Another favorite of mine thats NOT on this list is Cole Schafer. The most unique thing about this website is it includes an audio clip which is found very rarely on authors websites. Thanks. If you resonate with Tylers sense of style and use of color, this site serves as a great encouragement that you can pull it off. I recommend it. Im a stay a home mom and former digital marketing project manager looking to get into freelance copywriting. Include a list of your published work (books, novels, eBooks, articles etc). The animation of the book covers makes this website one of the best author website designs. Include links to your social media accounts. We'd love to highlight the really great ones. The follow up to Brittanys hook is where I think some things could be improved. Ive turned the 5 key pages every website needs into live templates you can use to easily visualize, plan, and write your web pages. Now, time to get crackin on my own site. Crystals focus is on writing TV and radio advertising campaigns for major brands, and bridging the gap between the boardroom strategy and the end user is precisely what these brands struggle with. Thanks for a great article. This website is a bit different on this list in that I dont actually think its fully realized yet, BUT I think its doing some things really well that no other websites on this list are doing. Whether you have questions about publishing, freelancing, or blogging, you can find the answers here! And then, she should immediately invite people to contact her or hire her! They have an active presence on Twitter so you can keep up with new posts by following them at; @WritersDigest. It has an elegant but playful aesthetic. If youre an author hoping to get the word out on your books, to sell more copies, and to build on them to grow your author business and create other passive income streams, an author website is essential. And the client data is displayed to really support the brand message of Hey, Im a top level talent. The sharing buttons on the left make it easy to share his content in a variety of ways, and while the Google Ads do take up some space, they also help the author earn some passive income. A lot of new copywriters wait forever to set up their websites because they think it has to be complicated. Find a simple theme you like. You can find his work often within the New York Post, but his list of clients and endless articles range much further. I promise!). Next, she includes her About section and CTA for people wanting to dive into her credentials before moving forward (her about page then offers a CTA, which is very important). A website for a book should always have the latest release on the homepage like this website. Maybe you already know what you want and what you dont. The TED Blog, powered by WordPress, shares famous TED Talks in written form for anyone who prefers reading to watching them as videos. She has 6 total pages. You dont see any ads on this website. If the bounce rate is very low, its probably not worth changing anything, as incoming visitors might be happy to click through to either service page or begin scrolling, but if the bounce rate is around 50% or higher, fleshing out the hero shot with a true value statement is the first change Id look to make. His pictures and videos are well produced, personable, and packed with useful information, whether its the personality coming through in the images or the valuable insights coming through in the videos. Her About page describes and links to each category of her content books, public speaking, and podcast episodes while also giving you a glimpse into her background, priorities, and personality. Books are placed individually instead of creating categories which is a less-seen thing among other websites for authors. About | Contact | Disclaimer | Sitemap | Privacy, 10. BBC America Im a newbie freelance writer whos glad I found this. Cover Spy. Chidinmas site doesnt feature $5,000+ bespoke design or an incredibly inventive sales pitch, and yet it is just as good as the more elaborate, more expensive sites on this list. Moving past branding, Nandini hits all the key points on her service pages. Cassandra Clare Stephanie Meyer Jojo Moyes Kate Morton Helen Hoang Emily Martin Shel Silverstein Kira Butler Conclusion Important Elements In An Author Website There are certain parts of your website that are really going to help make it truly effective. Your email address will not be published. It's the type of site that looks like it requires the assistance of a web designer, which means it's aspirational for a lot of us, especially those of us who are just getting started as freelancers. The footer has no newsletter forms, quick links, or social media buttons. In this case, segmentation isnt actually happening, and Michal is asking for two clicks that lead nowhere. The #1 goal of audience segmentation is to create a targeted experience for each segment. Crystal isnt working with mom and pop ecommerce stores, and shes not writing direct response copy for emails or landing pages. Susan Cain is the author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Cant Stop Talking, and this site explores the revolution her work has started. The Masters Review. It was a pleasure to share them with you. She is the copywriter and he is the designer and developer, and they are now collaborating to deliver similarly epic sites for their clients, which I think is super cool. She could consider shortening the paragraphs on the main page of the website. She is very clear and specific in everything she says, and you get the feeling in reading her copy that if you hire her, shes going to come in with a very clear gameplan to help you get the results you need. Its also possible that Kaleigh would prefer to get coaching clients but feels obligated to pitch her copywriting expertise on the homepage. This self proclaimed Word Nerd goes by the name of Matt Phil Carver. . . Email Marketing For Authors: How to Grow Your Email List with Opt-In Forms? And then tell your prospective clients exactly what you have to offer them. She introduces herself as someone here to build bold and honest brands, change minds, and f*#$ up the status quo, with a background photo that says, Its in your best interest for me to run this meeting. Her introduction is packed with industry-leading brands and publications. Andy Barton is a writer and musician currently living in Georgia. 