When visitors land on your website, you have mere seconds to make a lasting impression. And if you’re a picture book author, your site should feel just as imaginative and engaging as the stories you write. But here’s what I see all the time: websites built on default settings. White background. Black text. Nothing necessarily wrong with that… but for a picture book author? It’s a missed opportunity.

Your website is your digital home, and your books are the star of the show. Let’s talk about why it makes a big difference to feature your books right on your homepage—and how that simple shift can help you sell more copies, connect with readers faster, and build a stronger author brand.

There’s a reason all the biggest companies, influencers, and celebrities spend so much time, money, and effort developing their brand - they know their brand is the essence of how others will perceive them and their work. Your brand is what's going to resonate with your readers and create that connection between you and your audience

A website’s structure plays a massive role. It’s not just about having a site; it’s about how easily visitors can navigate the site, how quickly they can find information, and how engaged they become with the author’s work. Many authors assume a website with more pages is better. However, a one-page website offers numerous advantages that often get overlooked. Which option is best for you? Let’s dive in and find out!

You need a website, but there are a seemingly infinite number of website platforms where you can build your website (or hire a designer to build your website for you). Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, GoDaddy, Weebly, Nexcess…the list goes on and on. So how to choose?

So yes, the best strategy for a task as time-consuming and important as designing your professional website, is to find a designer and use their Zone of Genius to uplevel your career. After all, no matter where a reader, literary agent, or publisher first hears your name, at some point they’re going to Google you. And when they do, you’ll want to have your best foot forward.