The Author Website Homepage Checklist
Your homepage is the most important page on your site. Use this checklist to make sure it does its job — turning visitors into readers and subscribers.
2-Minute Summary
Your homepage has one job: tell a new visitor who you are, what you write, and what to do next — in under five seconds. This checklist covers every element a strong author homepage needs.
Why It Matters
Most traffic to your site — from social media, search, or a reader who heard about you at an event — lands on the homepage first. If it doesn't immediately communicate who you are and what to do next, you lose that visitor before they ever see your books.
Benefits of a Homepage That Works
- Visitors immediately understand your genre and latest release
- Clear next steps reduce bounce rate
- More newsletter signups from first-time visitors
- Higher click-through to your book catalog
The Checklist
- Your name and genre, above the fold — no guessing required
- Your latest or featured book — with a cover image and a buy link
- One primary call to action — "Get the book" or "Join the list," not five competing buttons
- A newsletter signup form — visible without scrolling if possible
- A short bio teaser — a sentence or two with a link to your full About page
- Social proof — reviews, awards, or press mentions if you have them
- Recent blog posts or news — shows the site is active
- Mobile-friendly layout — most visitors will view your site on a phone
- Fast load time — large uncompressed images slow the page and hurt SEO
- Working navigation — links to Books, About, and Contact clearly visible
Common Mistakes
- Leading with a long biography instead of your book
- No visible newsletter signup
- Too many calls to action competing for attention
- Slow-loading, uncompressed hero images
Example Homepage Flow
Hero (name + genre + featured book) → Newsletter signup → Book catalog preview → About teaser → Recent blog posts → Footer with social links. This order moves visitors from a big first impression to a low-commitment action before asking for a purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
See below.
How AuthorLoft Helps
Every AuthorLoft homepage ships with this checklist already built in — hero, featured book, newsletter capture, and recent posts — so you can go live without guessing what belongs above the fold.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be above the fold on an author website?
Your name, genre, and featured or latest book, plus one clear call to action such as a buy link or newsletter signup.
How many calls to action should a homepage have?
One primary call to action works best. Too many competing buttons dilutes visitor attention and lowers conversion.
Does my homepage need a newsletter signup?
Yes. It is the single highest-value action a visitor can take besides buying a book, since it lets you reach them again later at no cost.
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· Build a homepage that converts·
AuthorLoft themes come with the proven homepage structure already in place — hero, featured book, and newsletter capture included.
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