Whether you have already written a book and are reaching for an audience or are still writing your first book, develop your website if you do not have a proprietary one.

Why develop your website?

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Your website is how you present yourself to readers and can continue to be in their sphere of awareness. It should be a major outreach of yours. You will mention it in the signature to your emails, on your blog, in guest posts, in podcasts, in newspaper or magazine articles, everywhere.

Here’s why an Amazon listing is absolutely not enough: Amazon buyers are Amazon customers. They are not yours. (When was the last time Amazon sent you the email of your book’s buyer?) I explain below how to circumvent Amazon and get some of those buyers on your mailing list.

Visitors to your website will deepen their awareness of what you offer them and perhaps grow to like and trust you. (Remember: reader actions are always about them and not you.)

You have to do your part to earn know, like and trust.

Six thoughts

Here are six thoughts that you can use to evaluate your existing website or design your new one. (I’m not going to go into making an attractive site. I’m presuming that is your given as it is mine.) Also, this list is merely a brief overview to get you going.

1. You need a reader (or lead) magnet. This is a giveaway that is significant enough for the reader to want in exchange for an email. The lead magnet can be many things. Here are three examples:

• a free course on how to write a book such as yours,
• a short story on the same subject as your book, an audio, or even
• the first chapter of your book.

This lead magnet is available to the reader who leaves an email. In this way, you are constantly collecting signatures. This lead magnet will be a major source of emails to build your mailing list.

2. Offer the magnet both at the beginning and at the end of your book. This is one way to get Amazon buyers to your website and lead magnet. In the hard copy, you include the printed URL while in the ebook you can have a live link. This will prompt some Amazon buyers to sign up for your lead magnet and consequently for your mailing list. (Alas, only a minority of buyers will do this, but it’s better than nothing.) A major access to your list will probably always be your website’s free magnet and newsletter offer.

So, be sure every book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and elsewhere has a give-away listed for you to collect emails from people who buy from these sites, etc. These emailers are now your customers, not only Amazon’s. You can now continue to email them for marketing purposes.

3. The sign-up must include a mention of a free subscription to your newsletter. (More on newsletters below.) A list allows you to contact fans/subscribers when a new book is available. You can offer your list a discount to boost sales or to announce special bundling. Otherwise, your fans need to keep checking Amazon. Most will forget. Not so with a regular email newsletter to remind them. You would need a web store to send them to and an electronic-payment set-up. Paypal is one such option.

4. Always include a contact link. Dialog with readers develops loyalty. There is no valid reason not to have contact info on our website. It can be included numerous times. In the top menu, in the bottom menu, within pages and blog posts.

5. Create a blog. A blog encourages readers to come back for more. Even a blog with short pieces can build loyalty. You can write about craft, the “making of” your book, personal matters that complement your book. (EG: using a recipe you have mentioned in your book to make a meal and serving it to guests.) Make sure you offer something of value.

6. Your newsletter is also a call to action. You can announce new books, run a “sale” and give your publishing news. A newsletter keeps you in the reader’s loop. Again, make sure you offer something of value. A newsletter can be more timely than a blog post.

In conclusion to how to develop your website

You are running a book business and must exploit the above possibilities which are foundational to a book business.