Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell books on my author website?
Absolutely. An ecommerce store is a great way to sell books and merchandise directly to readers. You’ll not only make more of a profit per book, you’ll also begin growing your loyal reader base by offering direct sales and deals.
I need a newsletter. Is this something you can build?
Yes! You can collect email addresses and manage newsletter campaigns directly in your Squarespace dashboard or connect to a third-party platform like Mailchimp.
How many pages should my author website have?
Most author website I build start off with 5-6 pages: Home, About, Book, Blog, Newsletter, Contact. You’ll have specific needs and wants for your website, so I’ll help guide you on the best website pages for your needs.
What pages do you need for an author website?
You can have as many as you want! Most author websites start out with about 6 pages, typically a mix of the following:
Homepage
A collection of page content throughout your site.
About the Author
This page typically features your headshot, author bio, and anything else you’d like.
Books
A collection page where readers can view all your books at once.
About the Book
This page will be the feature landing page for your book. If you have multiple books, each book would have its own dedicated landing page. You can feature a long book synopsis, book cover, illustrations or photos from the book, excerpts, reviews, links to purchase, and more.
Buy the Book
This page is where you link out to all the retailers where your book(s) are sold.
Shop
This is an ecommerce store where you sell books and merchandise directly to readers, aka fulfilling orders yourself.
Blog
This page is where you can publish blog posts, updates, and more on your website.
Events
The events page is where you can list all your upcoming events, ticket information, location details, and more.
News/Media
If you are frequently in the press, this page is a great resource to keep all your press mentions and interviews in one place.
Reviews
This page features all your best reviews from as many platforms as you’d like.
Contact
The contact page features a form that web visitors can fill out to reach you, as well as links to your social media pages, publicist, agent, and any other relevant contact details.
Can I pay in installments?
Yes! For custom web design projects, I typically go with four payments. If you have specific budget constraints, I can often design a payment schedule that works for your timeline and budget. Reach out to katie@designforauthors.com with any questions.
I need my website finished yesterday. Is this possible?
Yes. Rush websites start at $2500. Contact me immediately to get started or if you have any questions!
I already have a website but it needs to be redesigned. Is this something you can do?
Yes. However in most cases, it’s faster and more affordable to design a brand new website for you instead of editing the design of your existing website.
It’s sort of like how it’s easier to build a new house from the ground up, rather than opening up the walls of an old house and seeing what shortcuts the original builders made or what outdated technology is being used.
Have more questions or you’re ready to get started? Email katie@designforauthors.com!