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Authors and writers need an online presence to showcase their work and build a following. Selecting the right website builder can greatly impact how writers present their online portfolio and connect with their audience. With a lot of options available, choosing a platform that offers ease of use, flexibility and specific features tailored to literary content is key for any writer's online success.
Building a website from scratch may seem daunting but it's important for writers to leverage a builder that simplifies this process without compromising on the quality or aesthetic of the final product.
A good website builder for authors should provide a range of templates and customization options to help their content stand out, while also ensuring the site is mobile friendly and easy to navigate. Writers can then focus on creating engaging content, knowing their website reflects their personal brand and resonates with readers.
7 best website builders for authors and writers
01. Wix
Wix is a highly versatile website builder for writers that offers a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop features, making it ideal for authors and writers who want to create professional-looking websites without needing technical skills. The platform provides a variety of customizable templates specifically designed for portfolios and personal sites, which can be great for showcasing books, blogs and writer bios.
Wix includes advanced SEO tools that help ensure your content reaches your target audience effectively. Writers can benefit from features like social media integration, a blogging platform and email marketing functionalities to engage with their readers and promote their work. Additionally, Wix supports multimedia content, including videos and images, allowing authors to create dynamic content that complements their writing.
Site security and website performance are strong points for Wix, with regular updates to keep the platform modern. For writers looking to sell books or merchandise, Wix also offers eCommerce solutions that are easy to manage. Customer support is available 24/7, providing help whenever needed, which is beneficial for authors who prefer focusing on their writing rather than website maintenance.
Why we picked it:
User-friendly with drag-and-drop editor
Wide range of customizable templates
Comprehensive SEO and multimedia tools
24/7 customer support
Ideal for: Authors wanting customizable, feature-rich websites.
Pricing: $0-$159/month. Paid plans available.
Free plan ($0): Limited features and ads.
Light ($17/month): Basic plan for simple sites.
Core ($29/month): Basic eCommerce features and marketing suite.
Business $36/month): Geared towards growing your brand.
Business Elite ($159/month): Unlocks unlimited storage & scaling capabilities.
Enterprise: Custom plan for large corporations.
02. Site123
Site123 is known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it a good choice for writers who prefer a straightforward approach to website building. This platform offers basic yet functional designs with enough customization options to tailor your site to match a personal brand or book theme without overwhelming users with choices.
For authors, Site123's tools include blog integration that supports various content types, from text and photos to videos, all of which can enhance storytelling and reader engagement. SEO tools are available to help increase the visibility of their work, and the platform also offers responsive customer support to assist with any questions that may arise during the building process.
Although Site123 may lack some of the advanced features found in more robust website builders, its appeal lies in its clear, no-frills approach, which is perfect for newbies. Additionally, it has an integrated e-commerce platform, which is convenient for authors who wish to sell their books directly from their website. The mobile-optimized design ensures that the website looks good on all devices, which is critical for reaching a broader audience.
Why we picked it:
Simple and straightforward setup
Built-in blogging capabilities
Basic SEO tools included
Mobile-responsive designs
Ideal for: Beginners needing simplicity and ease of use.
Pricing: Free basic plan, with premium versions starting at $12.80 per month.
03. Duda
Duda is geared towards authors seeking a blend of simplicity and powerful features. It offers a sleek interface and robust design capabilities without requiring deep technical knowledge.
Duda's template collection is designed with responsiveness in mind, ensuring that websites operate flawlessly across all devices, which is particularly important for authors aiming to reach readers on mobile platforms.
One of Duda's standout features is its extensive customization tools that allow writers to tweak designs to reflect their personal style or book themes. Additionally, Duda provides strong collaboration tools, which are ideal for authors who work with editors, designers, or co-authors. Users can also access built-in analytics to track visitor behavior and adjust content as needed.
Duda focuses on speed and efficiency, with features that support rapid loading times and a focus on SEO best practices to help authors enhance their online visibility. Moreover, it includes specialized functionalities for selling products and services, making it a suitable option for authors who want to manage book sales and related merchandise directly.
Why we picked it:
Modern and responsive templates
High customization potential
Collaboration tools for teams
Fast loading and performance
Ideal for: Professional writers seeking design flexibility.
Pricing: Starting at $19/month for basic features.
04. Ucraft
Ucraft is a website builder for writers that appeals to creatives, including writers and authors, due to its aesthetically pleasing design options and straightforward user interface. It offers a range of professionally designed templates that are especially useful for portfolios and personal blogs, giving authors the tools needed to create visually appealing sites that can showcase their work effectively.
Ucraft's features include a powerful drag-and-drop editor that simplifies the process of website creation. It also offers logo and landing page builders, which are useful for book launches and branding purposes. SEO tools are built-in, ensuring that content is optimized to reach the intended audience, and the platform integrates various social media tools to help promote content across different channels.
For authors interested in selling their books or merchandise, Ucraft provides e-commerce capabilities that are easy to set up and manage. The platform also supports multiple languages, which is beneficial for writers who want to reach international audiences. Ucraft offers a responsive customer support team, and the platform is known for its reliable hosting, which ensures websites remain accessible and secure.