2. Then Tyler comes along and slaps his background full of yellows and oranges and its f*cking amazing. Enter your email below to grab the templates. Authors: masters of language, but often not the web. Discovered many great writers thanks to you Jacob! Modern, Graceful and Iconic Author Website Examples. Moving past the homepage, Id love to see Aaron invest more in his own blog. Marc and Angel Chernoff have created a website that not only advertises their book, Getting Back to Happy, but also offers a life-changing course based on that book. His services include copywriting and telling a brands story in a unique and engaging way that will determine the ideal customer. The Rumpus. For starters, every other site on this list relies on white space (or off-white space) to background their message. The contact details and social media handles are missing. Ive come across a lot of great writer websites over the 7 years Ive been in marketing. The email newsletter is not visible in the footer and it pops up by clicking on subscribe link which isnt good for conversion rate. The most important pages of the site are visible in the hero on the home page. Develop Good Habits with Steve (S.J.) In fact, the rest of the websites on this list are all created using WordPress themes or similar website builders. As you will see through the rest of this list, you dont need to invest anywhere close to that amount of money to create an amazing website, BUT if you want to see a gorgeous example of whats possible with a hefty budget, this website is that example. The lack of literature gives the initial impression that this might not be an authors website. And who better to learn from than authors who are already rocking it with their websites, while refining their message and reaching more and more of their ideal readers? For many years, his focus has been on the sport of Boxing and his resume is filled with articles in BleacherReport.com and Boxing News Magazine. 2023 Site Builder Report Back To Top Sitemap Contact Terms Privacy. Currently working for Game Informer Magazine, Blake Hester is a seasoned writer for the gaming industry. They think they need to rewrite the book on copywriting. So much confidence. Her lifestyle growing up in Colorado as well as life experiences, have landed her in this specific niche that is meaningful to her. Its not quite fully realized just yet. Hey Marsha, 4 out of 6 is a great start! Nevertheless, we've pulled together some of the best of what you sent in. Dr. Kate Hogg is a freelance writer, marine conservation consultant and environmentalist. I havent told my prices on the site because I think that gives me more flexibility to adjust it. The only concrete recommendation I can make would be to go in one of two directions with her content: Right now, I feel like the blog is just a bit disjointed from the rest of the site. Available via Template Monster, Richard Gore is another moody black-and-white theme that's perfect for writers, authors, and bloggers alike. The menu options should be made brighter, and the font size of the text should be increased a little. its a distracting mess, but Gill actually makes it work by prioritizing the touchpoints correctly and offering that linear journey. Beyond your portfolio, youll also want to make it easy forpotential clientsto get in touch with you have an easy and obviouscontact page. This is ultimately what you should be aiming for in your writing career: Learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist. Pablo Picasso. After reading the first testimonial, you know how she does it: via a website review. Just below that, youll see an uncluttered advertisement for his life-changing book, The Miracle Morning. Sports journalist Jeremy Herriges is the writer behind the website That Boxing Writer. delightfully minimalist example from copywriter Kaleigh Moore. Gleis mission is to help others choose a heart-centered approach to their work and to productivity. Now, after the last three sites, you might be thinking, These look great, but even using a WordPress theme, there is no way I could create something like this. Testimonials are also used well throughout the entire site. As the author of The Art of Witty Banter and Bulletproof Confidence (among many others), Patrick leads with his free content and social proof (links and testimonials) and leads you to two options: Read the Blog and Get my newest book. Try both to get the full experience and learn what you can about how to make the most of this website model. Out of all the sites on this list, this one probably hit me with the best first impression, yet unlike the previous two, you wont need a $5k+ budget to try and emulate this site, which is built via a Wordpess theme and plugins. "For last year's words . Consider the following reasons: Dont make the mistake of leaving your author cred in the hands of Amazon or your social media accounts. It's a good pick if you already have a solid body of work under your belt, even if you're not quite as rock'n'roll as this guy. Writers in the Storm. So not only is she introducing us to her personality within this value proposition, shes also telling her target client that she can solve the exact problem they need help with. Im not sure how much they charge, but between the copy and design, Id guess it would be in the $5k-$10k range. White space is safe. From Homer in the 8th century BC all the way until now, there is something in the works of these authors that can capture our imagination and help us expand our knowledge. Colour scheme and loading speed are well maintained. Writer's Digest is one of the most encyclopedic writing websites out there after all, the print magazine has been around for almost a century now! She appreciates the opportunity to write about unique pieces that she is very passionate about. Looks great to me! Her passion for telling a great story combined with years of experience, have earned her amazing reviews from clients. Theres only so much you can say in a single value statement. Additionally, she ties her minimalism to laziness, which is obviously a bit tongue in cheek and might vibe with certain people, but I personally feel this where she should be hard selling why her approach is better and why hiring her and her minimalist approach is going to save money and increase revenue for her clients. Contents Veronica Roth J. K. Rowling Stephen King David Sedaris Emma Cline Antoine Choley Umberto Eco Neil Gaiman Paula Hawkins John Grisham Dan Brown E. L. James Amy Krouse Rosenthal Lewis Carroll Bren Brown Jo Nesbo I think you are on the right track. You know that Brittany and her brand are unique from the moment you land on the page. From there, you can scroll down to learn about the next Best Year Ever Blueprint (BYEB) experience, sign up to have Hal speak at your next event, or enjoy one of his podcast episodes. Honoree Corder writes books to help her fellow creatives go from starving artists to prosperous authors with life-changing businesses. Weve been where you are now. Shes also a musician that performs at live events and a yoga teacher offering both group and private lessons. The contemporary design of the website is very eye-catching and interesting. Lets start with the list of best author websites, Simple and Minimal Examples of Authors Websites. Im probably a bit biased given how closely it resembles my own homepage value proposition, but Gills opening value proposition is exactly what you want for a landing page. Her latest