Writer’s Guild: Benefits of An Author’s Website

Original Content | 7/29/2025 | By Laz A. Mataz

[Lazamataz]

When I finished and published my first novel, it became apparent to me that an Author’s Website was important. I set about creating mine.

What are the benefits of an Author’s Website?

• It shows professionalism and dedication to prospective agents, publishers, event coordinators, journalists, and your readers. An agent or a publisher is far more likely to become interested in your novel if you demonstrate that you are dedicated to your craft. A website will confirm your dedication.
• You have full control over your brand and the presentation of your work. Even if social media or retail outlets remove or cancel your work, the website ensures your internet presence will persist.
• It serves as a wonderful place to showcase your work. Short stories, blog posts, and planned releases can be centrally located there, allowing a reader a much more immersive experience that demonstrates your writing style, and can entice new readers.
• It can attract new readers. If you optimize your search engine visibility, people who are searching for your type of literature may come across your website.

The quality of your writing must be your cornerstone, but without effective marketing, even the best work will wither on the vine. An Author’s Website is an important component of that marketing strategy.

I’ve created an Author’s website, and below are images that show how I laid mine out. I’m only going to show the index (first) page:

Note the items I have included:

• A menu bar that allows a user to navigate between the various pages, including the Home page, a page that contains short stories I have written, a biography of myself, a blog page where articles like this will appear, a contact form, and a page for other authors that I know and admire.
• A short entry about myself.
• A place where my current novel is featured. I’ve included links, to the right, to the best reviews. I made sure to place a button there to allow a user to easily get a copy of the novel.
• A gallery of the novels I have written. Only one exists at this time, but I plan a sequel, and that is represented in the gallery.
• A place to sign up for the newsletter that, while not yet launched, will be coming soon.
• A place to see all my latest blog posts. Only one post exists at this time, and the posts will be geared towards new writers.
• The footer contains a menu copy, a copyright notice, and icons (not yet active) for sharing on social media.

There are a few places where I add a little humor. For example, try to submit me a contact without completing the Captcha step. 😂😂😂

I also ensured that this website is ‘responsive’, that is, that it will render both on computers and portable devices (such as an Android phone.

An Author’s website is important. If you intend to be serious about your craft, I highly recommend you invest the time (or the money, if you are not website-design savvy) to create one!

Happy writing!

[Lazamataz]

Neat. I admire Mr. Pournelle.

Plus, you get 10 points for using ‘neologism’ in a sentence. 😂😂😂

[Lazamataz]

Good work!

[Lazamataz]

Thank you! Did you try the Easter Egg in there yet? Submitting a contact form without doing the "I am not a robot" Captcha? 😂😂😂

I guess HitsvilleUSA was already taken huh? :)

Here, let me check... no, still available!

[Krosan]

Figured this one doesn't look right.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You should add the feature that author Janet Evanovich uses to draw traffic to her site; she lets people yap on about, and post pictures of, their pets!

J/K Looks nice. Never a doubt that you’ll go far. :)

[Lazamataz]

Try again. This page. Refresh the cache (ctrl-reload)

https://lazpublishing.com/bio.html

[Lazamataz]

I love it! A pet area! I just might!!!! LOL

[Krosan]

Worked!

[Lazamataz]

That’s a little closer to what I actually look like.

[FNU LNU]

Can anyone give me advice on what to do when someone in a foreign country that honors USA copyrights violates one - even to the extent of translating one of his books into a foreign language and adding his own notes to the text?

Who do I report violations to?

Thanks in advance.

[gwjack]

Thank you Mr. Laz. I am a (now) published author that has written non fiction and fiction. I have many more on my mental whiteboard. I resisted a site, but to avail myself of mailerlite and bookfunnel, it is almost a mandatory necessity.

Gwjack

[teeman8r]

well stated and well executed.

[Lazamataz]

Can anyone give me advice on what to do when someone in a foreign country that honors USA copyrights violates one - even to the extent of translating one of his books into a foreign language and adding his own notes to the text? Who do I report violations to? Thanks in advance.

I cannot advise in this arena, I am not an attorney, especially one who specializes in copywrite law. I know one, though, and will relay his thoughts.

[Lazamataz]

Thank you Mr. Laz. I am a (now) published author that has written non fiction and fiction. I have many more on my mental whiteboard. I resisted a site, but to avail myself of mailerlite and bookfunnel, it is almost a mandatory necessity.

It really is. It demonstrates your dedication to various people, and is a fun place for them to go.

[Openurmind]

I have to admit that I cheat a bit and find a good open source script as a base and adapt it and fine tune it to what I want.

This is an option that might also make it easier for some who want to create a site but do not have all the technical skills to completely write their own from scratch.

This way 90% of the work is already done for them. That source is nice, it is pretty and clean like it should be. I’ll have to look into Bootstrap Studio. I am now curious if it will let you opt out of the Google scripts. I refuse to use them myself... :)

[Krosan]

The feature I have found most useful is if the author’s website has images of maps of their world.

I mostly read on an e-reader, and they can’t display maps in a normal manner.

[rlmorel]

Thank you for the ping, Laz!

I will check it out...:)

[Lurker]

Well done, old friend.

L

[FNU LNU]

Thanks, Laz, for your response. I look forward to seeing your attorney friend’s thoughts.

[Krosan]

What country? If it is Canada their Writers Union helps Americans too.