No, of course, we don’t need websites – we don’t need social media accounts, we don’t need to do any marketing. There are no rules, it’s your brand, you can do whatever suits you. Some good things come from having a website, so I’ll tell you about them and see what you think.
A Hub for Your Work
A website can be a hub for your work – somewhere to display your book covers, synopses, and links to purchase your books.
You can print your bio, tell people about your writing journey and plenty of background information about you, maybe even a blog. It’s a place for your readers, promoters, fans and friends to get information from you, in your words.
Engage with Your Readers
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know how important I believe an author’s email list is, and a website gives you a place to collect the email addresses and keep the bank of your newsletters and mailshots. You can encourage sign ups with exclusive content, perks for subscribers, early access to new books and behind-the-scenes insights.
You can engage directly with your readers through comments on your blog, or even a forum for people to discuss your books.
Build Your Brand
A website helps you to establish your brand identity. You don’t need a website for this, of course, you can do it through your social media – but a website makes it easier!
And…Make Money
A website is a place where you can sell digital products – whether it’s full books, short stories, ebooks or even courses. You can also make money through affiliate marketing – either through promoting products or services to earn commission or by collaborating with brands on sponsored posts.
So yes, I think an author website is a valuable asset, but whether you need one or not, that’s up to you.
