5 Steps to Creating an Engaging Author Website That Gets Results

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Creating an author website consists of two key componentsbeing able to effectively showcase yourself as a writer while also creating an appealing platform for your readers to stay informed on your latest works.

Author websites have been around since the early 2000s, with the most prominent examples belonging to JK Rowling and Stephen King. Fast forward to 2021 and most popular authors have their own website. Moving away from the traditional methods of paper mail and gallery shows, author websites offer a more modern and interactive mechanism for authors to promote and showcase their work.

The key milestones that have enabled author websites to be successful have been linked to advances in technology, specifically in the form of user-friendly design tools such as WordPress and Squarespace, which allow even novice users to create an attractive website. Additionally, the availability of free and low-cost hosting services such as Wix, Weebly, and GoDaddy have also allowed authors to easily set up and manage their own website, without the need of having to spend a large sum of money on expensive web engineers.

Modern author websites have come a long way from the basic homepage designs of the early 2000s and have evolved into multi-faceted platforms, offering a variety of features from powerful search engine optimization and social media integration to online merchandise stores, live videos, and interactive discussion forums. Social media presence also plays an important role. Having a website that links to authors' Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and other social media accounts helps to foster a stronger community between authors and their readers, allowing them to stay in touch and remain informed of upcoming events.

Though Internet visibility has been essential to authors in terms of publication and promotion, it can also introduce a host of digital security risks and privacy issues. While authors may feel safe in the online community of their own website, hackers or malicious entities may also take advantage of these websites to gain access to information. Additionally, authors need to take into consideration the potential copyright infringement issues that may arise from providing downloadable content on their websites.

Whether you're an established or aspiring author, having a website offers huge potential for promotion and provides a platform for showcasing your work. However, it's important to keep in mind the potential pitfalls that could arise from having an online presence, and to always take extra precautions to ensure the safety and privacy of your data. By striking the right balance of creativity and security, an author website can be a powerful tool to help writers take the next step in their career.

Ultimately, creating an author website involves more than just having visuals and content, and requires authors to take into consideration the various technical aspects and trends that will define its success. .