Website Must-Haves for Indie Authors (What You Actually Need to Sell Books)
Your author website is your home base. It’s where readers decide whether to trust you, follow you, join your email list, and ultimately buy your books.
The good news?
You don’t need a complicated or expensive site to make it work. You just need the right elements in the right places.
Here are the non-negotiable website must-haves for indie authors, plus tips to keep things simple and effective.
1. A Clear Homepage That Tells Readers Who You Are
You have about 5 seconds to answer these questions for a visitor:
Who are you?
What do you write?
Why should they care?
Your homepage should include:
A short, clear headline (genre + vibe)
Example: “Fantasy Romance for Readers Who Love Magic and Slow Burns”
A brief subheading explaining what readers will get
One main call-to-action (CTA)
Don’t include:
❌ Long personal backstories
❌ Multiple competing CTAs
❌ Generic “Welcome to my website” language
2. An Email List Sign-Up (With a Reader Magnet)
If you do nothing else, do this.
Social media can disappear overnight. Your email list is the only platform you own.
What works best:
A reader magnet tied directly to your books:
Bonus epilogue
Prequel novella
Deleted scenes
Exclusive short story
Simple opt-in form “above the fold” (top of website)
Example CTA:
“Get [this] free bonus story available only to subscribers.”
3. A Books Page That Makes Buying Easy
Your books page should remove friction, not create it.
Must-haves:
High-quality book covers
Short, compelling descriptions (not Amazon-length)
Clear buy buttons
Multiple retailer links if you’re published wide
Don’t make readers hunt for your books. Include clear buy now or read here type buttons.
4. An About Page That Connects (Not a Resume)
Readers don’t need your full publishing journey—they want to feel a connection.
Your About page should:
Speak directly to the reader
Share why you write what you write
Reflect your brand voice and genre
Good approach:
70% reader-focused
30% personal details
End the page with a CTA:
Join your email list
Explore your books
5. Strong Calls-to-Action (Tell People What to Do)
Every page of your website should point toward one primary action, such as:
Join your email list
Buy your book
Download a freebie
Use clear, benefit-driven buttons:
“Get the Free Story”
“Start the Series”
“Join My Reader List”
6. Mobile-Friendly Design (This Is Not Optional)
Most readers will visit your site on their phone.
Make sure:
Text is readable without zooming
Buttons are easy to tap
Images load quickly
Forms are short and simple
If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re losing readers and sales.
7. Social Proof & Credibility Signals
You don’t need hundreds of reviews—but you do need reassurance.
Add:
Review snippets
Bestseller badges (if applicable)
Media mentions or features
Reader testimonials
Even one or two quotes can make a big difference.
8. A Simple, Easy-to-Use Menu
Ideal menu structure:
Home
Books
About
Freebie / Join
Contact
That’s it.
More pages = more confusion.
9. Branding That Matches Your Genre
Your website should feel like your books.
Consider:
Genre-appropriate colors
Fonts that match tone (romance vs. thriller vs. fantasy)
Consistent imagery
If readers click your site and feel confused about your genre, they won’t stick around.
10. Analytics & Basic SEO Setup
You don’t need to be an SEO expert—but basics matter.
At minimum:
Google Analytics or similar tracking
Clear page titles and meta descriptions
Website Checklist for Indie Authors
✔ Clear homepage messaging
✔ Email list + reader magnet
✔ Easy-to-navigate books page
✔ Reader-focused About page
✔ Strong CTAs
✔ Mobile-friendly design
✔ Social proof
✔ Simple menu
✔ Genre-aligned branding
Need help setting up or maintaining your website? Let’s chat!