Author Websites- Best Template? Hosting?

[Writerofghosts]

Sorry if this is in the wrong location. I could not find an exact match for my question. I've heard a website and Facebook page are the minimum. Especially if self-publishing. I've started to research ideas. Like anything it's a little overwhelming. Domain name, building, hosting, email service, etc.

I'm leaning toward WordPress and having a GoDaddy host. I watched a great video and they are offered as a package at a nice discount. Does anyone have experience making a turnkey website, who you used etc...I'm just hoping for a nice background and place for me to post short stories, YouTube clips, and other things related to my eventual book.

Thx!

 

[Al X.]

You can't go wrong with Wordpress (I used Squarespace, which is similar.) It's easy to use, and pretty much has most if not all of the features you need in an author website.

There are some disadvantages. They aren't portable, so you can't move the code over to another web hosting service and have it work. And secondly, at least with Squarespace, you can't save multiple versions.

You might consider having a Fiverr web designer set you up, and you take over afterwards using whatever web development software they are using. I probably would use that approach if I were setting one up right now, but I'm happy enough with my Squarespace site.

 

[Maryn]

I'm going to scoot this sideways to Blogs. Not a perfect match, but closer to what the OP is after, since those who blog use websites and may design their own. With luck you'll get more eyes on it there.

Hands inside the thread, everybody!

 

[Violeta]

Hi!

I'm not well-versed in website building, but my sister is (she built a website for me a while back) and she told me to tell you that GoDaddy isn't the best option for hosting, and she recommends that you stay away from them, or any other EIG owned hosting platforms such as Bluehost (people recommend them left and right for the affiliate commission but the service is really questionable). She uses and recommends namecheap . com for small websites and domains (they give you domain privacy protection for free!), or kinsta . com for hosting if your budget allows.

As for building your website, she says you chose well when picking Wordpress. It's the best option and it makes it easy to change hosts down the line if you need to, without having to rebuild your website from scratch.

You're going to need a website theme. You can buy one online that you like, but I recommend you pick one that is built for Elementor (a wordpress website builder plugin) because it's going to be sooo much easier to customize to your liking! Elementor itself has basic themes, but they don't look too nice haha. My sister recently changed her website theme to use one from Bluchic . com and she couldn't be happier. They have beautiful themes you can customize and if you don't want to install it yourself, they offer installation services too. But it's easy to do on your own, they have step by step guides (according to her). With Bluchic themes you're going to need Elementor but the free plugin is enough. The themes are paid though, but so worth it, cause they save a ton of time and headaches if you're not a designer.

In terms of email service, to have your own domain email, use Google Workspace. It's like gmail but for your own domain and it's very easy to set up.

If what you meant by email service is a platform to collect email subscribers and send them newsletters, she recommends Mailerlite or ConvertKit (they both have a free plan!).

If you have any questions, let me know and I'll ask my sister

Good luck!

 

[Snowstorm]

I’m thinking of going with Square. You can open an account, which comes with a free website. I’ve built one for a non-profit organization. It’s easy to set up, has multiple pages (for different books), and you can make buttons with links for people to buy your books with a credit card. You can also download an app for your CP to run a credit card.

 

[Writerofghosts]

You can't go wrong with Wordpress (I used Squarespace, which is similar.) It's easy to use, and pretty much has most if not all of the features you need in an author website.

There are some disadvantages. They aren't portable, so you can't move the code over to another web hosting service and have it work. And secondly, at least with Squarespace, you can't save multiple versions.

You might consider having a Fiverr web designer set you up, and you take over afterwards using whatever web development software they are using. I probably would use that approach if I were setting one up right now, but I'm happy enough with my Squarespace site

Hi!

I'm not well-versed in website building, but my sister is (she built a website for me a while back) and she told me to tell you that GoDaddy isn't the best option for hosting, and she recommends that you stay away from them, or any other EIG owned hosting platforms such as Bluehost (people recommend them left and right for the affiliate commission but the service is really questionable). She uses and recommends namecheap . com for small websites and domains (they give you domain privacy protection for free!), or kinsta . com for hosting if your budget allows.