Why we picked it:
Aesthetically appealing for creatives.
Multilingual support.
Simple e-commerce integration.
Dependable support.
Ideal for: Creatives focusing on visuals with text.
Ideal for: Multilingual authors with international audiences
Pricing: Free version available, plans from $10/month.
05. Weebly
Weebly is another popular choice among writers due to its simplicity and the robust functionality it offers. It's particularly known for its strong e-commerce capabilities, which makes it ideal for authors who wish to sell books and other merchandise directly from their websites. Weebly's templates are customizable and designed to be responsive, ensuring they work well on both desktops and mobile devices.
Weebly's editor is straightforward, offering a balance between ease of use and customization options. It includes various multimedia features to enrich content, such as video and image galleries, which can enhance author websites by showcasing book covers, author interviews, and more. Additionally, Weebly provides built-in analytics to help authors understand their audience and fine-tune their marketing strategies.
For SEO, Weebly offers comprehensive tools that help improve the visibility of content on search engines, crucial for authors looking to gain new readers. The platform also integrates with various marketing tools, including email marketing, social media promotion, and customer feedback tools, which can help authors engage with their community effectively.
Why we picked it:
Robust eCommerce features
Easy-to-use interface
Integrated marketing tools
Comprehensive analytics
Ideal for: Authors looking to sell books and merchandise online.
Pricing: Free version available, plans start at $10/month.
06. Pixpa
Pixpa is an all-in-one platform tailored for creatives and professionals who need writing portfolio features along with website building. This makes it a perfect choice for authors who also engage in photography or visual arts. Pixpa offers sleek, modern templates that are easy to customize and ideal for showcasing creative work alongside written content.
Pixpa stands out for its strong focus on visual presentation, offering excellent gallery options and design flexibility which are great for authors who want to visually complement their writings with high-quality images. The platform includes blogging tools that are easy to integrate, allowing for seamless updates and reader engagement.
Additionally, Pixpa provides robust e-commerce solutions designed to handle everything from book sales to subscriptions for exclusive content. SEO features are also built-in, enhancing the ability to attract more site visitors. Pixpa's customer support is well-regarded for being responsive and helpful, providing peace of mind for authors who may not be as tech-savvy.
Why we picked it:
Ideal for visual-heavy content
High-quality image galleries
Blogging and eCommerce support
Straightforward user interface
Ideal for: Writers needing to display high-quality visual content.
Pricing: Free trial available, plans begin at $8/month.
07. Dorik
Dorik is a newer entry in the writer website builder market but has quickly gained popularity due to its simplicity and flexibility. It offers a minimalist approach, which is perfect for writers who prefer to let their content take center stage. Dorik provides a clean, easy-to-use interface with a wide range of templates that are both elegant and responsive.
The builder is particularly noted for its affordability and the ability to integrate with various third-party tools, making it a versatile choice for authors who use different software for email marketing, analytics, or other functions. Dorik's drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to customize sites without needing extensive technical knowledge.
Dorik’s SEO capabilities ensure that writers can optimize their sites for search engines efficiently. Additionally, the platform offers essential e-commerce features, allowing authors to sell books directly from their websites. Customer support is reliable, with resources available to help users troubleshoot any issues they might encounter.
Why we picked it:
Minimalist and content-focused
Cost-effective for beginners
Flexible third-party integrations
Simple customization options
Ideal for: New authors wanting affordability and simplicity.
Pricing: Free tier, personal plan starts at $15/month.
How to choose a website builder as a writer or author
Writers should consider factors such as ease of use, customization capabilities, website cost and integrated marketing tools when trying to choose a website builder. These elements can significantly impact the ability to create and maintain a functional website that effectively reaches the right audience. Some of the most important include:
Ease of use
The simplicity of navigating a website builder's interface can be the difference between a smooth creative process and unnecessary frustration. As writing and content creation are the primary goals, a platform that offers an easy, intuitive design process allows authors to construct their website without technical difficulties. Look for builders with drag-and-drop editors, for example Wix, with clear instructional resources that minimize the time from concept to launch.
Customization options
An author's website should reflect their unique style and literary voice. This requires a builder that provides diverse customization options, from templates suited for writers to the flexibility to adjust layouts, fonts, and color schemes. A rich library of customizable website templates makes it easier for authors and writers to convey the right tone and personality on their sites.
Marketing features
Writers need to ensure their work reaches their target audience. A website builder should include advanced marketing tools, such as SEO features, social media integration, and email marketing campaigns to amplify their presence online. Effective marketing tools help writers attract and retain readers, so selecting a builder that offers these options is important for ongoing engagement and growth.
eCommerce capabilities
Authors and writers that are looking to monetize their website can greatly benefit from adding eCommerce capabilities to their websites. Doing so allows them to sell their work directly to readers and broaden their income streams.
eBooks: A website builder with integrated eCommerce tools simplifies the process of listing and selling digital books. Wix is noted for its versatile customization features and seamless digital product sales options, respectively.
