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Build, Publish, Thrive: Top Platforms for Launching Your Website
Michael Adams
So, you have decided to launch a website. Great thought! But let me tell you, creating a website is hectic, a little exciting, and somewhat overwhelming. It’s like opening your very own virtual store, where you can show off your skills and offer your books for sale. But here’s the catch: creating a website requires the appropriate requirements, the correct tools, and a little bit of time.
So, what’s the wait for? Let’s get started! Hold on, there’s an issue! There are so many top website platforms out there, and every single one of them claims to be the best. Squarespace, Shopify, Weebly, Wix, WordPress, and the list goes on and on. Interestingly, all of them have five-star reviews, but none of them make sense, and you feel like you are trying to choose a new Netflix series.
What should you do? Here’s one thing you should understand: that not all platforms are made equal, and the best one for you will depend on your needs. Are you an author trying to find the best website and blog builder? Or are you looking for a website that doesn’t demand a Ph.D. in coding as a business owner? Don’t worry; we are going to explain everything to you about which of the website platforms is best for you.
Key Takeaways
- Website Platforms: Choose the right website platform that works for you, and make sure it’s easy to use and adaptable to your brand.
- Efficient Website with Features: Make sure your website loads quickly, is responsive and is optimized for a smooth user experience.
- Don’t Forget the Right Tools: Use SEO for increased visibility, and make sure your website is mobile-responsive and optimized with keywords.
- Hire a Professional: It’s best to invest in the best author website design services to produce a layout that is modern, clean, and useful.
- What to Avoid: Learn about problems and complexities you should avoid when creating your very own website.
What Does a Good Website Look Like: What Should You Look For in a Website Platform?
Let’s discuss what makes a website builder great before we start naming them after platforms like WordPress, Wix, or Shopify. Just as you wouldn’t purchase a car for its heated seats, you shouldn’t rely on your choice of website builder just on its eye-catching homepage.
Ease Of Use
To add a photo to your site, you don’t want to use a platform that makes it seem like you are trying to solve the Da Vinci Code. While some systems need you to go deeply into HTML and CSS, others are as easy as dragging and dropping elements.
Personalization
From font size to the color of your “Buy Now” button, certain website builders let you customize every little element of your website. Others provide you with lovely pre-made themes that aren’t very customizable. Think of it as the difference between ordering a pizza exactly how you like it versus picking from a pre-set menu.
Marketing and Rankings
What about marketing and SEO tools? To get Google to notice you, the finest systems allow you to include keywords, have built-in SEO tools, and assist with mobile optimization.
Cost and Scalability
You may be able to get away with a free subscription if all you need is a modest website to display your books or blog entries. But if you plan to expand, sell products online, or make your website into a money-making machine, you will want a platform that grows with you without needing much expensive modifications.
Top-Website-Platforms: Which One Should You Choose?
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to compare some website platforms and figure out which one works best for you.
1. WordPress – The King of Customization
Think of WordPress as the jack-of-all-trades for website creation. If you know how to use it, you can accomplish almost anything with its strength and versatility. But here’s the trick: you do need to learn how to use it.
WordPress is a dream come true for authors, bloggers, and companies who want complete control. You may install dozens of plugins, change everything, and create a website that looks just the way you want it to. There is a learning curve involved, though, and you will probably have to manage your own hosting. Because of this, a lot of people choose the best web hosting with website builder services that work smoothly with WordPress.
2. Wix – The Drag-and-Drop Dream
Wix is a loyal companion for website building if WordPress feels too technical. It’s simple, enjoyable, and accomplishes your tasks without draining your brain. For beginners looking for the best website and blog builder that doesn’t involve coding, Wix is undoubtedly the best. It has many lovely templates and is easy to use. The drawback? It is less adaptable than WordPress, and you may feel somewhat constrained if you eventually desire more sophisticated features.