As for building your website, she says you chose well when picking Wordpress. It's the best option and it makes it easy to change hosts down the line if you need to, without having to rebuild your website from scratch.

You're going to need a website theme. You can buy one online that you like, but I recommend you pick one that is built for Elementor (a wordpress website builder plugin) because it's going to be sooo much easier to customize to your liking! Elementor itself has basic themes, but they don't look too nice haha. My sister recently changed her website theme to use one from Bluchic . com and she couldn't be happier. They have beautiful themes you can customize and if you don't want to install it yourself, they offer installation services too. But it's easy to do on your own, they have step by step guides (according to her). With Bluchic themes you're going to need Elementor but the free plugin is enough. The themes are paid though, but so worth it, cause they save a ton of time and headaches if you're not a designer.

In terms of email service, to have your own domain email, use Google Workspace. It's like gmail but for your own domain and it's very easy to set up.

If what you meant by email service is a platform to collect email subscribers and send them newsletters, she recommends Mailerlite or ConvertKit (they both have a free plan!).

If you have any questions, let me know and I'll ask my sister

Good luck!

Thanks for all that great info. I heard the same about GoDaddy. I'm talking with someone now about helping build one but you gave tons of great info for me and anyone else.

 

[Nether]

Sorry if this is in the wrong location. I could not find an exact match for my question. I've heard a website and Facebook page are the minimum. Especially if self-publishing. I've started to research ideas. Like anything it's a little overwhelming. Domain name, building, hosting, email service, etc.

Ideally, you should have an account created on each major social media platform, even if you don't use them. And then all of them can link to wherever your website is (or your blog or primary social)

You don't need to do email right away. And you arguably don't even need a custom domain, although it helps with perception when self-pubbing.

I'm leaning toward WordPress and having a GoDaddy host.

I've used WordPress for other people, it's not terrible. However, I've heard enough bad things about GoDaddy that I'd never trust them.

A lot of the web design services are fairly comparable. You'd just want to make sure you have back-ups of everything just in case.

Honestly, you don't really need much for an author site unless you're playing around with SEO. There are probably any number of free options with a premium for changing the domain that'll work. And I'd argue a custom domain is mostly just useful if you're driving traffic from offline sources since if you're using a link, the URL isn't going to make that much difference.

And, if somebody is looking for you via search, it shouldn't take much optimization to be found by your branded keywords (ie, your author name, your book titles, etc), unless you have generic branded KWs.

 

[worrdz]

GoDaddy can be a really cr@ppy company. They used to run gross sexist advertising, which got them a lifetime ban from me just on principle. The SaaS company that's my day job uses them for domain registration and e-mail hosting, and they have screwed up various aspects of that more than once. Personally, I would run away from them as fast as I could.

If you use WordPress and build your own site, as opposed to going with Squarespace or Wix or their ilk, you can move that site from one host to another with a plug-in such as All-In-One WordPress Migration (my fave).

I understand the attraction of a site building source such as Squarespace or Wix for point-and-click development, but in my experience, sites built on their platforms tend to run slow because of the amount of code that site builder software introduces. The same can hold true for Beaver Builder, Elementor, and WP Bakery, which run in WordPress as freemium (i.e., free version that entices you to pay by the year for premium version) plug-ins.

I use DreamHost, which offers free site privacy and as many e-mail addresses as you need, among other things. They have a one-click setup for the basic WordPress code. Add your theme and plugins, and off you go.

Have a look at the combination of the GeneratePress theme and GenerateBlocks. Lots of really nice starter designs, and bar none, hands down, THE BEST customer support I ever have seen. Tom Usborne started the company based on his vision of what a WP theme could be, and they are just the best software/internet-related resource imaginable.

ETA: Parts of this are IMNSVHO and YMMV. Based on my experience, which may not be the same as everyone else's, etc.