Launching an author site goes fastest when your book details are sitting in one folder before we start. Think covers, a short and a long bio, and the exact links where a reader can buy.
How the launch unfolds
Day 1-2: You send covers, bios and links, and we sketch the home page around your newest book.
Week 1: We build the books, about and events pages, and you check every title for typos and working buy links.
Week 2: You review the full draft on your phone, we fix small details and connect the contact form.
Launch: The site goes live, and a 48-hour launch is possible for eligible projects with content ready.
What to gather before you start
- ✓Cover files — Readers recognize a book by its cover, so we need the highest quality image you have for each title.
- ✓Short and long bio — A two-line version works for the home page and a fuller story fits the about page, and press often copies the short one.
- ✓Retailer and bookshop links — Every book should send readers somewhere real to buy, so collect the live addresses for each format.
- ✓Headshot — A clear, current photo makes you feel like a person rather than a name on a spine.
- ✓Event details — Dates, venues and registration links for any signings keep the events page useful from day one.
The first month after launch
In the first month, add a real photo from a recent event or your writing space, and update the events page after each appearance. Ask readers who enjoyed a book to leave a review on the retailer site, in their own words and through the retailer’s normal process. Check each buy link once to make sure it still works, and add your next release as soon as a cover exists.
Mistakes to avoid at launch
- ✓Buy links pointing to the wrong edition — readers land on an out-of-print or wrong-format page and give up
- ✓Using a long bio only — visitors skim past it and never reach the books
- ✓Forgetting to remove past events — the site looks neglected and readers wonder if you are still active
One example of what your site could look like
This is one sample we designed. Yours is built around your business, your photos and your words, and we have more examples if you want to compare directions.
What it costs
Websites are priced one-time by size, plus Website Care at $30/month for hosting, HTTPS, backups, weekly checks and A/B testing. Every package includes a consultation, mobile-friendly design, copy we write for you, a contact form, essential search setup and 10 revision rounds. Monthly SEO is an optional add-on when you are ready for it.
Optional add-ons, billed separately
The prices above are for your website. These two are separate monthly products you can add now or later. Neither is part of the website price.
Monthly SEO, from $50/month: new pages published on your site every month. See Monthly SEO →
Business Spotlight, from $30/month: articles about your business, labeled as paid, published on The Company Chronicle. See Business Spotlight →
How it works
1. Consultation
We learn your services, customers and goals, in English or Spanish.
2. We write and design
We draft the words and build the site around your business.
3. 10 revision rounds
You review and request changes until it is right.
4. Launch and care
We launch, then Website Care keeps it hosted, backed up, checked weekly and A/B tested.
Keep reading
Websites for authors · What a author website costs · What to send your designer · Plan your website
