To website or not to website—that is the question. According to a recent BookBub article, 85-90% of authors selected for featured deals have a website for their books. If you’ve written a book you’re trying to publish or market, a website is essential. But why? BookBub gives you some solid reasons.

• A website is a place to collect email addresses to build a mailing list you own. 

• A well-designed site can establish credibility and professionalism showing you’re serious about your craft.

• As opposed to social media platforms that can change or disappear altogether, a website is a public profile you own and is not subject to platform changes or limitations.

• A well-optimized website can help you appear in search engines, increasing your visibility.

• A website can be a central hub where readers will find all your published works.

• By linking to various online retailers, your website can guide readers to buy your books.
  

When New England Press published my first book in 1996, a young adult historical novel, Google didn’t exist. The web browser of choice was Netscape Navigator and connecting to the Internet from home meant a slow, dial-up modem operating through my landline.

In 1996 only 20 million Americans had access to the Internet. If you cranked up your computer using a startup floppy disc and a second floppy for storing data and waited half a minute for the program to load, you could check your email. Then what? There was no YouTube, no Twitter, Facebook, Wikipedia, and certainly no Instagram because pictures took too long to load.

You might be able to read the New York Times and other news outlets that competed for an online presence, but what was an author to do if I wanted people to know about my books? I had to have a web page. And who was making web pages in 1996?

My writing loft in Vermont.

Luckily for me, I was teaching English in a rural Vermont high school that had a technology program, and several students were fluent in html language. I hired a freshman eager for a few extra bucks to teach me how to design a website. Full disclosure—I’m a slow learner in the tech realm.

“You’ll have to slow down,” I told him.

The 14-year-old gave anexasperated sigh. “You have to speed up.”

I managed to learn some symbol commands for font size, boldface, italics, centering, and even a clipart image or two and was able to set up a rudimentary author site.

A few years and several books later, through GoDaddy I designed a functional but not very sexy site. Updating and monitoring the site was complicated and took time away from writing. After publishing eight books and struggling to get them out to the world, I looked elsewhere for help.

To the rescue came AuthorBytes, a website design and hosting company in Cambridge MA committed solely to authors. When I signed on, AuthorBytes project manager Laura Spinella set up a Zoom and showed me examples of effective websites designed for other authors whether with a single book or multiple titles. Laura asked me about my books, my favorite colors, and what other elements I wanted on the site. She made sure every detail contributed to expressing my brand. Her suggestions were creative and beyond anything I’d thought of on my own. The company takes care of every aspect of the process from design to hosting. See what they have accomplished by checking my website.

What sets AuthorBytes apart from other web designers is their availability. Laura is an email away and I speak regularly with co-owner Steve Bennett. When I have a new book, Steve works with me to design a new hero graphic (the welcome banner), and the update is almost immediate. Friendly and enthusiastic, he knows the business of publishing books and helps authors get their work out to potential readers. As for cost, in my opinion, AuthorBytes fees are reasonable for the services they offer. Their website is AuthorBytes.com.

When should you create your website or spring for a more professional site? According to BookBub, the sooner you present your author website, the better. It’s never too early to start building your mailing list, introducing yourself to readers, and exhibiting your credibility as an author. A website is a vehicle of self-expression that tells your readers who you are and why they should invest in your product. Go forth an introduce your amazing self to the cyber world!