3. Squarespace – The Masterwork of Aesthetics
Squarespace is the place to be if design is your top concern. Elegant layouts, flawless mobile responsiveness, and spectacular templates are the main features of this platform. It’s a great option for professional website design for authors, photographers, and creatives. It costs a little more than WordPress, though, and offers fewer customization choices.
4. Shopify – The E-Commerce Giant
Shopify is a great option for authors who want to sell books straight from their website. Shopify is designed to sell products, unlike other platforms. Analytics, shipping choices, and payment processing are all integrated. Although it’s best for e-commerce, it might be too much for someone who only wants a basic blog or portfolio website.
5. Weebly – Simple, Affordable, and Effective
Weebly is a drag-and-drop platform that is even simpler than Wix. If you need a website but don’t want to spend a lot of money, this is a great alternative. Before spending money on a high-end website, Weebly could be a smart place to start if you are seeking premium author website designers at a reasonable price.
Choosing the Right Hosting & Domain Name
Hosting and a domain name are two important elements that you cannot ignore, even if you have chosen the best website builder. Think of your website builder as the blueprint for your dream home, but without a reliable piece of land (hosting) and a correct address (domain name), it would never be found and much less visited.
Why Is Hosting Important?
Website hosting is the location where all of your site’s content, pictures, and files are stored. The hosting company retrieves the information when a user enters the address of your website and then shows visitors your designed website.
Selecting the best hosting company is essential since it has an impact on the security, uptime, and speed of your website. A website that is slow or constantly unavailable is not exactly good for business!
If you don’t want to handle the technical aspects of web hosting, it’s easier because several website builders, like Squarespace and Wix, include hosting in their packages. You will need to buy separate hosting, though, if you are using WordPress.org rather than WordPress.com. The following are the top choices for web hosting that offers website-building services:
- Bluehost: Known for its dependability and cost, this hosting company is highly recommended for WordPress users.
- SiteGround: A little more expensive, but it provides great customer service, speed, and security.
- HostGator: Inexpensive and easy to use for beginners, but it might not have all the capabilities needed for larger projects.
How to Choose the Perfect Domain Name?
Your domain name is your digital identity, so pick wisely! People will enter it into their browser to find you. The following are some golden guidelines:
- Keep it Memorable: You don’t want users to have trouble typing your site address, so keep it simple and memorable. Shorter is better.
- Avoid Unnecessary Characters: Avoid superfluous characters. Numbers and hyphens can be confusing to visitors. Compared to “JohnsBlog.com,” “JohnsBlog-928.com” is more difficult to remember.
- Use Keywords: If at all possible, use keywords. For example, if your website is about books, having something like “AuthorJohn.com” can help with branding.
- Stick to .com if Possible: Even though there are numerous domain extensions, .com remains the most well-known and reliable.
Make sure to take advantage of the free name that many of the best author website design services give for the first year when you buy their hosting package. Don’t rush the selection because your domain name and hosting provider ultimately affect how trustworthy and professional your website seems!
Avoid Mistakes with the Best Author Website Design Services
Similar to building a house, creating a website may appear simple, but the details count. Your website may have a few deadly defects.
Don’t worry, though! Let’s see what these blunders are and how you can make sure your website is slick, useful, and easy to use.
Mistake #1: Slow Website Speed
People are highly impatient online. This is why the average page load time on a desktop is 2.5 seconds and 8.6 seconds on a mobile.
Nobody enjoys having to wait for a website to load. The average person has a goldfish-like attention span, so if your website loads more slowly than a dial-up connection, people will leave before they can even view your beautiful author’s website design. Thus, speed is important!
Here’s a simple tip if you are unsure how to address slow load times. Reduce the number of large files you use and optimize your photographs. Images can be compressed without sacrificing quality with the help of programs like TinyPNG. Choose the best web hosting by using website builder platforms that provide quick loading speeds. They provide a strong performance that doesn’t irritate your readers.