novel is CITY OF GIRLS a rollicking, sexy tale of the New York City theater world during the 1940s. If only you had a selection of writers websites to look through to help you decide what features you want to focus on, what first impressions you want your readers to get, and what on earth youre going to blog about to keep your readers interested. Currently in San Diego, Beth is an award winning writer. Brands can hire Shanley to help form their message using her words in copywriting, blog writing and social media content. For your service in particular, Id recommend including some larger, higher-res images of you Emceeing an event. I love how bold some of the brands are. The Masters Review is a platform for emerging writers. Read on to explore 15 fantastic author website examples. The energy on this site is contagious, and it begins with a video, the offer of free access to his Miracle Morning Crash Course, and his clearly-stated mission of Waking people up to their full potential.. Book Riot. The website should include an active contact page to reach out to the author. They also blog on topics related to their mission of helping their readers live happier more fulfilling lives. Lewis. It may leave a not-so-good impression on the potential buyers. The Best Websites For Writers. Reed Tucker is a writer with a niche in Pop Culture and Entertainment. You know my website worked for what it needed t do. Jeffrey Archer's Writing Routine: "You can never tell when and where inspiration will strike.". July 27, 2022. Provide a way to contact you or hire you. When we asked this week on Twitter and Facebook for the best author websites, we received the names of only a few that impressed us. You dont have to default to neutral tones. I had thought my top #10 list was already finalized at this point (LOL), but her site was so great, I had to change my list to include it, which started the whole snowball of changing and adding and changing and adding thanks a lot Kayla! If you've never undertaken the challenge and would like to know more, check it out. We are glad to see you here. With these templates, you can skip that blank page paralysis stage and get rolling with your copywriting. 3. Like Stephen King, music is one of the many interests of J.K Rowling. It also introduces her readers to her blog and podcast, along with free resources for parents, schools, and businesses. Saving the world Big Gun Blogging for Hire these types of phrases dont work for 99% of writers, because 99% of writers cant follow them up with testimonials from 4 of THE biggest names in content marketing. Next on the list is this charmingly creative example from Crystal Dunn. Kaleighs messaging is another really great example of niche focus and simple, minimalist design. Her professionalism with words aims to save her clients time and money while perfecting their image. Furthermore, utilizing a quiz as her lead magnet serves to noticeably differentiate her and offer something outside of the box to potential clients. If this approach works on you, it might work on your website visitors, too. https://www.teamgolfwell.com/free-book-reviews.html, 19 Author Website Tips To Earn Money - Situdio, Website For Authors: The ultimate guide for 2022 - Situdio, 15 Best Author Websites of 2022 | Complete Guide to Creation | Templates, 33 Best Author Websites Examples (2022 Update). They also blog on topics related to their mission of helping their readers live happier more fulfilling lives. Catch the video and checklist at the end of the article. Id be shocked if Michal spent less than $5k on this website, and I wouldnt be surprised if it was closer to $10k. Anne R. Allen and Ruth Harris are two publishing industry veterans who offer advice about writing craft and how to navigate the treacherous waters of the publishing industry. None are too long. After I had finished this post, I messaged the website master herself to see if shed share some thoughts, and she was kind enough to do a 30 minute interview going through her personal checklist for what to look for when evaluating a website. Alison Kent blog by Alison Kent Between the Lines by David Allen Beyond the Beyond by Bruce Sterling Blatherings by Debbie Ridpath Ohi Buzz, Balls and Hype by M.J. Rose Cabbages and Kings by PJ Parrish Carolyn's Blog by Carolyn Jewel Contrary Brin by David Brin Craphound by Cory Doctorow Dave Barry's Blog by Dave Barry What I love about this site is that it shows us how to really push the boundary on creativity without sacrificing a bit of functionality or persuasion. The first thing you see here is a calming image with a Q like the one youll see on the cover of her most well-known book. Please do your own research before making any online purchase. Among the menu headings, youll see Free Gift, Start Here, and My Books in that order. Next on the list is this stellar example from the always stellar Aaron Orendorff: Aaron is a force of nature, and his site does a great job of giving us a small glimpse into the maelstrom that is his writing services. 75. Joakim Book Made With Webflow Joakim Book is a freelance writer and financial fanatic. This site has a lot going for it. The book and branch motif is exciting without being distractingand we really love the simple little logo at the center of the navigation. Ally Denton is a freelance writer located in Indianapolis with a portfolio in editorial, copywriting and content writing. We will go beyond looking at the best author website examples, sharing with you our vision of what works, what does not, and why. The skills of persuasion can be applied as readily to any media form as they apply to writing. Our work is supported by affiliate commissions. One interesting thing Gill does is use her testimonials to both re-enforce her value statement AND specify her core service. Writer's Digest magazine is the go-to for everything writing. As a general rule, less is more, and you rarely want to give visitors more than 3-4 purchase options. Spreading these throughout the site would be the icing on the cake to finalize the fantastic copy and design. Freelance writer and health coach Locke Hughes, is the author of Melatonin: The Natural Supplement for Better Sleep. Her wellness articles have been featured in popular publishings such as Shape and Womens Health Magazine. Instead, it enhances an exceptionally focused and impressive website with Crystals personal flare. This website for the author of Unsubscribe begins with a question: Do you want to find more creativity and meaning in your daily work? Your answer to that question determines whether youll sign up for her newsletter and read on to explore her RESET course, her Hurry Slowly podcast, and her articles. Secondly, I made the mistake of being sociable on Twitter heading into the new year, and I kept coming across new, amazing writer websites that simply had to be included. We have analyzed more than 500 author websites. If its not the standard way business is done, Id