☐ Home Page – A brief overview about you and your book. Make it interesting, fun, engaging, and different! Note that your home page can also feature your recent blog posts, but only do this if you are committed to blogging several times each week.
☐ About the Author – This should include an interesting bio about you and your qualifications for writing your book(s). Spice it up with some professional photos. Keep it fresh and interesting by showing some personality here.
☐ Media – A media page is a great place to showcase any media coverage you have received. Be sure to list all media outlets, including print, radio, and television. Also, make it easy for media pros to cover you for a story. Include short and extended bios, plus high-resolution, professional photos that can be downloaded by media pros. Over time, the goal should be to fill this page with lots of impressive media logos.
☐ Books – Create a page for each book you’ve authored and make it easy for visitors to purchase, whether directly from you or from an online retailer like Amazon.
☐ Speaker – If you speak about topics related to your book—or if you want to speak—include a speaker page. List your speaking topics, along with a description of what is covered. Include testimonials from past engagements and a list of any audiences that you’ve spoken to. It’s also a good idea to include a printable single-page speaker sheet that can be downloaded in PDF format.
☐ Contact – Your contact page should provide a way for visitors to email you directly. Web contact forms are fine, but also include an email link since some prefer that. Also, include a phone number and physical mailing address. Never use your home address! Treat your book like a business and invest in a mailbox from The UPS Store or your local post office. If you work with a publicist or assistant, you can also include their contact information here.
☐ Blog – Every author needs a blog. Here is where you can share topics related to your book, quick tips, excerpts from the book, recipes, and anything else your target audience will enjoy. Update your blog at least twice each week (more is better). Over time, your blog will bring more traffic to your site. It also becomes the heart of your social media efforts.
☐ Sidebar and Navigation – Some elements should be visible across your entire website. Include links to your social media profiles and a sign-up box for your mailing list. If your site is built on WordPress, there are some great plug-ins you can include, such as Recent Tweets, which will display your Twitter feed. You can also feature your book, recent blog posts or announcements.
☐ Photos and Video – If you have photos or videos to share, your website is a great place to showcase them. They can be featured on their own pages, within the existing pages on your site or in your blog. Google loves sites that feature videos and other media, so this can only assist in helping your site generate more traffic.
☐ Services – If you offer services related to your book, such as coaching or consulting, be sure to list them here.
☐ Products – If you offer companion products, such as videos, audio recordings, workbooks, or templates, add either a “Products” page or a “Store” page.
If you like this blog post, you’ll love our Author Toolkit covering websites, blogging and social media for authors. Check it out!
