One-Book Website vs Full Author Website
Should you build a focused site for your book or a comprehensive author platform? Discover the 5 key factors that determine which approach will sell more books for your situation.
Why This Decision Matters
Authors often agonize over whether to build a website for their single book or create a broader author platform. The answer depends on your goals, your publishing plans, and where you are in your author journey. There is no universal right answer.
A one-book website, sometimes called a book microsite, focuses entirely on selling one title. Every element points toward that book: the design, the messaging, the calls to action. This laser focus can convert visitors into buyers more effectively than a general author site.
A full author website presents you as a professional author with space for multiple books, your bio, blog, and broader content. It positions you for a long-term career and makes adding future books seamless. But this broader scope can dilute attention from any single title.
Many successful authors start with a one-book site and expand later, or use both: a focused book site for their flagship title and a separate author hub. The key is understanding what serves your current situation best.
4 Mistakes When Choosing Your Website Type
1. Building for Books You Have Not Written Yet
Some authors build elaborate multi-book sites before finishing their first book. This wastes time and money on infrastructure you do not need yet. Build for what you have now. You can always expand when you have more books to showcase.
2. Hiding Your Book on a Busy Author Site
An author site with dozens of pages can bury your book among blog posts, events, and other content. If your primary goal is selling one book, visitors should see that book prominently within seconds of landing on any page.
3. Creating a Book Site When You Write in Multiple Genres
If you write romance and thrillers under the same name, a single book site for each might confuse readers. An author site with clear genre sections helps readers find books they will enjoy while keeping your brand cohesive.
4. Overcomplicating Your First Website
Your first author website does not need every feature imaginable. Start simple with clear pages that serve your immediate needs. A focused five-page site that converts is better than a sprawling twenty-page site that confuses visitors.
5 Factors to Guide Your Decision
1. How Many Books Do You Have?
If you have one book, a focused book website makes sense. All your marketing energy goes toward that single title. If you have three or more books, especially in a series, an author site helps readers discover your full catalog and increases overall sales through cross-promotion.
2. What Is Your Primary Goal?
If your main goal is selling one specific book, a focused site removes distractions. Every visitor sees that book immediately. If you want to establish yourself as an authority in your field, attract speaking gigs, or build a broader platform, an author site provides more room to showcase your expertise and credentials.
3. How Quickly Do You Need to Launch?
A one-book website is faster to create because the scope is limited. You need fewer pages and less content. If your book launches soon and you need a web presence quickly, a focused book site gets you online faster. An author site with blog, events, and multiple book pages takes more time to build properly.
4. What Is Your Budget?
A one-book website typically costs less because it requires fewer pages and simpler design. If budget is tight, start with a focused book site that does one thing well. You can always expand later when your book generates revenue. A comprehensive author site costs more upfront but may be more cost-effective long-term if you plan multiple books.
5. What Are Your Long-Term Publishing Plans?
If this is your only book and you do not plan to write more, a one-book site serves you perfectly. If you plan to write a series or multiple books in the same genre, an author site makes adding future titles seamless. Think about where you want to be in five years and build accordingly.
How to Decide and Move Forward
Assess Your Current Situation
Answer honestly: How many books do you have right now? What is your primary goal for the next 12 months? Do you have a launch deadline? What is your realistic budget? Your answers to these questions point toward the right choice.
Start Focused, Expand Later
When in doubt, start with a focused book website. It costs less, launches faster, and converts visitors to buyers effectively. You can always expand to a full author site once your book proves successful and you have more content to share. Starting simple is not settling - it is strategic.
Plan for Growth From Day One
Even if you choose a one-book site, set it up so expanding is easy. Use your author name in the domain if possible. Build email capture into every page. These foundations make transitioning to a full author site smoother when the time comes.
Get the Right Website for Your Book
Book Website Builder creates focused book websites that convert visitors into readers. Whether you need a single-book microsite or a foundation that can grow with your author career, we build what serves you best. Starting at €349.
Our Book Websites Include:
- Focused design that drives book sales
- Email capture to build your reader list
- Mobile-optimized for readers on any device
- SEO-ready to attract organic traffic
- Expandable structure for future growth
- Fast launch timeline to meet your deadlines
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start with a book website and expand to an author site later?
Absolutely. This is actually a common and smart approach. Start with a focused book site, prove your concept, and expand when you have more books or content to share. A well-built book site can easily grow into an author platform.
Should I use my name or book title for the domain?
If you plan to write more books, use your author name. It gives you flexibility to add future titles under the same domain. If this is truly a one-time project, a book title domain can work, but most authors are better served by building their name as the brand.
What if I write in multiple genres under different names?
Consider separate websites for each pen name if the genres are very different. A romance reader and a thriller reader have different expectations. Separate sites let you tailor the experience to each audience without confusing either.
How many pages does a one-book website need?
Five to seven pages typically cover everything: homepage, about the book, about the author, sample chapter or reviews, buy page, and contact. You do not need more to effectively sell one book. Quality beats quantity.
Is a book microsite good for SEO?
A focused book site can rank well for specific keywords related to your book and genre. The tight focus actually helps SEO because every page reinforces your topic. For broader author-related searches, an author site with more content has advantages.
Can I have both a book site and an author site?
Yes, some authors maintain both. A dedicated microsite for a flagship title and a broader author site that links to it. This works well if you have one breakout book that deserves focused attention while still maintaining your author brand separately.
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