Once an author decides a website is worth building, the next question is almost always the same: what actually needs to go on it? This is where sites often go wrong in one of two directions — either too thin to be useful, or bloated with pages nobody will ever visit. This guide sets out the core pages a website genuinely benefits from, what belongs on each one, and which pages most authors can safely skip.
This is a cornerstone guide in our [author website, SEO and email](/resources/book-sales-growth) run of articles, and it is worth returning to as a reference whenever you add or revise a page, rather than treating it as a one-off checklist.
The core pages most author websites need
- Home — a clear, quick introduction to who you are and what you write
- About — supports reader and media interest without becoming a full autobiography
- Books — an overview of everything you have published, linking to individual book pages
- Individual book page — cover, description, formats, retailer links and, where relevant, sample or reviews
- Newsletter — a clear sign-up, ideally reachable from more than one page
- Contact — a simple way for readers, media or event organisers to reach you
Beyond this core, a series page, media/press page or events page is worth adding only where genuinely relevant: if you write a series, if you have real speaking or press interest, or if you run or attend events regularly.
What you do not need
Myth
“A serious author website needs twenty pages.”
Reality
A handful of well-built pages that each do a clear job serve readers and search visibility better than many thin, half-finished ones.
Myth
“Every author site needs a daily or weekly blog.”
Reality
A blog is only worth running if you plan to write it consistently and it interests genuine readers. An abandoned blog can look worse than no blog at all.
- A shop, unless you genuinely sell signed copies or merchandise directly
- A forum or comments system, which usually goes unused and needs moderation
- A blog kept "just in case", with no real plan to update it
- Multiple near-duplicate pages covering the same information
Home page content
A good author home page communicates, within a few seconds, who you are, what you write, your featured or current book, where to buy or read more, and how to stay connected. It should not try to explain everything about your career in one screen; that is what the about and books pages are for.
Home page essentials
- A clear statement of who you are and what you write
- Your current or featured book, prominently placed
- A visible route to buy or find out more
- A visible route to the newsletter sign-up
- Uncluttered layout that works on a phone screen
Individual book page content
Each book deserves its own page, not just a shared entry on a books list. This is where a reader who is genuinely interested makes their decision, so it is worth treating with the same care as the retailer description.
What a book page should include
- Cover image
- Title and subtitle, matching what appears on retailers
- A clear, honest description
- Available formats
- Direct retailer links
- Genuine reviews or quotes, where you have permission to use them
- A sample or excerpt, where rights allow
- Series information, if relevant
- Related books, if you have more than one
- A next step: newsletter sign-up or link to another book
About page content
An about page should support reader and media interest, not read as a full autobiography. What belongs here differs by genre: a fiction author’s bio usually focuses on writing background and influences; a memoir author’s bio may need to say more about the lived experience behind the book; a business or non-fiction author’s bio often needs to establish credibility on the book’s subject.
Example
Imagine three authors: a fantasy novelist, a memoirist writing about grief, and a business author writing about negotiation. The novelist’s about page might focus on genre influences and other books; the memoirist’s might briefly explain the personal context without retelling the whole book; the business author’s might lead with relevant professional experience before anything personal.
Media page, where relevant
A media or press page is useful where you have genuine media or speaking objectives: it can include a short bio, a headshot, book covers, a press contact, key book information, approved assets for reuse, and speaking topics if these are genuine. If you have no media or speaking ambitions, this page is safe to skip until you do.
Author website content planner
| Page | Purpose | Reader action | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | Quick orientation | Explore books or sign up | Essential |
| About | Build trust and interest | Read on to books or contact | Essential |
| Books | Overview of your work | Click through to a title | Essential |
| Individual book page | Persuade and route to purchase | Buy via retailer link | Essential |
| Newsletter | Capture ongoing contact | Sign up | Essential |
| Contact | Enable enquiries | Send a message | Essential |
| Series page | Orient series readers | Find reading order | If relevant |
| Media/press | Support press and events | Download assets, get in touch | If relevant |
| Events | Promote appearances | Attend or book | If relevant |
| Blog/resources | Ongoing content | Return and engage | Only if genuinely planned |
Private worksheet
Author website content planner
Use this to decide, page by page, what your site genuinely needs and in what order to build it. Nothing here is scored.
Your answers stay in this browser tab only. Nothing is scored, sent or saved to an account.
Practical actions
- 1
List every book you need a page for
Start with the essentials before deciding on anything optional.
- 2
Draft the home and about pages first
These frame everything else a visitor sees.
- 3
Add the newsletter sign-up before launch
Do not treat it as an afterthought once the rest is built.
- 4
Add optional pages only when the need is real
Media, series and events pages should reflect genuine plans, not aspiration.
Common mistakes
- Building pages nobody will visit. A shop, forum or unused blog adds maintenance without adding value.
- Skipping individual book pages in favour of one shared list. Each book deserves its own space to make its case properly.
- Forgetting the newsletter sign-up. This is the highest-value single addition and easy to omit if you rush the build.
- Writing an about page as a full autobiography. Keep it focused on what supports reader or media interest in the book.
- Adding a media page with nothing genuine behind it. An empty or generic press page does not create media interest that does not already exist.
Frequently asked questions
How many pages does an author website need?
Usually five or six core pages: home, about, books, individual book pages, newsletter and contact. More is only useful where genuinely relevant.
Do I need a blog on my author website?
Only if you plan to write it consistently and it interests genuine readers; an abandoned blog is not better than no blog.
What is the most important single addition to a website?
A visible, working newsletter sign-up, since it is one of the hardest things to add value to retroactively once a visitor has already left.
Do I need a media page if I never do press or events?
No, it is safe to skip until you have genuine media or speaking objectives.
Should each book have its own page, or one shared books list?
Both: a books page as an overview, and a dedicated page for each individual book with its own description and links.