Merchandise: Writers can sell branded merchandise alongside their books to foster a community and increase revenue. It's important to choose a platform that supports inventory management and variations for merchandise like t-shirts and mugs.
Print on demand services: Print on demand services eliminate the need for inventory, as products are printed and shipped only when ordered. To utilize these services effectively, an author's website must integrate with providers like Printful or Printify.
Payment gateways: A secure and reliable payment gateway is needed for processing transactions. Most website builders offer integration with multiple payment gateways such as PayPal, Stripe and Square. Writers should ensure their selected website builder supports the payment methods preferred by their target audience. Options like Wix are known for providing a range of accessible payment solutions suitable for authors on a budget.
Content management and blogging
Content management systems (CMS) and blogging capabilities are fundamental components of website builders for anyone who wants to write online. These features can dramatically help with management and audience engagement efforts.
Content strategy: Writers should ensure the website builder provides an intuitive CMS that supports a solid content strategy. The CMS should offer organizational tools like categorization and tagging, as well as functionalities for scheduling posts and managing drafts.
Blog post optimization: Effective blog post optimization increases visibility and attracts more readers. A good website builder for authors will include SEO features that help in optimizing titles, metadata and URLs. For instance, Wix tailors its no-code builder with SEO functionalities particularly useful to authors and writers, enabling content to potentially rank higher in search engine results. Learn more about how to start a blog.
Multimedia content: Incorporating multimedia content such as images, videos and audio not only enriches blog posts but also helps with reader engagement. The ideal website builder for writers should make adding such content seamless, with mobile friendly design for optimal display across devices. Wix is excellent in this regard, offering mobile-optimized website designs that effectively incorporate multimedia for a more compelling experience.
Website design
Creating a book website requires attention to specific design elements. Authors should focus on visual appeal, user navigation and device adaptability to showcase their work effectively.
Visual aesthetics: The appearance of a book website can have a profound impact on visitor engagement. High-quality images of book covers and author photos set a professional tone. Incorporate consistent color schemes and fonts that reflect the genre or tone of the writing. Utilize designer-made templates to achieve a cohesive look that captures the spirit of the author's work.
User experience: Navigation on a book website should be intuitive. Organize content with clear headings and a logical structure to help visitors find information with ease. Interactive features, such as reading samples and author blogs, enhance engagement. Prioritize accessibility by ensuring that the website is easy to use for visitors with disabilities.
Social media integration
Authors and writers benefit significantly from seamless social media integration in their website. It enables them to connect with readers, share content across different platforms and boost their online presence effectively.
Cross-platform connectivity: They should look for website builders offering robust connectivity options to link their website with various social media accounts. This connectivity allows for a unified presence across platforms like Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram. By syncing their website with these platforms, authors and writers can have deeper engagement and reach a broader audience.
Social sharing features: Equally important are the social sharing features available within the website builders. These features allow visitors to effortlessly share a writer's content, such as blog posts or new book announcements, on their social media networks. Enabling rapid sharing translates directly to increased visibility and can be a mechanism to turn passion for words into profit. Incorporating social sharing buttons and widgets on their site makes it intuitive for users to spread the word about their favorite authors and publications.
Analytics and reporting
Analytics and reporting features in author website builders offer writers the ability to gain insights into their site's performance. These tools help writers monitor traffic and understand their readers' engagement with their content. Accurate data tracking helps with decisions about marketing strategies and content optimization.
Tracking traffic: Website builders often come with integrated features to track the number of visitors, page views, and the source of the traffic. For instance, authors using Wix can utilize its built-in analytics to identify peak traffic times and adjust content release schedules accordingly. The ability to track live traffic also helps authors pinpoint what drives visitors to their site.
Audience behavior: Authors can see which pages are most popular and how much time visitors spend on each page. For example, Wix provides in-depth analytics tools that help writers glean detailed information on audience behavior, enabling them to tailor their content to the interests and reading habits of their readership.
Security and website maintenance
High level website security is essential. This involves not only the protection of the site's data but also ensuring its functionality and accessibility through various means.
SSL certificates: These are the first line of defense, encrypting data transferred between the user's browser and the website. This encryption is critical for protecting sensitive information, such as login credentials and personal details. Websites without SSL certificates are often flagged as insecure, potentially deterring visitors.
Regular updates: The security of a website is significantly enhanced by regular updates. These updates may address vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. Website builders often release these updates to patch security flaws and add new features, making regular maintenance an important routine for website owners.
Data backups: Should be performed frequently to ensure that a website can be restored quickly after an incident. This can include content, databases and configurations. Regular backups protect against data loss and provide peace of mind for website owners, knowing their work can be recovered if necessary.
Best website builders for writers FAQ
How user-friendly are website builders for writers with minimal technical skils?
Website builders for authors like Wix offer incredibly simple editors with advanced language features, which are highly user-friendly for writers who might not have extensive technical experience.
What are the most cost effective website builders for authors?
Are there any website builders that cater specifically to freelance writers?
All prices were correct as of April 13, 2024.