# Author Website Design That Builds Your Readership > Author website design: a clear, fast site with your books, bio, email signup and contact page, built for readers and search. You own it. Free quote. Source: https://theauthorpublishing.com/book-marketing-services/author-website-design/ Publisher: The Author Publishing Last updated: 2026-10-25 --- Our author website design service gives you a professional home on the web: a clear, fast site that shows your books, tells readers who you are and makes it easy to buy, subscribe and get in touch. It is built to be found by readers and easy for you to update. Social platforms change and algorithms shift, but your website stays yours. It is the one place where you control the message, the design and the list of readers who want to hear from you. This service is part of our [book marketing services](https://theauthorpublishing.com/book-marketing-services/). ## What an author website needs - A home page that leads with your latest book and where to buy it - A page for each book, with the cover, description and retailer links - An about page that gives readers a reason to follow you - An email signup, so readers can hear about new books - A contact page for readers, press and event organisers - Optionally, a news page and a press kit ## Book landing page design A landing page focuses on one book. It carries the cover, a persuasive description, retailer links, a sample and an email signup, and it gives you a clean page to share around launch day. It can be a page within your author website or a standalone page, and it should include reviews from real readers only. ## Author website builder or custom development Website builders are quick and low-cost, and they suit many first-time authors. A custom build gives more control over design, speed and growth, and it suits authors planning a larger catalogue. We recommend the option that fits your needs and budget, and your domain and content stay yours either way. ## Built to be found and easy to use Your site should work well on phones, load quickly and be structured so that search engines understand your books and your name. We set clear page titles and descriptions and keep the design simple, so readers find what they need in seconds. No one can promise a search ranking, but a well-built site gives you the best foundation. ## The pages every author website needs Most author sites need only a few pages. A home page that shows your latest book and a clear invitation to join your newsletter. A books page with covers, descriptions and links to buy. An about page with a warm, concise biography and a good photograph. A contact page or form, and optionally a press page with a short media kit. Anything beyond that should earn its place. A small, well-made site is easier to keep current, and readers prefer it to a crowded one. ## Speed, mobile and accessibility Most visitors will arrive on a phone, so the site must load quickly and be easy to read on a small screen. Large unoptimised images are the most common cause of slow pages. We compress images, use readable type and check that buttons are large enough to tap. We also add text descriptions to images, use good colour contrast and make sure the site works with the keyboard, so more readers can use it. ## Selling directly or linking to retailers Linking to retailers is simple and keeps the focus on your story. Some authors also sell signed copies or eBooks directly, which gives them a higher share and the reader details. Direct sales add work, such as payments, shipping and taxes, so we help you decide whether they suit you. Either way, the buy buttons should be clear and lead to the right edition. ## Owning your domain and your content Register your domain in your own name and keep the login details safe. Use an address that is easy to spell, ideally your author name. Back up the site regularly and keep copies of your text and images. If you ever change designers or hosts, you can then move your site without losing it. We hand over everything you need, so you are never dependent on us. ## Questions about author website design ### Do I need an author website? You do not need one to publish, but it gives readers a stable place to find your books and join your list, and it stays under your control whatever happens on social platforms. ### Can I update the website myself? Yes. We build it so you can edit text, add books and post news without technical skills, and we explain how. ### Who owns the domain and the content? You do. The domain is registered in your name, and the content belongs to you. ### Can the website sell my books directly? It can link to every retailer. Selling directly needs extra setup for payments, shipping and tax, which we can discuss if you want it. ### How much does an author website cost? The price depends on the number of pages and features. Tell us what you need and we send a free quote with a fixed price. ### Do I need a website if I have social media? A website is a stable home you control. Social accounts can change or disappear, so most authors benefit from both. ### Can I update the site myself? Yes. We build the site so you can edit text and add books without coding, and we show you how. ### How will readers find my site? Through your books, your newsletter, social profiles and search. We make sure the site is set up so search engines can understand it. See our [author branding service](https://theauthorpublishing.com/book-marketing-services/author-branding/). ### How much does hosting and a domain cost each year? Costs vary by provider, and your quote lists what we set up. Choose a reputable host and keep the renewal dates in a safe place. ### Can the site include a blog? Yes. A blog can help readers and search engines, but only add one if you will keep it current. ### Do I need to buy a theme or plugins? Possibly. We tell you in advance about any paid tools the site needs and their yearly costs. ## Related services - [Book marketing services](https://theauthorpublishing.com/book-marketing-services/) - [Book cover design services](https://theauthorpublishing.com/book-design/book-cover-design/) - [Amazon book publishing services](https://theauthorpublishing.com/amazon-publishing/) ## Why authors work with us - You keep your rights, your royalties and your accounts - You receive a written scope and a fixed price before any work starts - You approve every file before it moves to the next step - One project manager keeps you informed at every stage