Your author website doesn’t need to be flashy or complicated. It needs to help readers discover your books, learn about you and find the information they’re looking for quickly and easily. However, there are some common mistakes on author websites that can prevent your site from achieving these goals.
After designing websites for authors for many years, I’ve noticed that the same mistakes appear again and again. The good news is that most of them are easy to fix.
Here are some of the most common mistakes authors make on their websites—and what to do instead.
1. The latest book is hard to find
This is probably the most common mistake.
A visitor arrives on your website because they’ve heard about your newest novel, but they have to search through menus or scroll halfway down the page before they find it.
A better approach
Make your latest book one of the first things visitors see on your homepage.
Include:
- The cover.
- A short description.
- A clear button linking to the book’s page.
- A “Buy the Book” or “Find Out More” button.
Your newest book should always be easy to spot.
2. There isn’t a clear author biography
Readers are often interested in the person behind the books.
Some author biographies are extremely short, while others are several pages long.
A better approach
Write a biography that tells readers:
- Who you are.
- What you write.
- Where you’re based (if relevant).
- What inspired your writing.
- Any interesting background connected with your books.
Keep it friendly and easy to read, and include a professional author photograph.
3. Every book is on one long page
As your catalogue grows, one page containing every book quickly becomes difficult to navigate.
A better approach
Give each book its own page.
Each page can include:
- Cover image.
- Description.
- Publication details.
- Reviews.
- Awards.
- Buying links.
- Background or inspiration for the book.
This makes the website easier for readers to use and gives each book its own home on your website.
4. There is no obvious way to buy the books
Don’t assume readers know where to buy your books.
A better approach
Include clear buttons linking to retailers or your preferred purchasing options.
For example:
- Amazon
- Waterstones
- Bookshop.org
- Your publisher
- Local independent bookshops (where appropriate)
Make the buttons easy to find on every book page.
5. The homepage contains too much information
It’s tempting to put everything on the homepage.
The result is often a page that’s overwhelming.
A better approach
Think of your homepage as an introduction.
It should answer three questions within a few seconds:
- Who is this author?
- What do they write?
- Where do I go next?
Use links to guide visitors to your books, biography, blog and newsletter.
6. The website hasn’t been updated for years
An outdated website sends the wrong message.
Common examples include:
- “Upcoming event” from three years ago.
- A previous book described as the “latest novel”.
- Old contact details.
- Broken links.
- Expired competitions.
A better approach
Review your website every few months and give it a thorough check once a year.
Keep:
- Books current.
- Events current.
- Biography up to date.
- Reviews and awards updated.
- Contact information accurate.
Your website should grow with your writing career.
7. There is no newsletter sign-up
Your website is the perfect place to invite readers to stay in touch.
Many authors miss this opportunity completely.
A better approach
Include a newsletter sign-up form somewhere easy to find, such as:
- Homepage.
- About page.
- Blog sidebar or footer.
- Book pages.
Tell readers what they’ll receive and how often you’ll email them.
8. There is no blog or useful content
A website containing only book pages gives readers little reason to return.
A better approach
Publish occasional articles about subjects your readers genuinely find interesting.
Ideas include:
- Research behind your novels.
- Writing process.
- Historical background.
- Characters.
- Publishing experiences.
- Reader questions.
- Book recommendations.
You don’t need to blog every week. One useful article each month is far better than lots of rushed posts.
9. The website is difficult to use on a phone
Many readers visit author websites from their phones after seeing a social media post or newsletter.
A better approach
Check your website regularly on a mobile phone.
Make sure:
- Text is readable.
- Menus are easy to use.
- Buttons are easy to tap.
- Images resize correctly.
- Pages load quickly.
A mobile-friendly website is essential today.
10. Images are too large
Beautiful photographs are wonderful—but huge image files can make pages slow.
A better approach
Resize and optimise images before uploading them.
This helps pages load faster, particularly on mobile devices.
11. There isn’t a clear contact page
Readers, event organisers, journalists and book clubs all need a way to contact you.
A better approach
Create a dedicated contact page.
Include:
- Contact form.
- Email address (if appropriate).
- Literary agent or publisher contact (if relevant).
- Social media links.
Make it easy for people to get in touch.
12. The navigation menu is confusing
Too many menu items can make a website feel cluttered.
A better approach
Keep your main menu simple.
A typical author website might include:
- Home
- About
- Books
- Blog
- Events
- Contact
Everything else can usually sit beneath these sections.
13. The website doesn’t explain what kind of books you write
Don’t assume visitors already know your genre.
A better approach
Say it clearly on the homepage and biography page.
For example:
Jane Smith writes historical fiction set in Victorian England.
or
David Jones is the author of contemporary psychological thrillers.
This helps readers immediately decide whether your books are for them.
14. There are no internal links
Many websites contain useful pages that are never connected together.
A better approach
Link naturally between related pages.
For example:
- Blog articles link to books.
- Book pages link to blog articles.
- Biography links to latest book.
- Newsletter page links to blog.
This helps visitors discover more of your website.
15. The website is all about selling
Readers don’t necessarily want every page to tell them to buy a book.
A better approach
Provide value first.
Share interesting stories, research, writing experiences and useful information.
Your books can be mentioned naturally throughout the website without every page becoming an advertisement.
16. Broken links and missing pages
Nothing frustrates visitors more than clicking a link that doesn’t work.
A better approach
Occasionally test:
- Buy buttons.
- Contact forms.
- Social media links.
- Newsletter sign-up.
- External links.
Fix any broken links as soon as you find them.
17. No clear call to action
Visitors shouldn’t have to guess what you’d like them to do next.
A better approach
Each important page should encourage one next step.
Examples include:
- Read more about this book.
- Join my newsletter.
- Read the latest blog article.
- View all my books.
- Get in touch.
Keep calls to action simple and relevant.
18. Forgetting about AI search
People increasingly ask AI assistants questions instead of typing keywords into Google.
Your website should help answer those questions.
A better approach
Create pages and blog articles that answer genuine reader questions.
For example:
- How accurate is historical fiction?
- What inspired this novel?
- How do authors research crime fiction?
- What order should I read this series in?
Useful articles help readers—and give search engines and AI systems a better understanding of your website.
A quick author website checklist
Ask yourself these questions:
- Is my latest book immediately visible?
- Does every book have its own page?
- Is my biography current?
- Can visitors easily contact me?
- Can readers join my newsletter?
- Does the website work well on mobile?
- Are my buy buttons working?
- Are my events current?
- Do I have useful blog content?
- Does the website clearly explain what I write?
If you can answer “yes” to most of these, you’re in good shape.
Final thoughts
The best author websites aren’t necessarily the most elaborate. They’re the ones that make life easy for readers.
A visitor should be able to arrive on your website and immediately understand:
- Who you are.
- What you write.
- Which book to read next.
- How to keep in touch.
A well-designed website should quietly support your writing career in the background, making it easy for readers, journalists, event organisers and booksellers to find the information they need.
The good news is that almost all of these common mistakes can be fixed without rebuilding your website from scratch. A few thoughtful improvements can make a surprising difference.
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