website design for authors
WHY DOES AN AUTHOR NEED A WEBSITE?
Every author who is serious about selling books must have a website. Period.
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Book Discovery - when it comes to readers finding you and your books online, a website is the very best way to be discovered. With Amazon's ever-changing algorithm, they are becoming a less reliable way to market your work.
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Author Platform - your platform, or presence on the net, allows you to control your narrative. You get to introduce yourself in your own way to potential readers. Spending a few hours a week adding content to your site will draw in readers, and more importantly, loyal readers. Your Amazon Author Central Page cannot do that.
WHAT WE FOCUS ON
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CREATING AN AUTHOR PLATFORM
Websites promote you 24/7. Whether your goal is to create your author platform, interact with readers, or provide a behind-the-scenes look at your creative process, you need a 'home' on the net independent of social media. When it comes to readers finding you and your books online, a website is the best way to be discovered.
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EMAIL MARKETING
If you do not have a mailing list, you are missing out on opportunities. Our websites are fully integrated with your preferred email marketing platform that will capture emails and provide users with exclusive content. If you don't currently have an email marketing platform, Wix has a built-in one with excellent functionality.
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A BLOG WHERE YOU CAN INTERACT WITH YOUR READERS
A blog provides you with a place to develop and grow relationships with your readers. The relationships you will nurture here will mean everything to your book marketing down the road.
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SOCIAL MEDIA INTEGRATION
We understand that social media marketing is key to your author business. No online presence is complete without it. So, we will ensure your social media accounts are clearly visible on your site. As well, we recognize that the functionality for fans to share your books and certain aspects of your site to various social media outlets is a powerful marketing tool.
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DESIGNING A CLEAN, RESPONSIVE & EASY-TO-NAVIGATE WEBSITE
Nothing turns a potential reader off faster than an unfriendly and clustered website. If they see your platform as clear, concise, and well organized, they will take it for granted your writing style will be the same. Our websites are built to respond to various screens so it will look great on mobile phones, tablets, and desktops.
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SELLING SIGNED PAPERBACKS
Offer your readers an opportunity to buy autographed print books directly from you.
WHY EVENING SKY DESIGNS
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UNDERSTANDING
As a published author, book blogger, and book cover designer, Kat understands your needs. She understands the importance of book marketing and promotion as a business tool and the importance of using the internet to engage readers.
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EXPERIENCE
After a lifetime of avid reading and many years of experience in the book publishing industry, supported by a Commerce degree, Kat has gained some great insight and experience into what engages an author's target audience and how to reach them. As important as those assets are to any web designer, Kat is humble enough to put your ego aside and listen to you. You know your author's business goals best. So, she will listen to your goals and aspire to make them happen.
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ORIGINALITY
We do not use templates. Each author's website is custom-designed based on your requirements.
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QUALITY
Evening Sky uses one of the top website builders, Wix, to design websites. Wix is a trusted leader in website development, with users in 190 countries. They have 160 million websites worldwide. They were voted the "BEST OVERALL WEBSITE BUILDER FOR 2019" by CNET.COM. While relying on Wix for coding and stability, we focus on the freedom of creative design and building the functionality you need to sell your books.
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COST-EFFECTIVE
Wix offers a very cost-effective way to publish your website online. You can either publish it on a free plan or upgrade to a Premium Plan (our recommendation). Wix's Premium Plans are professional looking, ad-free, and include your unique domain that can be purchased from Wix or any other domain host. Wix plans for typical authors range from $8-12 a month, depending on the functionality you need.
