You’re a writer. You’ve been to conferences, read reference books, and follow other successful writers. You keep to your writing schedule and create consistently, and are now thinking about looking for agents or reaching out to publishers. Or maybe you just signed your first contract (congrats!). Or you might be looking into the self-publishing route.

Do you really need an author website? Yes. Let’s talk about why.

But first, welcome to my new blog series: Pencil to Pixel, an author’s go-to guide for turning their writing life into a professional online author identity. In this series we will break down the basics of website design and author branding, without the tech-y overwhelm. You’ll get practical, design-savvy tips that will turn your writing life into a cohesive digital brand that works for you. 

Why Having a Website Still Matters in 2025

Do I think you need to be on every major platform and spend 10 hours a week posting, commenting, and blogging? No, I don’t. Your first priority is, and should always be, writing. But I do believe that to be taken seriously as a writer you need some kind of online presence. And though the mix of platforms depends on the writer, a website is a must for everyone. Especially in 2025. Having a dedicated author website tells people you are an author, not just a hobbyist. 

Being an author today means you need to do more than put great words to the page. You need to be searchable. Search engines are how readers and publishers find out more about you and what you have to say. An author website lays the foundation not just for your current project, but for where you want your writing career to go.  

A website also gives you a central hub for all your online efforts. You need a home base in the vast landscape that is the internet. Your own website is that home base. And you can decorate it however you want! 

Your author website gives readers a reason—and a place—to stick around.

What a Website Does That Social Media Can’t

Remember when everyone panicked when a certain popular social media platform was briefly taken offline a few months ago? Having your own website means it won’t disappear because of events you can’t control. 

You won’t need to play to an algorithm on your own website (we will talk SEO in a later post). You tell your story, your way. No need to dance or follow trends to catch people’s attention while scrolling. 

You control your message on your website, and guide visitors towards your goals—like joining a newsletter or buying your book. Social media is fleeting. Your website gives readers a reason—and a place—to stick around.

A Website Builds Trust

Remember the last time you heard about a product, business, or book and searched online for it? What did you do if you couldn’t find any other information? Chances are you moved on or assumed they weren’t legitimate. 

Having a website signals to potential readers and publishers that you are serious about your work and see yourself as a professional. 

Remember, your website sells more than just books. It sells you as an author, and gives readers a reason to listen and follow you.

When is the Right Time to Create One?

Ok, so you know you need an author website. When is it time to create one? The earlier the better. Even if you are still writing your first book, a simple website with contact info, your bio, links to your socials, and an email sign-up list signals to others that you are serious about publishing your work. Even if your publishing plans are still a ways out, having a professional, simple site to direct people to is a great first impression as you begin networking.

Building an author brand isn’t just about selling this book—it’s about making readers stick around for the next one. Selling one book is great. Building a brand that sells the next 10? Even better. A website is the foundation of that brand.

It Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

Your website doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. A website isn’t chiseled in stone; it can change with you over time depending on your needs. There is a lot of advice and information out there about what your website should be. Yes, there are details you need to keep in mind, but overcomplicating and trying to create something you may not need yet will overwhelm you.

Ready to hire a designer? Great! Working with a shoe-string budget and want to try DIY? Also perfectly fine. Over the next few posts in this series we will talk about different tools and options for how to build your first author website on a variety of budgets. We will deep-dive into options for a starter site, and will talk about things you can do when you’re ready to grow.

Subscribe to my newsletter to get notified when the next post in the series is published! In the meantime, keep writing. An amazing author website won’t do much good if you aren’t writing anything.