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Build Your Author Website - Easy with WordPress

Jason Link

Create an author website that turns online visitors into long term readers and fans.

Many courses teach how to create a generic website. But as an author, you need something more than just a generic website.

You need a website that promotes your author platform. A website that builds your audience and sells books.

This course teaches you how to build a strong platform-promoting website.

Some of you might be thinking, "But I'm an author, not a web designer. How can I possibly create a website?"

Don't worry. I'll take you step-by-step through the whole process.

No experience necessary.

Read more

Create an author website that turns online visitors into long term readers and fans.

Many courses teach how to create a generic website. But as an author, you need something more than just a generic website.

You need a website that promotes your author platform. A website that builds your audience and sells books.

This course teaches you how to build a strong platform-promoting website.

Some of you might be thinking, "But I'm an author, not a web designer. How can I possibly create a website?"

Don't worry. I'll take you step-by-step through the whole process.

No experience necessary.

We'll be using tools like Wordpress and Brizy that make the process super easy and provide your site with a professional look.

We start with a blank slate, and when we finish, you'll have a website that will build your audience and sell your books.

What do you get out of making your own author website?

  • Save money - you don't have to pay a web developer

  • Get the custom look you want

  • You're in control of the changes made to your website 

All of these benefits can be yours. And it's so easy to do once you know the process.

So enroll now to get started on making your very own author website.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Create a website that promotes your books
  • Turn website visitors into readers and long term fans
  • Use wordpress and brizy to build your website
  • Design your website to show off your personal author brand
  • Get your domain name and web hosting

Syllabus

Introduction
What an Author Site Does
Getting Started
Section Intro
Read more
Getting Your Author Domain Name
Web Hosting
Setting Your Site Up for Style
Your Site's Color Scheme
Picking a Theme
Creating Your Header Image
Essential Components to Your site
Creating a Menu and Pages
Setting Up Your Email List
Getting the Right Plugins
Designing Your Home Page
What Your Home Page Does
Block 1: Header Image and Menu
Block 2: Books
Block 3: Lead Magnet
Block 4: Mini-bio
Block 5: Footer
Home Page Adjustments
Designing Your About Page
Do Authors Need Blogs?
What Your About Page Should Do
Testimonials
Featuring Your Books
Book Page (Individual Book)
Books Page (All Your Books)
What If You Don't Have Any Books Yet?
Connecting with Your Visitors
Creating an Email Account for Your Website
Contact Page
Email Signup Page
Setting Up Your Blog
What You Can Blog About
Changing Your Blog Theme
Modifying Your Blog Page
Writing a Blog Post
Blast Off!
Launch Your Site
Jetpack & Security
Congratulations!

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Build Your Author Website - Easy with WordPress with these activities:
Review WordPress Basics
Refamiliarize yourself with WordPress fundamentals to ensure a smooth learning experience during the course.
Browse courses on Wordpress
Show steps
  • Watch introductory videos on WordPress.
  • Explore the WordPress dashboard.
  • Create a practice post and page.
Review 'WordPress for Dummies'
Gain a broader understanding of WordPress functionality and terminology to better grasp the course content.
View Wordpress All-in-One for Dummies (For Dummies... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on WordPress installation and setup.
  • Review the sections on themes and plugins.
  • Familiarize yourself with the WordPress dashboard.
Brainstorm Website Content
Plan the content for your author website to streamline the design process during the course.
Show steps
  • List your books and relevant information.
  • Draft a short author bio.
  • Gather testimonials and reviews.
  • Outline potential blog topics.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Draft Author Bio
Craft a compelling author bio to use on your website, enhancing your author platform.
Show steps
  • Research successful author bios.
  • Write a draft highlighting your achievements and personality.
  • Get feedback from peers and revise.
Review 'The Author Website Blueprint'
Deepen your understanding of author website best practices and strategies.
View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on website design and branding.
  • Study the examples of successful author websites.
  • Apply the principles to your own website plan.
Explore Advanced WordPress Plugins
Learn about advanced WordPress plugins to enhance your website's functionality and features.
Show steps
  • Research plugins for SEO, social media integration, and email marketing.
  • Watch tutorials on installing and configuring these plugins.
  • Experiment with different plugin settings.
Write a Sample Blog Post
Practice writing blog posts to engage your audience and promote your books.
Show steps
  • Choose a topic relevant to your books or author brand.
  • Write a blog post with a clear structure and engaging content.
  • Optimize the post for SEO and readability.
Analyze Competitor Websites
Study successful author websites in your genre to identify effective design and content strategies.
Show steps
  • Identify three to five author websites in your genre.
  • Analyze their design, content, and functionality.
  • Note what you like and dislike about each website.
  • Incorporate successful elements into your own website plan.

