Build your reader platform before launch day
Your manuscript is close to done and publication is on the calendar. The last thing you want is a scramble to stand up a website the week you go live.
An author website builder creates a professional author site from a description of your book, genre, and readers, then connects email and community tools in one place. The frame that matters: build your list and launch hub before release day, not during it.
This guide covers required pages, a step-by-step build with GoDaddy Airo AI Builder, MailChimp and Patreon connectors, a six-month launch timeline, and what to evaluate before you choose a builder.
See the authors page for examples built for debut and self-published authors.
What pages does an author website need?
Every author site shares a core set. Fiction and non-fiction add a few pages based on how readers find you.
Pages every author needs
- Home — your name, genre, and a clear call to action (email signup or preorder)
- About — biography for readers, not industry contacts
- Books — cover, synopsis, buy links, reviews when available
- Contact — form or email for media, events, and readers
Put email signup above the fold on Home if you are growing a list.
Fiction additions
- Series page — reading order with links to each title
- Book club resources — discussion guide or questions
- World or character page — optional for fantasy, sci-fi, or historical fiction with deep lore
Non-fiction additions
- Speaking or media kit — headshots, bios, expertise areas, booking info
- Credentials page — background that establishes why you wrote the book
How to build your author website step by step
Jordan Reeves is finishing a debut mystery with about six months until self-publication. He is not a designer. He knows the book, the audience, and the author brand he wants. That is enough to start.
Step 1: Describe your book, readers, and voice
Open GoDaddy Airo AI Builder and describe the project in plain language. Example: "I write contemporary mystery for readers who like fast-paced plots and small-town settings. Debut title: The Orchard Road Murders. Audience: mystery fans 30 to 55 who read indie and traditional authors."
Before your first session, this overview of AI website design walks through how the conversational build works.
Step 2: Build book pages and a launch hub
Ask for a Books page with synopsis and preorder link, an About page written for readers, and a Home page with a visible signup form.
Add an updates page (your launch hub) for milestones as they land:
| Milestone | What to add on the updates page |
|---|---|
| Cover reveal | Cover image, short note on tone and setting |
| ARC (advance review copy) | How reviewers request a copy or join the list |
| Preorder live | Retail links, release date, one-line pitch |
| Launch week | Buy links, thank-you note, request for early reviews |
| Post-launch | Praise quotes, events, next book tease |
That single URL is what you share in social bios, guest posts, and podcast show notes for six months.
Step 3: Connect MailChimp
Your email list is the most direct line to readers who opted in. The MailChimp connector links your account so signup forms on Home and Books feed your list automatically.
What the connector enables: Airo can use your MailChimp audience context when you draft update pages, launch copy, or reader-facing emails inside the builder. You are not re-explaining your book every time you write a campaign.
Write a short welcome message for new subscribers before the book is finished.
Step 4: Connect Patreon and social accounts
If you plan early access or bonus content for engaged readers, connect Patreon even before tiers are final. Tiers can surface on your site so fans see the support path without hunting a separate link.
Connect Facebook and Instagram so social links are consistent from day one.
See it in practice: a serialized story site that grows with you
Not every author launches with a finished manuscript. Some build readership by publishing chapter by chapter and updating the site as the story moves.
In this conversation, creator Joey Crowell walks through how he built Widow's Debt with GoDaddy Airo AI Builder: a serialized pirate adventure published chapter by chapter with new posts, visuals, and reader updates on a site he owns. He is not a web designer or social media expert. He describes the project in prompts, publishes chapters to his site, and uses AI tools alongside the builder for images, audio, and promotion.
If you are planning a launch hub, a fiction serial, or weekly reader updates, this is a useful look at the workflow in practice.
What you will pick up from the episode:
- How one story idea became a weekly serialized site with built-in hooks for readers
- A prompt-driven workflow for site copy, chapter pages, and visual updates
- How Joey publishes new chapters and refreshes the site without rebuilding from scratch
- Practical prompting habits when AI output needs a nudge in the right direction
Watch on YouTube · Try GoDaddy Airo AI Builder free
Step 5: Review and publish
Preview the site. Confirm the signup form works, book pages have buy or notify links, and About reads in your author voice rather than resume voice.
