How to create an author website with WordPress

Creating an author website using WordPress is a fantastic way to establish your online presence, showcase your work, and connect with readers. WordPress offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of customizable themes and plugins, making it an ideal platform for authors. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create an author website with WordPress:

Step 1: Choose a domain name and web hosting provider

First, you need to select a domain name that represents your brand or author name. Keep it concise, memorable, and easy to spell. Next, choose a reliable web hosting provider that supports WordPress installation. Popular hosting providers include Godaddy, SiteGround, and DreamHost.

Step 2: Install WordPress

Most web hosting providers offer a one-click WordPress installation option. Log in to your hosting account, find the WordPress installation option, and follow the instructions to install WordPress on your domain.

Step 3: Select a WordPress theme

WordPress provides a vast library of free and premium themes but our own Author WP theme provides a great starting point and pairs perfectly with our plugin.

Step 4: Customise your theme

Once you’ve installed a theme, you can customise its appearance and layout to match your vision. Access the customisation options by going to “Appearance” > “Customise.” Here, you can modify settings such as site identity, header, colours, typography, and more. Experiment with different options until you achieve a design that reflects your author brand.

Step 5: Create essential pages

Every author website should have certain key pages. Start with the following:

• Home: The homepage is where visitors land when they first visit your website. Make it engaging and inviting, with a clear introduction to your work and a visually appealing layout.
• About: Introduce yourself and share your author journey. Include information about your background, writing style, and any awards or accolades. Let readers get to know you on a personal level.
• Books: Create a page dedicated to showcasing your books. Include high-quality images of your book covers, brief descriptions, and links to purchase them. You can also provide excerpts or sample chapters to entice readers.
• Blog: If you plan to blog, create a page to display your blog posts. Regularly publishing articles on topics related to your writing can help attract readers and improve your website’s SEO.
• Contact: Make it easy for readers, media, and potential collaborators to get in touch with you. Include a contact form or provide your email address and social media links.

Step 6: Install essential plugins

Plugins add functionality to your website. Here are some essential plugins for an author website:

• Author WP: Effortlessly manage your books, centralised book review management and seamless retailer integration.
• Yoast SEO: Helps optimize your website for search engines and improves your chances of ranking higher in search results.
• Akismet: Protects your website from spam comments.
• Jetpack: Offers various features, including site statistics, social sharing buttons, contact forms, and more.
• UpdraftPlus: Performs automatic backups of your website to safeguard your content.

To install plugins, go to “Plugins” > “Add New” within your WordPress dashboard and search for the desired plugin. Once installed, activate and configure each plugin according to your preferences.

Step 7: Add high-quality content

Now that your website structure is in place, it’s time to add compelling content. Write engaging and informative pages for your website, including well-crafted book descriptions, blog posts, and author updates. Use eye-catching images and multimedia elements to enhance your content.

Step 8: Optimise for SEO

Search engine optimisation (SEO) helps your website rank higher in search engine results, making