Career center

Learners who complete Build Your Author Website - Easy with WordPress will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Author
As an author, building a strong online presence is essential for connecting with readers and promoting your work. This course helps you take control of your online platform by guiding you through the process of creating your own website using WordPress and tools like Brizy. This course may be useful for designing a site that reflects your unique author brand, showcases your books, and builds your email list, ultimately turning website visitors into long-term fans. The sections on designing a homepage, creating an about page, and setting up a blog are directly applicable to an author's needs.
See salaries and explore the career path for Author
Graphic designer
Graphic designers can apply their skills to creating visually appealing websites for authors. This course helps graphic designers create websites using WordPress and Brizy, with a focus on promoting the author's work and engaging with readers. The section on creating a header image will be particularly relevant for leveraging their design skills.
See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer
Digital Marketing Specialist
Digital marketing specialists develop and implement online marketing campaigns. This course helps digital marketing specialists learn how to build an author website. This course may be useful for marketing an author's books and building their online presence. The sections on setting up an email list, designing a homepage, and optimizing content will be particularly useful for driving traffic and generating leads.
See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Marketing Specialist
Online Course Creator
Online course creators need a website to promote their courses and connect with students. This course helps online course creators build a professional website using WordPress and Brizy that showcases their courses and provides valuable information to potential students. The course's sections on setting up a blog, creating an about page, and featuring their offerings will be incredibly worthwhile.
See salaries and explore the career path for Online Course Creator
Web Designer
A skilled web designer understands the importance of creating websites that are both visually appealing and functional. This course may be useful for developing websites for authors, as it provides practical, step-by-step guidance on building a website using WordPress and Brizy. This course helps you learn how to create custom designs and how to promote an author's work effectively. If you are a web designer, this course might be useful to you in your career.
See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer
Marketing Manager
A marketing manager is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to promote products or services. This course may be useful for marketing managers working in the publishing industry or for authors themselves. This course helps you understand how to build an effective author website that drives audience engagement and book sales. The lessons on designing a homepage, setting up an email list, and creating compelling content will be helpful in developing a strong online marketing strategy.
See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager
Content Creator
Creating engaging content is essential for attracting and retaining an audience. This course may be useful for content creators in the literary field. It may also be useful for an author who wishes to control their own internet presence. This course helps you learn how to design a website that showcases an author's work and captures the attention of potential readers. The course's lessons may be useful to content creators working in the literary space.
See salaries and explore the career path for Content Creator
Social Media Manager
Social media managers are responsible for managing a company's or individual's online presence across various social media platforms. A strong website often provides a hub for their efforts. This course may be useful for social media managers working with authors, providing them with the skills to optimize an author's website for audience engagement and book promotion, therefore, to further their work in social media. The sections on setting up an email list and creating a blog will be particularly relevant for driving traffic and building a community around the author's work.
See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager
Small Business Owner
Small business owners often need a website to establish an online presence and reach customers. This course helps small business owners build a website using WordPress and Brizy, even without any prior experience. This course may be useful for creating a website that showcases their products or services, provides information about their business, and allows customers to contact them easily.
See salaries and explore the career path for Small Business Owner
Freelance Writer
Freelance writers often need a website to showcase their portfolio and attract clients. This course helps freelance writers build a professional website using WordPress and Brizy, allowing them to display their writing samples, testimonials, and contact information. By learning how to create a website that reflects their personal brand, freelance writers can establish credibility and attract more clients.
See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Writer
Blogger
Bloggers need a website to host their blog and connect with their audience. Building an author website may be useful to bloggers, since this course teaches how to build an engaging website using WordPress and Brizy, and has a section on setting up and modifying the blog page. Bloggers can use the skills learned to create a professional looking website.
See salaries and explore the career path for Blogger
Public Relations Specialist
A public relations specialist manages the communication between an organization or individual and the public. This course may be useful for building an author's online presence, allowing them to craft a website that promotes their books and connects with readers. The course sections may be useful for setting up a blog, designing an about page, and creating engaging content to attract media attention and build a positive public image.
See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist
Editor
Editors frequently collaborate with authors and often benefit from understanding the author's perspective and promotional needs. This course may be useful for editors to gain insight into building an online presence and promoting their authors' work. The course may be useful for editors to better advise authors on their website strategy and content creation, ultimately contributing to the success of the books they work on.
See salaries and explore the career path for Editor
Virtual Assistant
Many virtual assistants provide website management services for their clients. This course may be useful for virtual assistants to create and maintain author websites using WordPress and Brizy. This course may be useful for assisting with tasks such as updating website content, managing email lists, and troubleshooting technical issues, allowing virtual assistants to provide valuable support to authors.
See salaries and explore the career path for Virtual Assistant
Book Cover Designer
Book cover designers can expand their services by offering website design to authors. This course may be useful for learning how to build a professional website that showcases an author's books and brand. This course may be useful for creating visually appealing websites that complement the book covers they design, providing a comprehensive branding solution for authors.
See salaries and explore the career path for Book Cover Designer

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Build Your Author Website - Easy with WordPress.
Cover image
Putting Knowledge to Work
Save
Is specifically designed for authors looking to build effective websites. It covers key elements like branding, content strategy, and audience engagement. It provides practical advice and examples tailored to the unique needs of authors. This book adds more depth to the course by providing author-specific strategies.
Putting Knowledge to Work
Paperback
Check
Putting Knowledge to Work
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
WordPress All-in-One For Dummies
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of WordPress, covering everything from installation to customization. It's particularly useful for beginners who want a solid foundation before diving into author-specific website design. While not directly focused on author websites, it provides essential background knowledge. This book is commonly used as a reference for WordPress beginners.
Wordpress All-in-One for Dummies (For Dummies...
Paperback
$$

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Effort
3.5 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Jason Link
Language
English
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