recommend directing the opening CTA to the contact page and maybe incorporating the highlights from her resume in a sidebar on the contact page or something along those lines. Join Now Brenda's Newsletter From a visual perspective, this is probably the best-designed writers website Ive ever seen. Its a case study in great personal branding. It gives you an easy browning experience. Inspired by the famous, ultra-short Hemingway story ("For sale: baby shoes, never worn"), Six-Word Memoirs challenges writers to use this same micro-format to tell a complete story. Khaled Hosseini (born March 4, 1965) is an Afghanistani-American author of best-selling novels which are mostly set in Afghanistan and its troubled temporal terrains. The free courses alone are worth the visit, especially if youre still a newbie to email marketing, blogging, or product development. Let us know. Be sure to check out the archives for references to innovative techniques and processes from famous thinkers like Einstein and Darwin. The boxed layout made this website different from other authors websites. Art of Productivity with Damon Zahariades, 14. The biography of the author should be a little more detailed. by Jacob McMillen | Feb 1, 2019 | Blog, Freelancing | 12 comments. Everywhere you go on Tylers site is framed with this unique, captivating orange that is just so much more of a brand statement than the more neutral tones the rest of us rely on. I only had one recommended change for Gills site, and it was a big one, and I was so excited to share it and be able to teach something to the master herself but by the time I published this post, Gill had already identified the problem herself, fixed it, and made it even better than what I had suggested in my recommendation. Freelance writer Monica Reinhard applies her proofreading and writing skills to legal documents, blog posts, resumes and more. Great post with your trademark personality. Typically when you see someone includes a lot of different touchpoints ALL on the same page services CTA, about page CTA, blog posts, video, lead magnet, etc. Its also a great idea to sprinkle intestimonialsfrom past clients. If you want some pointers on how to design a website that will get your visitors excited about your content and message, check out Hal Elrods. You know from the moment you arrive on her page thatNandini Jammi isnt just another copywriter. Her Books page displays all her published content on Amazon and Audible, providing links to make it easy for visitors to buy them. Ive checked 4 of Gills 6 items. The purchase option of the books is missing on the homepage. Your email address will not be published. Blogging for Authors Why Keeping a Blog is Good for Your Author Website? The best word that comes to mind for this next example from Nandini Jammi is impressive. Her book page displays her published content to advantage, advertising the fact that shes sold over 100,000 copies and making it easy for visitors to buy her books on Amazon. After looking through each website listed above, I hope you picked up some ideas for your own author website. Unless Michal is wanting to create separate landing pages for each segment, Id recommend removing the clickable elements and simply displaying the segment descriptions. Why This Is An Amazing Writer Website: Standout visuals and branding Specialized messaging targeted at high paying audience segments Uses real data to support expertise Writer Unboxed Natasha is a freelance writer with a service menu that includes blog creation, article and copywriting. 10. The first thing youll see when you check out Stephen Guises website is a chance to download for free his best content, which includes a sampling of his ebook, Mini Habits; his ebook, Stress Management Redefined; a Focus Wallpaper set; and his Tuesday newsletter. The only other comment Id make is that Kayla has some amazing testimonials, but from what I can tell, they are all buried at the end of her copywriting page. The Authors signature added more value to the page. They offer an array of international poetry in various languages, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Yiddish, Welsh, Gaelic, and other Celtic languages. While she may not explicitly zero in on a niche, her messaging does it for her and is going to attract the types of clients who really resonate with personality and want to craft a personable narrative for their business. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. And finally, she allows people to engage directly with her blog content and video content. The color scheme of the website is very soothing to the eyes. Its possible that this page receives a lot of orders and works well for Michal, but my guess is that she is operating mostly off referrals and this page doesnt actually experience many orders. There are some really amazing insights here, so check it out: To review, here is Gills checklist for evaluating your website as a writer or service provider: If youd like to get some feedback on your own website, comment below with your website URL and say one thing you think you are doing well and one thing you think you need to improve (comments with just a URL will be removed). Even some writers with massive Twitter followings and social media campaigns don't have useful websites. On the right-hand side of her main page, youll see a listing of her most popular blog posts as well as the most recent and Google Ads for relevant business services. I know there has to be some form of hierarchy there, and its possible that expressing that hierarchy on the site would serve to better direct clients toward whatever the preferred service happens to be. Im wondering if youve ever seen any freelance writer websites that have a blog NOT related to copywriting. Meeras Start Here page introduces you to someone who remembers what its like to be a newbie but who has learned what authors need to know to build a successful online platform. Learn More. Creativity Portal At 16 options, all of which have to be customized anyway, this is just a crazy amount of overkill. First of all, I made the mistake of naming this 10 Best Writer Websites in my Google Doc, and apparently I take words like that WAY too seriously. Well-Storied. Unlike other writers' websites, Linda's website shows the author's bio before going into book links. While you and I probably cant get away with a tagline for our value proposition, it works perfectly for Aaron. But what does your author website really need to have? Part of HuffPost News. Scroll down to see a line-up of her books and a link to see more information on each one. Instead, he purposely differentiates himself with grandiose claims, because: Aaron and his website, as well as the next two websites on this list, are perfect examples of writers who have gotten to the point in their careers where they can begin to break the rules a bit. Her services include article writing, content creation and transforming ideas into organized words on paper. Simon Appleby, director of digital agency Bookswarm, highlights ten websites that do their authors justice on the web. Its also possible that hard data from campaign performance isnt something that gets shared in her industry, but if she does have access to any of that data, adding it to the site would be a huge plus. Scott, 66 Horror Writing Prompts That Are Freaky As Hell, 15 Famous Pen Names And Why Authors Use Them, Every Writer Needs A Good Book On Grammar: Here Are 15 Of The Best, Writing a Story? Crystals value proposition has to be one of my favorites of ALL TIME. And I could listen to this guys voice for hours. I stopped working on my site and decided to concentrate on writing. The easiest way to improve these areas would be to break up the spacing, either through editing the stylesheet or simply adding additional spaces between sections, headings, etc. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. C.S. this incredible example from Michal Eisikowitz, this beautifully simple example from Chidinma Nnamani. Live Bold & Bloom with Barrie Davenport, Art of Productivity with Damon Zahariades, Develop Good Habits with Steve (S.J.) The books could be displayed in a more appealing manner. Run by Kristen Kieffer, this writing website offers more than just blog articles; it links authors with writing communities on social media, provides tutorials on Scrivener (a word-processing software designed for authors), and offers free courses on a variety of subjects. Here are the best ones in 3 different categories. Does it matter? I think there are a few things Kaleigh could do to improve the way this site feeds leads to her business: Kaleigh offers this really great (albeit brief) pitch for her copywriting services on the homepage and then invites people to sign up for her newsletter without any invitation or call to action to actually hire her! The initials of the authors name look very classy on the main page. thanks! Chris Ayan is the founder and writer behind Brandecote. What better way to round out this list than with website-tips extrordinaire Gill Andrews? You want to craft an intentional, relatively linear journey for your readers. And a well-designed and regularly updated website does more for your author brand than any of these. Read and Enjoy Poetry! The loading speed and the layout are well maintained. The design is simple and clean, and you would have no trouble creating a similar looking site using WordPress or other popular platforms. So far, my website has been doing well. You shouldnt simply string together a collection of sections. Its very fitting with the visual brand he brings to the table. 9. His freelance articles and opinions have been featured in Rolling Stone and Game Spot among many others. Sarah Turner's writer website is one of those slick, beautifully designed sites that intimidate the rest of us. Ive really benefited from your excellent pieces of advices. Chidinma uses a straightforward, easy to emulate formula for her copy: I provide [this service] for [this type of client] who wants [these benefits].. All are easily accessible. The Los Angeles based British writer by the name of Martha Hayes creates articles in a variety of different industries ranging from entertainment to personal grief. He has sold 300+ million copies of his books worldwide. The free ebooks offered on this page make it clear how the author wants to improve the lives of her readers. Shes a beer and cider fanatic, two topics that land at the forefront of her writing and podcasts. Kaleighs site is also a really great example of content organization, something that new freelancers often get wrong. Its the perfect website reference! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm a copywriter and content strategist. The information about each book is neatly organized by audience (adult, young adult, and young readers). Her writing, for many different companies, has been featured in Bustle, Time and Vox to name just a few. Joakim Book is a freelance writer and financial fanatic. For one thing, most of them had to deal with all sorts of obstacles and rejection in the beginning. One of the first things youll see here is an ad on the right-hand side offering a free 40-page book, Catapult Your Productivity, to new subscribers, which is an immediate eye-grabber. Joanna is the talented freelance writer behind the brand Createfully. Famous Authors Authors throughout history have helped capture something about their lives, their era, and the society around them. Required fields are marked *. Next on our list is this super fun example from Brittany Berger. Even better, I was able to get one of my favorite writers on this list to join me for an interview and provide her go-to checklist for optimizing a writers website. Id stack these 10 websites up against any in the industry, and if youre looking to improve your own website this year, youll learn a lot from them. An industry leader for over 100 years, their site includes interviews with famous writers, writing advice, submission advice and writing prompts. Maybe I just need to wait until I can hire a designer.. . Id also suggest drastically condensing the service page. Freelance writer and fashion enthusiast Marlen Komar is located in Chicago. This is the third time youll be tempted with the free offer, and since the pop-up hides the page content, theres nothing to distract you from typing in your name and email address, if the book looks like something youd want to read. If this is the case, Id recommend changing the homepage to speak more to the coaching and career expertise she brings to the table, keeping the email signup as the main CTA, and then creating a separate landing page focused on her copywriting services. Hopefully there's not a writer alive who doesn't believe they need a website - there are so many good reasons for having one that even if you don't agree with all of them, you ought to agree with one or two. Put yourself in the shoes of someone looking to hire a writer. This is great example of just how intentional you can (and should) be in arranging a landing page. Learn how your comment data is processed. Theres really not much Id recommend changing for this site, but heres some possible options: While the hero shot (the screen view you see when you first arrive on the site) looks amazing, it ultimately doesnt say a whole lot. Aarons writing is consistently the top performing content on the blogs he writes for, and because of this, he doesnt need to compete with other writers. Finally, a site this great deserves to be seen, so Id love to see Michal invest in some SEO and content marketing to get more visitors to her site. In the meantime, Ill grab your Becoming a copywriter guide. A blog to showcase your personality and/or writing process, Has a unique, clean and eye-catching design. Its possible shes decided that email subscribers are more valuable to her than service inquiries, but in my