Hello! Kimberly here from Jera Publishing. If you are an author, you need to have a website. Below are the eight things you should have on your website:
- An author bio
You need to have information about you, the author. Where are you from, how long have you been writing, what motivates you to write? Include a few author photos. This can be a longer bio than the short blub than what goes on the back of the book cover. - The book description
Tell them what your book is about. This should not give away the entire story, but give them the information they need to know to decide if they want to read the book. This is your sales pitch! Again, this can be a longer description than what is on your back cover. - A mailing list sign up form
Mailing lists are a very powerful marketing tool for authors. Make sure you have one and that you have a sign-up form on your website. - An incentive for someone to sign up for your mailing list
What do they get out of it? A free giveaway that they can only get by signing up for your newsletter is a good incentive. Give them a short story about a character in your book, or, if you have a nonfiction book, a checklist or useful tool that relates to your topic. Have a children’s book? Offer them a free coloring book with line drawings of some of the characters. Have a cookbook? Offer a recipe that is not in the book. Be creative! - Links to your social media platforms
Provide a link to your Facebook page, twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, and any other social media platforms you can be found on. - Credibility qualifiers
Give them a reason to trust you as an author so they feel comfortable spending money on your book. Have you won any awards or been nominated for any? Do you have book reviews that you can share? What is your background on the subject? Give them a sample chapter so they can get a feel for your writing. Post pictures of book signings or other events you have done. - A blog
A blog is a great way to stay relevant and to give them a reason to come back to your site. Write book reviews, talk about the next book you are writing, post information on any book signing, speaking events, interviews, and so on. You can then use these blog posts as content for your social media platforms. - A way for them to buy your book
Make sure you have an easy way for people to find your book on Amazon and make the purchase. Don’t hide that link on your site, put a buy link on every page!