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Author website guide

Your author website needs four things, and none of them is a blog you will abandon in March.

Writing advice communities answer this question the same way every month: the website is a storefront with proof, not a museum. Four sections, one checkout path, one rule.

Checked:

Homepage: book + one clear goalAbout: credibility we can checkContact: real and simpleSkip: abandoned blog or essays

The four sections that move books

A book page with a real sample, an about page that shows the author behind the book (not a logo), a contact link a prisoner could use, and a single primary goal on the homepage. Every other page you plan before launch has a much lower return.

If the first novel is not out yet, publish the website with a free tool page or pre-order details instead of an empty blog. Community reports consistently rank 'website with zero content' as one of the top small-author regrets.

  • One primary CTA per page — never three
  • Sample chapters beat marketing copy
  • Book covers and metadata consistent with the listing

What to check before the site links the book

Websites sell checks. If your site's CTA says 'ready to publish', the free checks should already be run: manuscript format, EPUB validity, cover geometry, metadata completeness. A site linking to an unfinished listing hurts more than no site at all.

Next release checks

Free book publishing tools

Free book publishing tools for the work between final draft and upload.

Choose the smallest check that answers the release question in front of you. Your recommendation may stay free, lead to paid repair, or point to another product that fits better.Open check

Author marketing guide

A newsletter with 400 people who bought your book beats one with 4,000 people who never will.

Self-publishing communities ask the same question monthly: what's the point of growing your newsletter? The point is owned reach — but only if the list is made of readers, not strangers.Open check

Free KDP cover calculator

KDP cover calculator for exact spine and full wrap size.

Choose trim size, page count, and paper. Get the full-wrap dimensions before you place a single cover element.Open check

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a website for KDP?

Not required, but it is the only channel you fully own. Start minimal: homepage + book page + about + contact can be done in a weekend.

What should my book page contain?

The cover, a real excerpt, format availability, and the link to the marketplace listing. Community wisdom: a printable sample beats fluff — so validate the EPUB first, then link the sample.

Should I blog on my author site?

Only if you enjoy it. For most, a few evergreen guides that answer the questions readers ask (like the ones in this directory) bring more traffic than a posts schedule.

Is a free tool page useful on an author site?

Yes — free tools are the most common way small publishing sites earn authority and links. The free publishing tools hub is a ready-made, well-tested collection.

Link a book worth the click.

Run the free publishing checks and build the website around a listing that closes the deal.

See the free tools