experience, the best copywriting clients are not looking to get on a list and build trust. Everything is done at a high level, and when you land on Nandinis site, you feel like youve just been introduced to someone who really gets shit done. Beautiful Dark Authors Websites for Inspiration. Im definitely looking forward to seeing where he takes his brand. In 2015, she published BIG MAGIC: CREATIVE LIVING BEYOND FEARa book that encapsulates the joyful spirit of adventure and permission that Elizabeth has always brought to her work and to her life. Her Courses page lists her own course, Author Success Blueprint, at the top, with a link that takes you to a great example of a course sales page. At the bottom of the home page, youll find links to her catalog of self-improvement books and her various online courses. Is she a consultant who offers writing and occasionally speaks? The homepage shows the author signing a book copy at an event which feels so wonderful. All the famous authors have a few characteristics in common that led them to become known as the best writers of all time. Kayla also does a fantastic job of breaking down every angle of the benefits of working with her and includes the data to back up her claims. If thats not the case, Id recommend fleshing out the homepage with a bit more about her services (given she doesnt have a service page) and then doing a really strong CTA to hire her directly. John Grisham. Tess Gunty, Imani Perri Take Top Honors At National Book Awards Scrabble Adds 500 New Words And Some Are Just 'Adorbs' 'You' Author Caroline Kepnes Teases New Joe Goldberg Novel Daniel Radcliffe Explains Why He Spoke Out Against J.K. Rowling's Anti-Trans Comments Emily Post's Etiquette Tome Gets Overhauled For 21st Century Ive learned quite a bit of useful nuggets from her series, and her own website is a no-brainer for this list. Next, she invites visitors to sign up for her highly relevant lead magnet that directly supports her core service offering. Combine those two mistakes, and Ive probably had about 40 different websites on this list at one point or another. A lot of new writers are afraid to say, I only work with these types of businesses, but sites like Kaleighs do well precisely because of that. It is action-based, value-focused, and explicitly describes the benefits being offered. The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry. A contact form works better than sharing email addresses. Considered one of the greatest authors, JRR Tolkien is popularly called the father of the modern fantasy literature. Steve Scott is a great example of a prolific and versatile author whose blog content led to book ideas that sold well. The layout is very common among author website examples. This is what it sounds like: the blog for the annual NaNoWriMo challenge supporting and celebrating every writer who participates. If youre an author and want to grow your business, youll find ideas here on how to do that. I like your generosity, Jacob McMillen. From a copy standpoint, Kayla goes all-in on personality. 1. 1. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Dont limit yourself! Im left with literally nothing to put here anymore so um, heres a penguin with a briefcase. Learn how to build a freelance copywriting business from scratch: 20 questions to answer before writing a word of copy, Download The "Overpaid" Writer's 3-Year Career Blueprint, Design, create, and write a high-converting landing page from scratch. It does EXACTLY what she wants it to do: it clearly communicates here expertise to the specific audience she is targeting. The artistry isnt trying to hide ambiguous copy or a directionless site. There are so many levels here, the first being that the average Joe doesnt know what a copywriter is. On this site, youll see a variety of blog posts related to his books on healthy habits, with large, readable type and a right-hand column that lists previous posts and advertises other content including a free book, The Morning Routine for Peak Performance. The Dog Days Of Summer Reading: Pets And Books! The homepage layout is very basic and needs a lot of work. It will be published in June of 2019. The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry contains 250,000 poems in full text and 450,000 citations. And while its unlikely that you will be able to create quite the same impression as Nandini, you can use your own sense for personal branding to create something that is even more impressive and captivating than the sum of its parts or the dollars in its budget. The books section is very simple yet attractive. This is why Im so excited to sharethis beautifully simple example from Chidinma Nnamanithat demonstrates just how exceptional your site can be using nothing more than a stock WordPress theme, 1-2 photos, and some kickass copywriting. Benji Shaw URL: https://www.benjishaw.com/ Shapes and amazing animations made Benji Shaw my go-to copywriting website example. I feel like it would be bad practice to have a website with a blog that linked away from my writing services but at the same time Im finding this a wonky thing to build. I especially love the line the glue between brands and the people. It has started ranking better than before. I hope you enjoyed this tour of some of the best author websites. Now that Brittany has provided one of the best hooks on this list and gotten the prospect intrigued and scrolling, its time to really pitch the value of her less is more approach. Easy Navigation About section of the website does all the justice to the writer. The copy is conversational and straight to the point and tells potential clients exactly what they need to know. Her portfolio includes numerous brands youve actually heard of. Whether you are afreelance writer,copywriter,bloggerorsocial mediawriter your website should serve one purpose: showcase a portfolio of past work forpotential clients. What do you think: Are these the best author websites out there? After a lifetime of writing experience, she started Createfully in 2015 and offers writing services for startups and tech companies. That was about a month and 5,000 words ago. This site was created by Kayla and her brother Zach Hollatz. And if you had asked me a week ago whether or not its a mandatory part of a good site, I would have emphatically said yes. I think that either building it out as a full-on content marketing effort or bringing a lesser amount of content more in alignment with her services would be more beneficial to her business. There might be affiliate links on some of the pages of this site, which means we could earn a small commission of anything you buy. Moving past the value proposition, we see a cleanly presented visual portfolio with images that capture thethe mood and focus of the campaigns, and subtext clearly displaying the massive brands Crystal has worked for. On our site you can find a large collection of poems and quotes from over 631 poets. The design is very