Do self-published authors need a website if they sell on Amazon?
Amazon is a wonderful shop. It is a poor place to build a readership. When someone buys your book there, Amazon knows who they are and you do not. You cannot tell them when the next book is out, invite them to a launch, or offer them the prequel. Your own website fixes that.
Your mailing list is the business
For self-published authors, the list of readers who have asked to hear from you is the most valuable thing you own. It survives algorithm changes, price wars and platform policy. A website is the home for that list: a place to invite readers, and a reason for them to sign up.
The most reliable reason is a reader magnet: a free novella, short story or bonus chapter delivered by email the moment someone signs up. Put the offer on every page.
Make reading order unmissable
Series readers want to start at book one. A clear, visual reading order, with the free prequel first, prevents the most common lost sale: the reader who picks up book three, feels lost, and never buys book one.
Let readers taste the writing
A good excerpt sells better than a good blurb. Put the first chapter on the site in a format that is pleasant to read on a phone. Readers who finish it are ready to buy.
One tap to every format
For each book, link directly to the Kindle edition, paperback, Kindle Unlimited and audiobook. Do not make readers search Amazon for you; every extra step loses people.
Write for the questions readers ask
Readers search for more than titles. They search for "mysteries set on the Chesapeake," "books like" a favorite author, or "what order should I read" a series. Short pages that answer those questions directly help search engines and AI assistants recommend your books to exactly those readers.
Common questions
What is a reader magnet?
A free short story, novella or bonus chapter offered in exchange for an email address. It is the most common way self-published authors grow a mailing list.
Should I sell books directly from my own site?
You can, but most self-published authors still send readers to Amazon so their sales count toward rankings. Your site's job is to capture the reader before they go.
What pages does an author website need?
A home page featuring the latest book, a books page with reading order, a free sample, an about page and a sign-up form. Anything more is optional.
