Do You As An Author In 2020 Need A Website?
Do You As An Author In 2020 Need A Website?
As we move into 2020 and reflect on the decade just past we have seen the popularity of self-publishing. Today authors can self-publish their books fast and with ease on the Amazon platform.
In 2020 an author is most likely to self-publish rather than embark on the quest to find a traditional publisher.
Once an author has published their book on Amazon the game does not end there. It’s at this point that the author must commence their marketing campaign.
A self-publisher is responsible for their own marketing.
Online presence
Central to a marketing campaign is an online presence.
People, your prospective readers, must be able to find out about you, the author. One way to do this is to have an author website.
This is in effect a shop front which is open 24/7. Here visitors can discover information about you, your books, and get some understanding of what you are on about.
In the decade just passed, having exposure to social media has been the way to go. Yes, being on various social media platforms gives you access to large target audiences.
However, you do not own or control social media sites. I have observed plenty of people who have had their accounts on social media closed down because they breached the rules.
Authors do need an online presence on social media but in addition, they also need an author’s website that can be integrated with their social media. This will to maximise their exposure in the online world.
A WordPress website
A WordPress website with a blog platform is a way for authors to promote themselves and their books online. A successful blog is an inexpensive way to drive organic traffic and make more book sales.
The great benefit of a blog is that you don’t have to do the hard sell. Instead, an author provides a hub of valuable content with a focus on educating and motivating their readers and prospects.
Building a website that you own and control enables an author :
- to market and promote themselves.
- give links to their books
- establish a network of raving fans
- rank on search engines like Google
- build a mailing list
- establish credibility as an authority in their field
- create an extra income stream with affiliate links
One of the trends identified by Noblit is that an author’s email list in 2020 will become an incredibly valuable asset.
An author’s website will have a lead magnet which is an opt-in page. Often this page is a pop-up and it will offer something for free like an ebook, a report, a cheat sheet, or a video.
In exchange, the visitor will provide their email address. This method of setting up a lead magnet on an author’s website will assist in building an email list.
DIY
Even if for no other reason, an author website is crucial because it helps an author build their list. How often have you heard the catchphrase “the money is in the list”.
Build an author website with the wordpress.org platform.
WordPress does have two platforms (1) wordpress.org, and (2) wordpress.com. While wordpress.com looks attractive it has limitations. In essence, with wordpress.com you do not own or control that website.
With wordpress.org you own your website and you can customise it by adding plugins, choosing a theme, and installing Google Analytics to track your progress.
If you are so inclined and are a “techie” type person you can build your own WordPress website.
Another option is to have an author website done for you. Or you might like to do it yourself (DIY) but with some guidance.
Should you have no WordPress experience and would like to give it a go, you can find out more by scheduling a call with me.
On the booking page scroll down to the bottom of the page. You will see a form to schedule a time with me.
Sources:
Edstein, Eloise Should Writers Have a Website?https://writersedit.com/fiction-writing/should-writers-have-website/
Noblit, Clayton The Top Ten Publishing Industry Trends Every Author Needs to Know in 2020 https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/the-top-ten-2020-publishing-industry-trends-every-author-needs-to-know/ January 9
https://izzardink.com/the-top-7-publishing-trends-of-2020-and-beyond/
https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/what-should-i-put-on-my-author-website