The 2026 Author Website Checklist

The free 2026 edition: fifty yes-or-no checks in eleven sections, about 45 minutes. Open your site on a laptop and on your phone, then tick an item only if you can say yes today. “Mostly” counts as no.

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Section 01: First Impression

First Impression

7 checks · The homepage, and the first five seconds.

01A first-time visitor can tell who you are and what you write within five seconds of arriving.If they can't, most visitors simply leave.02Your genre and the kind of reading experience you offer (tone, heat level, age range) are clear before anyone reads a blurb.Readers leave quickly when a book isn't what they expected.03Your homepage includes real text, not only images, describing you and your books.Search engines and AI assistants can't read words baked into images.04Your newest or next book is featured near the top and links to its own page on your site, opening in the same tab.Send visitors deeper into your site, not straight off to a retailer.05The homepage has a short third-person bio that links to your About page, not a first-person “Welcome to my website” letter.Visitors want a quick sense of who you are, not a greeting.06Menu labels are specific (Books, About, Events, Contact), and there's no auto-rotating slider.Vague labels and sliders hide the very things visitors came for.07The design suits your genre and matches your covers in its typefaces, colors, and mood.A consistent look tells readers they're in the right place.

FIX FIRSTNo. 01 A first-time visitor can tell who you are and what you write within five seconds of arriving.

Section 02: Books & Series

Books & Series

8 checks · Every book deserves a real home of its own.

08Every book has its own dedicated page and web address, not just a spot on one long list.A single book page can rank, be shared, and be cited by AI. A list can't.09Each book page shows a high-resolution cover, the full title, the series name and number, and the complete description.This is what readers and booksellers look for first.10Prominent buy buttons, not small text links, cover every format, several retailers, and a bookstore option, plus preorder links for upcoming titles.Readers buy where they already shop. Buttons get noticed, and plain links get missed.11Each series page lists the numbered reading order, marks where to start, and says whether the series is complete or ongoing.Not knowing where to start is a common reason readers give up on a series.12A “Start here” or FAQ page tells new readers which book to try first, the series order, and what's coming next.It turns a curious visitor into a first-time reader, and AI assistants quote it.13Book pages feature genuine praise, such as endorsements, review excerpts, or starred reviews, where you have them.Third-party praise does more to persuade readers than anything you say about yourself.14Each book page offers something beyond the buy button, such as a sample chapter, discussion guide, map, extras, or interviews.A book page should be a place readers want to explore, not just a link to a store.15Each book page lists its details: formats, ISBNs, publisher, publication date, and page count.Booksellers, librarians, and AI assistants all rely on accurate details.

FIX FIRSTNo. 08 Every book has its own dedicated page and web address, not just a spot on one long list.

Section 03: About & Bio

About & Bio

4 checks · The page media and readers visit second.

16Your About page is written in the third person and reads like a story, not a résumé.Hosts can quote it directly, and stories stick in a way that lists don't.17You offer a short bio (50 to 100 words) and a longer version, both kept up to date.Different uses need different lengths, and stale bios get repeated everywhere.18Your professional headshot is high-resolution, the file is named with your name, and its alt text is your name.It helps image search and makes you look like a professional.19Your bio includes specific, truthful credentials, such as publications, endorsements, appearances, or expertise.Concrete proof builds trust faster than adjectives.

FIX FIRSTNo. 16 Your About page is written in the third person and reads like a story, not a résumé.

Section 04: Press & Media Kit

Press & Media Kit

4 checks · Make yourself easy to feature.

20A press or media page brings together your bios, headshots, cover images, and press contact.Journalists and hosts on deadline will move on to the next author.21The whole kit is available as a single link or a downloadable PDF that can be attached to an email.Organizers want one file, not a scavenger hunt.22You provide a one-sentence and a one-paragraph pitch, plus suggested interview topics or questions.Hosts copy these directly into their introductions and show notes.23Your media page lists past interviews and coverage, and shows how to pronounce your name if it helps.Proof of past appearances makes saying yes easy.

FIX FIRSTNo. 20 A press or media page brings together your bios, headshots, cover images, and press contact.

Section 05: Newsletter & Reader Magnet

Newsletter & Reader Magnet

4 checks · The one audience you fully own.

