonus points for including reading order if you're writing a series!
3. A Short, Friendly Bio
Skip the resume-style summary. Instead, give readers a peek into your personality—mention your genre, hobbies, pets, or coffee addiction. Keep it short and accessible.
4. Professional Author Photo
A clean, high-resolution photo builds trust and familiarity. You don’t need a studio shoot—but do skip the blurry selfie.
5. Email Newsletter Sign-Up
This is your #1 tool for staying connected with readers. Offer a freebie, teaser, or early access to new releases as an incentive.
6. Social Media Links
Link to your most active platforms (2–3 is plenty). Make sure they open in a new tab, so readers don’t leave your site.
7. Upcoming Events or News
Whether it’s a book signing, launch party, or newsletter milestone, show that you’re active and engaged.
8. Contact Page or Form
Make it easy for readers, bloggers, or event organizers to reach you—without listing your personal email.
9. A Media/Press Kit (If Published)
Include your bio, book covers, blurbs, author photo, and key links. Great for podcast hosts, reviewers, and bookstagrammers.
10. Mobile-Friendly Design
More than half of your traffic will come from phones. Your site should look just as good—and work just as well—on mobile as on desktop.

3 Common Author Website Mistakes to Avoid

1. Auto-Playing Music or Video
Nothing chases a visitor away faster than unexpected sound. Let your content shine—quietly.
2. Outdated Content
If your last update was in 2021, readers may think you’ve vanished. Even a quarterly refresh makes a difference.
3. Overcrowded Navigation
​Don’t overwhelm visitors with 10+ tabs. Stick to 4–6 clear sections—Books, About, Contact, Blog, etc.

Final Thoughts

Your website doesn’t need to be flashy—it just needs to be functional. A clean, friendly, and well-organized site gives readers and industry professionals confidence in you and your work.
So if it's been a while since you've updated your site, now’s the time. Your future readers—and future you—will thank you.