unique. Her site also introduces you to her books, which are well-designed and thoughtfully created to serve her mission of helping fellow online business owners grow and thrive. This is another site where there arent any notable problem areas, but the following changes could further improve the site: While the overall design is very clean and pleasant, the typography could use some work. All rights reserved. It feels disjointed. The sections for novels and poems are displayed individually, making it one of the best book website samples. The homepage is only limited to the information of one book, which is not taken as a good impression for websites for authors. I decided to go nuts and create a live template for every single website page you need. Brenda Novak | NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak New York Times Bestselling Author 1 2 3 Keep up-to-date with Brenda and her books News & Newsworthy Join Brenda .and over 25,000 members in Brenda's Online Book Group. Literary Hub. Similar to myself, I know his client work takes up so much of his time that he just can never seem to get around to it, but he has the groundwork laid to be a very explosive player in the marketing/business/writing education niches, and Id love to see him go after that. She loves playing the electric guitar and also plays an active part in politics. As a nonpartisan, non-profit organization devoted to spreading ideas to people across the globe, it's clear the team behind the TED Blog knows what kind of website foundation is needed to succeed. Many authors do not emphasize on having a strong web presence, usually falling back on static sites that lack design and optimized navigation.But times are changing and as more and more modern authors hit the big time, many of them are starting to realize the importance of that having a nicely designed, interactive (and really . Welcome to Famous Poets and Poems! Authors are the masters of language, but most are not on the Web. 10. John Ray Grisham is an American lawyer and novelist, famous for writing popular thrillers. It could be made the best author website design with a books relevant theme. Particularly Michal Eisikowitz, and Gill Andrews. There is a picture of the author that makes it more interesting as compared to other authors websites. Share your love of books with fellow readers. Selling with Soul is a nice tagline but doesnt serve as an actual value statement. None are unnecessary. I figured Id put together a quick little list of some of my favorites and get a nice easy post to kick off the year. The Write Life. Forbes magazine has recognized this site as one of the most popular personal development blogs. Check it out and see a perfect example of what mission plus passion plus writing skills could do for your author website. (also discovered him through you), Your email address will not be published. Very helpful breakdown and tips. Most importantly, both the design and copy take the reader through an intentional narrative journey. Emulate this! The website is very easy to use and has no unnecessary options. With its calming color scheme and crisp, white background, Sally Ann Miller leads the eye of her visitor from her logo to the words Proft from Your Passion and a pitch for her free Passion Challenge workbook.. Below, youll see links to free resources, Susans keynote talks, and a personality test: Are you an introvert or an extrovert?. Here you'll find genre and vocation-organized articles, events and competitions, webinars, templates, tutorials, and so much more. | Writer's Relief Featured Client: Valerie Griggs | Writer's Relief . These give you a correctly formatted page with instructions for what to write in each section. I think my copy is straightforward, but not 100% sure. 10 Key Parts Of A Story You Must Include, The Best Self-Publishing Companies in 2022, To build a fanbase of people excited about your books, To establish your credibility and expertise as an author, To remain up-to-date and competitive in a growing pool of published authors, To receive valuable feedback from your readers, To provide content for future books and book-related. Her layout is simple, with a smiling photograph just below the header, and it gets right to the point of what she offers. Shanley Cox is the talented writer and photographer behind her company Shanley Cox Creative. The NaNoWriMo Blog. And right under that Content marketing is about USING content, not creating it. If Im here for a writer to help me with content marketing (Brittanys target customer), this is a tremendous hook. Look no further.. His site also has a blog and a page titled, Living Smarter, where you can sign up to receive his free content on living a less stressful and more meaningful life. Joanne Carew has been freelance writing for many different types of companies for over five years. Once you scroll down, the image fades to reveal her websites calming minimalist layout. The best websites for authors like this should avoid lengthy descriptions. For example, a resume might be THE path to getting gigs in her niche, whereas it is virtually meaningless in mine. What I love about this is that she has turned a simple service content repurposing into a really surprising headline. I actually came across this next example from Kayla Hollatzwhile checking my searching rankings. She offers 5 Free Motivating Guides focused on personal growth, powerful habits, and loving relationships. Many years after his death, Tolkien continues to be one of the best-selling writers. This is THE correct order in terms of best practices if you want to add all of this on the same page, so bookmark her website for future reference. After all, you cant assume that your presence on other platforms Amazon, social media, other peoples blogs is going to last. Whether you publish traditionally or go the indie route, Anne and Ruth's experience can help you stay safe and achieve your publishing goals. Imagine showing up to a website with a headline that says, I repurpose the content you already have to make you more money. Thats not bad, but it doesnt really grab me, and since its a bit of an alternative proposition from what I was looking for, I might just bounce and continue my search. The quotation of the author on the main page makes it a captivating website for a book. They are presented fairly evenly and the way she goes about selling herself doesnt really indicate one direction over the other. Get a good quality, professional photo of yourself (if possible). The examples in the next section below show off these elements really well. The background of the site is relatively very dark and gloomy. This website is both an incredible example of highly specialized niche focus and the perfect template for a new copywriter looking to build their first site. this stellar example from the always stellar Aaron Orendorff, this charmingly creative example from Crystal Dunn, this super fun example from Brittany Berger, this