24A newsletter signup appears on your homepage, every book page, and your About page.Your mailing list is the only audience no platform can take away.25The signup says what subscribers will get and roughly how often you'll email.Being specific earns more signups than “Join my list.”26You offer a reader magnet, such as a free story, chapter, or bonus content, in exchange for signing up.A good reason to sign up today beats a vague promise of updates.27New subscribers get a welcome email automatically, and you've tested the whole signup flow yourself.A broken welcome email loses a reader at their most interested moment.

FIX FIRSTNo. 24 A newsletter signup appears on your homepage, every book page, and your About page.

Section 06: Contact & Inquiries

Contact & Inquiries

3 checks · Make it easy for the right people to reach you.

28Your contact page sends readers, media, event and library requests, and rights inquiries each to the right place.Each group needs something different from you.29If you have an agent, publicist, or rights representative, their contact details are listed.Industry contacts expect to reach your team directly.30Your contact form works, has spam protection, and you've tested it within the last month.Messages that never arrive are opportunities you'll never hear about.

FIX FIRSTNo. 30 Your contact form works, has spam protection, and you've tested it within the last month.

Section 07: Events & Speaking

Events & Speaking

2 checks · Show you are active, and bookable.

31Upcoming events show the date, venue, and a ticket or RSVP link, and past events are archived.Out-of-date events make the whole site look neglected.32If you speak or visit schools, libraries, or festivals, a page lists your topics and audiences and explains how to book you.Organizers book the authors who make it easy.

FIX FIRSTNo. 31 Upcoming events show the date, venue, and a ticket or RSVP link, and past events are archived.

Section 08: Mobile, Speed & Accessibility

Mobile, Speed & Accessibility

4 checks · Most visits now happen on a phone.

33On a phone, text is readable without zooming and every button is easy to tap.For most author sites, phones bring in the majority of visitors.34Pages load in about three seconds or less on mobile, and images are compressed.Slow pages lose visitors and rank lower in search.35Pop-ups never cover the page on a visitor's first arrival on a phone.Search engines penalize intrusive pop-ups, and readers close the tab.36Images have alt text, text contrasts clearly with its background, and the site works with a keyboard.It's the right thing to do, and it widens your audience.

FIX FIRSTNo. 33 On a phone, text is readable without zooming and every button is easy to tap.

Section 09: Search & AI Discovery

Search & AI Discovery

7 checks · Be the best answer when someone looks you up.

37Searching your author name in a private browser window shows your site first.This is the search that agents, journalists, and readers actually run.38Every page has its own unique title and meta description (for example, “Book Title by Author Name”).Duplicate descriptions can quietly hold your whole site back in search.39Your site uses structured data (Person and Book schema) to describe you and your books.It tells search engines and AI exactly who wrote what.40When you ask an AI assistant about you and your books, its answer is accurate and points to your site.Readers increasingly ask AI for recommendations, so check what it says about you.41Your retailer author pages, social profiles, and book back matter all link to your site, using the same name and photo.Consistency builds authority and sends readers to you.42Each page has one clear main heading (H1) naming the page, with logical subheadings beneath it.Headings tell search engines and AI what each page is about.43Sharing your site or a book page on social media shows the right image, title, and description.Link previews are your first impression wherever people share you.

FIX FIRSTNo. 37 Searching your author name in a private browser window shows your site first.

Section 10: Domain, Email & Security

Domain, Email & Security

3 checks · The foundations nobody sees until they fail.

44You own your domain (ideally yourname.com) in your own account with auto-renew on, and you use an email address at that domain.Losing your domain means losing your address online, and an email at your own domain looks established.45Your site loads over HTTPS (the padlock) with no browser security warnings.Browsers warn visitors away from sites that aren't secure.46A privacy policy is linked in the footer.Newsletter signups and analytics usually require one.

FIX FIRSTNo. 44 You own your domain (ideally yourname.com) in your own account with auto-renew on, and you use an email address at that domain.

Section 11: Maintenance & Measurement

Maintenance & Measurement

4 checks · A great site stays great on purpose.

47The copyright year, your latest book, and your bio are current everywhere on the site.Stale details tell visitors nobody is minding the site.48At least once a quarter, you click every buy button and check for broken links and error pages.Retailer links change without notice, and a dead link loses the sale.49Your platform, theme, and plugins stay updated, and backups run automatically.Updates and backups protect you from hacks and lost work.50Analytics and Google Search Console are set up and you check them, so you know which pages get visits and where signups come from.You can't improve what you never measure.

FIX FIRSTNo. 47 The copyright year, your latest book, and your bio are current everywhere on the site.

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