Mistake #2: Bad Design and Navigation
A simple and easy-to-use interface is important. The best author websites create a balance between form and purpose, whether you are creating a personal blog or an author website. Make usability a top priority and ensure that your navigation menu is simple to find and utilize. Avoid giving visitors too many choices; you aim to quickly direct them to the content they desire. To ensure a smooth user experience, choose premium author website designers!
Your visitors will be suspicious of a design that appears to have been created in 1999. Keep it tidy and up to date. Consider using strategically placed calls to action, like “Buy My Book” or “Sign Up for My Newsletter,” to direct visitors toward your intended goal if you are looking for the best author website design services.
Mistake #3: Not Making Your Website Mobile-Friendly
Everyone is using their phones to browse in 2025! You are losing out on a significant amount of visitors if your website isn’t mobile-friendly. Choose the top platforms for building websites and blogs, such as Squarespace or Wix, that automatically provide designs that are responsive to mobile devices. Make sure your writing, graphics, and content on your author’s website look as good on a small screen as they do on a large one.
Mistake #4: Ignoring SEO
It would be like having a best-selling book with no readers if you could have the most superb website in the world and no one could find it. Ensuring your author’s websites are found requires search engine optimization or SEO.
Although the design of your website is important, you will fall behind if you don’t take SEO into account. Don’t overlook the need for a strong Meta description; optimize your photos with alt text, and use the right keywords. Yoast SEO is one tool that can help you navigate the process and improve your site’s search engine rankings.
Mistake #5: Not Using Website Analytics
Not configuring website analytics is one of the most common errors people make when starting a website. If you are not monitoring your performance, how can you tell what’s working? To keep an eye on visitors, page views, bounce rates, and other metrics, use Google Analytics or other tracking tools.
Gaining insight into your site’s performance will enable you to better optimize it and improve user experience. To make sure the website not only looks fantastic but also functions at its peak, many premium author website designers use tracking in their design process.
So, Which Platform Should You Pick?
It all depends on your needs. Wix is best for ease of use, Squarespace is best for aesthetics, Shopify is best for sales, WordPress is best for control, and Weebly is best for users on a tight budget.
The most important element? You need to take a start. Don’t worry about making your website perfect because it will change over time. Simply put it out there and get better as you go.
Are you an author who thinks this is way too technical for you? Your best bet would be to hire website and book website designers from BookQuill. They won’t just help you with the best website, its design, and layout, but they can also help you with your book writing.
Go ahead and create your website now!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Website Platforms Are Best For Creating An Author Website?
Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress are the top platforms for authors to create websites and blogs. These platforms let you professionally present your books and content by providing authors with customizable templates.
What Is The Price Of Creating A Website For An Author?
The price of creating a website for an author varies. Depending on features and complexity, custom-built websites or expert website designs for authors can cost anywhere from $500 to $5000 per month, while basic plans run from $10 to $30.
What Qualities Should I Search For In a Best Author Website Design?
Prioritize a simple layout, easy navigation, and social media integration when creating an author website. A premium author website designer can help in building a site that is both aesthetically pleasing and useful for your brand.
What are the Benefits of Author Website Designers if you Hire them?
Hiring an expert website designer guarantees that your website will appear great and work properly. Expert designers can help you create an appealing and intuitive website that complements your author brand.
Can I Use A Free Plan For My Author Website?
There are free website options, such as those provided by Wix or Weebly, but they include restrictions like advertisements and a subdomain. It’s preferable to get a personalized domain and the best web hosting with a website builder service for a professional image.
About Author
Hi, my name is Zachary Stone I’m a book marketing nut — or, as I like to call myself, a “Shelf Marketer.” No, I don’t sell wooden shelves; I market the books that are left forgotten on them. If you want your book to be the next bestseller, I am your go-to person. I am here to remind you that it’s not just about writing a great story — it’s about building a buzz among people with great campaigns.
