If this is your first time getting an author website built, it helps to know that author sites are different from a typical business website. You don’t just need someone who can design pages, you need someone who actually understands how authors sell books and build an audience.
Here’s what to check before hiring anyone:
Look at their past author website work. Ask to see other author or writer sites they’ve built. Someone who mostly does restaurant or real estate sites might not get what a book launch page or an author bio needs to accomplish.
Ask about book and marketing features. A good author site needs book pages, a newsletter signup, a blog, and links to retailers like Amazon. Find out how they plan to set these up, not just whether they can.
Check if they understand basic SEO. A beautiful site is pointless if it can’t be found. Ask how they approach search visibility so new readers can actually discover you.
Make sure it’s mobile friendly. Most people browse from their phones now, so the site needs to look and work well on any screen size.
Get clarity on communication and timelines. Ask upfront how long the project will take and what the revision process looks like. This saves a lot of frustration later.
Ask for reviews or references. Try to talk to a past client if you can. Their experience will tell you more than any portfolio piece.
Ask about support after launch. Websites need updates and small fixes over time, so find out if ongoing support is included or how it’s billed.
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