As a romance author, you know that having an author website is essential to building your readership and growing your business.
However, creating a website can be overwhelming and time-consuming, especially if you don’t know what content to include. One thing that many authors miss is the importance of having the two types of content on their websites: one for themselves, and one for their readers.
Let’s dive into why you need these two types of content on your author website and what each type should include.
Content for YOU, the Author
Your author website should have pages and content that help you grow your business. The first essential page is your Home Page, which should give readers an overview of who you are and what type of romance book you write.
Your Home Page is the “front door” of your online store and the first thing your readers see. It’s the place to be able to let them know exactly what type of writer you are and what your latest release might be.
Landing pages with properly formatted opt-in forms are also crucial for capturing your readers’ email addresses and growing your list. Offer a free novella, short story, or a sneak peek of your upcoming book in exchange for their email address are great ideas to think about.
Your Events Page is your chance to list any upcoming events, such as book signings, author conferences, book launches, or podcasts.
It’s always great to add a Media Page and an About Page, especially if you’ve won any awards, been featured in any interviews or list your book reviews.
Don’t forget to add your Contact Page, so readers can reach out to you directly to ask any questions about your books they might have.
And last, but not least, think about investing your time into starting your Author Blog. This is a great place to showcase your writing skills in a new light allowing the essential people you’ll need to collaborate with to “see” what you can do.
Also, if you’re planning on selling any digital or tangible merchandise, learning what WooCommerce pages are needed, will be essential to selling that merchandise. Becoming familiar with then thru your website will benefit you.
And finally, while your social media content is not directly on your website, it is a vital aspect of your content marketing. Think of it as your “standing-on-the-sidewalk-and-trying-to-sell-lemonade” type of content that you need in order to sell your books. Using it to connect with your readers, at to little to no cost, enables you to get in front of many more readers than you can any other way.
Content for THEM, the Readers
The second type of content you’ll need to create for your author website is aimed directly for and written for your readers.
This includes everything that can help your readers learn more about your book and your book series.
Your Home Page does double duty in being the ideal place to showcase your most recent release, allowing your readers to find that book easily and quickly.
A dedicated Author Booklist Page can showcase your entire booklist in a way that’ll both intrigue and inform your readers. Provide a shorter book blurb, your book cover, and the link to the corresponding book page where readers can purchase the book as well as read any additional website extras you might have added.
Your individual Book Pages should include everything your reader needs to know about that particular book, such as your synopsis, genre, rating, website extras, and purchase links.
Additionally, Website Extras like audio excerpts, video trailer, or even free downloads like short stories or character profiles can be an excellent way to give romance readers ungated content to enjoy.
A Book Series Page should include details on all the books in a particular series and how they connect.
Reader Upgrades, such as free novellas, book discussion guides, playlists, and character profiles, are excellent ways to engage your readers and keep them coming back for more.
Your Author Blog is can also be used to entice and engage readers even while you’re sleeping! It’s a great way to add fun stories and in-depth information about your books that they can get nowhere else.
Your social media posts are also for you readers. Your social media campaigns can be the thing that attracts potential readers to your books because they like what they see on social media. You can and should be using this to your advantage.
Lastly, while your email isn’t on your website, creating an Email Newsletter with exclusive and exciting content will create a sense of privilege among your subscribers. You’re showing your readers that you care about them and providing them with valuable content that they won’t find anywhere else.
Benefits of Having Two Types of Content
The most significant benefit of having both types of content on your author website is that it helps you grow your author business while building a loyal readership — both you need to sell your books.
The content for you, the author, help you grow your email list, increase your online presence, and ultimately sell more books.
The content for them, your readers, helps you build a relationship with your readers, keep them engaged, and encourage them to become your loyal fans.
By providing both types of content, you create a well-rounded and desirable author persona that can attract readers and keep them engaged throughout your author journey.
Conclusion
As a romance author, your website servies as a tool for growing your business and building your fan base.
Without a well-rounded mix of content for you and your readers, you risk losing potential fans and the ability to grow your readership.
By providing content that speaks to you and your readers, such as a landing page, your Author Blog, Author Booklist Page, and more, you create an attractive online persona that can turn readers into loyal fans.
So, if you’re thinking of creating an author website for your romance author persona, don’t forget to include content for you and your readers and watch your readership, and business, grow.
What’s Next…
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