8 Tips for Creating an Author's Website

If you write novels, non-fiction or pamphlets you need an author's website. I can't believe how many authors I talk to that think they don't need a website to help sell their books. Some I've spoken to have blogs and think that the blog is enough, or their myspace page is enough, however, while the truth is that having a blog and a myspace page will help you sell your writing, you still need a home base on the web. That is what your author's website is for.

Here are some tips for creating an author's website.

1. Learn HTML coding so you can create your own website, or at least understand what your web master has done when he/she created it for you. Another nice thing about this is that you can save money by creating your own or taking over its maintenance once someone creates it for you. It's a nice advantage to have.

2. Keep it simple. One way that beginning authors try to make their website nice is to either create their website with frames or have their web master do it. This is not a very good idea and many companies on the web have stopped using frames altogether because it is double the work. There is a way that a person surfing the web can disable frames, and if they have done so, then websites created with frames won't be able to be viewed. So, you could lose half or more of your viewing and buying audience by using frames in your website. It's better to keep it simple and either use a template or simple HTML coding to create your web pages.

3. Don't create busy web pages. What I mean by this is don't have so many pictures of your covers, and links and words all crammed together on one page that your visitors get a headache just from looking at it. There is nothing that will make me click out of an author's page faster than a website that has too much on it. If you are going to have several links and such on your opening page, center them down the middle of your page and leave a bit of space between each one. That way it is easy for someone visiting to scroll down and decide what they are interested in clicking on and or reading.

4. Only have the cover of your most current book with information and where to buy on the front page. If you must have all your covers, make the covers for your older ones smaller and just have them link to your publisher rather than elsewhere on your website. You can have a button that will take those who are interested to a page with a listing of your books and then further links for exerpts, and sales information. For the front page, your most recent release is what is important.

5. Post exerpts for all your books. Exerpts can be the make or break when it comes to selling a book particularly if it is fiction. I have purchased books based solely on what I read in an exerpt. So, make sure you have at least one posted for each book whether fiction or non-fiction.

6. Make sure you have a Return Home button or link on every page on your website. There is nothing more annoying than traveling through a website and then realizing that you want to go back to the intro page and the only way you can do it is with the back arrow in your browser. In fact, most people don't bother they just go somewhere else, so make sure this link is there on every page.

7. On each book's page make sure you have links to all the places your book is for sale. While some may think this is excessive, some places will have your book on sale. For example when my most recent book Destiny's Choices was released from Amira Press, it also became available from Fictionwise and Coffee Time Romance Bookstore. Coffee Time Romance Bookstore and Fictionwise had it on sale for a while when it was newly released. Who doesn't like to save money? Trust me your visitors will thank you for giving them all the information. I even make a point of letting my visitors know when my book is on sale and where.

8. If you or someone you know creates a video book trailer make sure it is somewhere on your website. People love to view these, and as with exerpts, you will have a better chance of selling your book if there is one readily available to watch on your author's website. If you have one for your newest book, have it on the front page with the other information for the book.

If you follow these tips for creating your author's website, you will be sure to have return visitors as well as many new ones!