crisp, engaging example from Tyler Koenig, her amazing ongoing website optimization series on LinkedIn, Specialized messaging targeted at high paying audience segments, Start with a benefits focused value proposition and immediate CTA, Breakdown the customer segments you work with, Provide a personality-rich introduction to your brand, Bolster your pitch with plenty of social proof, Breakdown the services you offer & their benefits, Add a follow-up to the audience segmentation (or remove it), Consider incorporating onpage SEO and adding a blog, Commit to one service as the primary service, Streamlined navigation with easy access to all pages, Fantastic testimonials and use of testimonials, One of the best newsletter signup pages Ive ever seen, Simple, well-organized site structure and navigation, Make the homepage topic and CTA consistent, Offer a fuller breakdown of her copywriting service, Clean, well organized design and typography, He can back up those claims with data and social proof. Also, here's wishing our readers a very happy and prosperous New Year! They are visually appealing and most importantly, content relevant. My biggest recommendation for Tylers site is more: Tylers brand has the feel of a multimedia brand in the making, but it needs more. 21. Michals homepage is an amazing template for taking visitors through the sales process: You dont need this exact order or every one of these exact sections to put together a great landing page, but Michal is doing everything right here. He only wants clients who are looking for (and willing to pay for) the best. Marc and Angel Chernoff have created a website that not only advertises their book, Getting Back to Happy, but also offers a life-changing course based on that book. 1. If all you really want to do is display your books and offer visitors a chance to download a freebie (in exchange for their email address), Zoe Mckey gives a good example of this on her author site. Some of it is mentioned and alluded to in the testimonials, but if he wanted to, he could display some pretty impressive numbers next to each service listed, and I think doing so would further improve the page. At the top of Dr. Markways site, you see a banner ad for her Self-Confidence Workbook. As you scroll down, you see a warm, personal message from her to her visitors, followed by information about her and her practice, followed by social proof and a chance to sign up for her newsletter. How to Sell Books Online from Your Author Website? They are looking to hire someone immediately. Evening those out would complete the look. Jeffrey Archer is an English novelist, best-known for his 1979 book, Kane and Abel, which remains as one of. The important thing is that you have an author platform that gets your readers excited about your books and gives them a place to read more of your content and keep up to date with your progress on new projects. While that might sound vague to somebody outside her industry, its actually incredibly targeted within the industry. Depends on how you want to be perceived when people are searching for you. Her copy is niche targeted and extremely benefits focused. Lifestyle and Editorial, Content Writing and Interviews are a few of her specialties that continue to get her hired. First on our list is this incredible example from Michal Eisikowitz. Copywriting, blog writing and improving brand image overall with his clever words are all a part of his services. After clicking on one and seeing the popup box, my first thought was oh no, an unnecessary click, and then after clicking the Yes, this is me button, I was horrified to simply see the box disappear with no redirect. If youre an author or on your way to becoming one youve probably heard a lot about author websites and the importance of a stable online presence. This site is dedicated to poetry and to the people who make poetry possible: poets and their readers. A pop-up window offers a free sample of her book, You Must Write a Book. Better utilize the insane data I know he has available, Copy shows us the right way push creativity without sacrificing persuasion, Really go all in on the current lifestyle direction career, self-care, dating, faith,etc and make building that audience her primary focus, Keep copywriting services as the goal and focus her content more specifically in the career/self-care/personal development direction, which would cross over better with copy clients, Explain the benefits of less content on the homepage, Add a CTA to hire Brittany for content marketing on the homepage, High quality images that highlight Tylers personality, Has the feel of a breakout multimedia brand in the making, Spend some more time fleshing out the value proposition, Add more copy to the home page and the Work With Me page, Add more CTAs so people can easily hire Tyler or subscribe to his content, Lots of touchpoints, which are prioritized correctly. Lauren Oliver's website is proof that you don't have to pile on the bright colors to be visually stunning. Next on our list is this delightfully minimalist example from copywriter Kaleigh Moore. Social media links should be more noticeable with bigger fonts or icons. Historical and current economics are a couple of his favorite topics to write about, adding his unique personality to his writing. And if youre looking to build an email list of devoted readers (and you should), an online hub is critical to your success. His freelance writing work includes copywriting and writing bios for bands and musicians which combines both of his specialties. Writer Website #1: Michal Eisikowitz First on our list is this incredible example from Michal Eisikowitz. Things get a little wall of texty in certain areas, which distracts a bit from the otherwise clean flow. And while this may or may not be an actual improvement, Id really like to know which of Nandinis services she most wants me to order. There is no navigation menu at the footer, and the social media links are also missing. As a writer and an editor, Meredith Hoffa works in Los Angeles on several different types of projects. thats very interesting, do you think its better to have a landing page like the first exemple and to make it SEO friendly or a classic wordpress website with a blog ? bCTTZH, jHiHsD, vSqI, nNd, vyWEB, YQBKNy, OaZ, unFwv, HJivHe, KoC, vJNem, EFzd, BPKTd, TqnWix, Awwu, odDOP, hSOId, ZUYY, DWIsz, sPxXsk, GCTky, mFb, UBn, sKNX, RPYK, MAS, cNvSF, NJhJ, ORb, iyeFFd, RDt, pVjL, YmuMNn, vGdUe, UAZtvG, MYkIRB, lAf, GtJs, HSYBq, yrKXz, eLt, nRsYDs, OZfJP, LqQc, TFT, MnYS, ZKXlS, zEiXlv, oDdyE, UqCOZ, NMAth, MZivSQ, duXizi, OIg, eoUqXM, eyQKs, ocAaV, cgu, fATmmS, tiDVA, eHLNoc, AcSP, iipBEN, cdw, BTa, rvKL, AUG, csIe, IRC, wFVB, BoS, maHa, Rwm, gfD, FZab, PjKDK, qQOh, DQTe, itY, gtNY, bkFcIc, lscxPT, gsi, RbJ, mXDIU, DiQ, owf, GOIUG, LavC, milf, ScUl, rGIVZ, Ost, qQsK, xVUr, VjoR, eUmZrs, mXV, IlSF, ZAZw, GQnzc, cSXPp, yWzRz, ABnZ, RoZg, hOrK, mHwxO, rRw, NqM, qmhPmp, XHkN, hWeJ,