Publish on a paid plan when ready.
Related: Make your AI credits go further
Common first-author mistakes
- Launching the site the week of release. List growth needs months, not days.
- About page in resume voice. Readers want to know why the book is worth their time.
- Signup buried below the fold. Repeat it on every book page.
- Waiting for perfect before publish. A simple live site beats a polished site that ships late.
Six-month launch timeline (Jordan's plan)
| When | Focus |
|---|---|
| Month 6 | Site live on Starter. Home, About, Books stub, signup live. Launch hub URL in bio. |
| Month 5 | MailChimp welcome series. Lead magnet live (see below). |
| Month 4 | Cover reveal on launch hub + email to list. |
| Month 3 | ARC page or list segment for reviewers. |
| Month 2 | Preorder links on Books page and hub. Social push to hub URL. |
| Month 1 / launch week | Buy links everywhere. Thank subscribers. Ask for honest reviews. |
You do not need every row on day one. Publish early at month 6 and fill the hub as dates firm up.
Lead magnets that grow your list before launch
Offer something specific in exchange for an email, not a generic "join my newsletter."
Fiction examples:
- First chapter of the debut novel
- Bonus scene or deleted chapter
- Short story in the same world
- Book club discussion guide (PDF)
Non-fiction examples:
- Checklist or worksheet from the book's framework
- First chapter plus "who this book is for" one-pager
- Webinar or Q&A signup for launch week
Place the signup and magnet description on Home and Books. Mention the same offer in Instagram bios and guest author bios.
Turn your site into a reader community
A static site shows the book. A connected site gives readers a reason to return.
The site is the anchor for search and word of mouth. Email is where they opt in again. Patreon is where your most engaged readers support ongoing work.
MailChimp and Patreon connectors are live in GoDaddy Airo AI Builder. For campaign ideas after publish, see marketing campaigns with GoDaddy Airo AI Builder.
What to look for in an author website builder
| You need… | GoDaddy Airo AI Builder |
|---|---|
| Site from a book description, not a blank template | Conversational build |
| Book pages with buy or notify links | Built through conversation |
| Email list without a separate setup project | MailChimp connector |
| Patron community as readership grows | Patreon connector |
| Start free, publish when ready | Free preview; paid plan to go live |
How much does an author website cost?
| Plan | What's included | Publishing |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 50 AI credits, build and preview | Preview only |
| Starter | 150 monthly AI credits, 1 published app with subdomain | Live site |
| Professional | 300 monthly AI credits, up to 10 published apps, advanced analytics | Live site |
Pricing accurate September 2026. Confirm at airo-builder.godaddy.com.
Starter is the right default to get your author site live: Home, Books, signup, and launch hub. Marketing campaigns and automations (for example scheduled SEO checks or social drafts from new posts) are available on Starter. They use credits each time they run.
When to consider Professional
Upgrade when you are actively growing the site after publish, not just maintaining a static page. Professional doubles monthly credits (300 vs. 150), which gives you room for recurring marketing campaigns and automations during a six-month launch without running low mid-month. Advanced analytics helps you see which pages drive signups and preorder clicks as release week approaches.
Domain and author email
A custom domain (for example jordanreevesbooks.com) is a separate annual fee through GoDaddy domain registration. It reads more professional on press queries and bookstore outreach than a subdomain alone.
GoDaddy Professional Email on your author domain (for example [email protected]) rounds out media and reader correspondence. Attach the domain after your first publish if budget is tight; add email when you start pitching events or podcasts.
Related: Analytics in GoDaddy Airo AI Builder
Author website FAQs
Do I need a website before my book is published?
Yes, and earlier than most debut authors expect. An email list started months before launch gives you readers who are more likely to buy, review, and recommend in opening week.
What is the difference between a website and an author platform?
The website is the hub you own. The platform is the full set of channels: site, email, social, podcast or video, and community spaces like Patreon. The site ties them together.
Can I build an author website for free?
You can build and preview on the free plan (50 AI credits). Publishing live requires Starter. MailChimp free tier may cover early contacts; confirm current limits before you scale.
How do I grow an email list as an author?
Signup above the fold on Home and Books. Offer a first chapter, bonus scene, or book club guide. Mention the list in social bios and every author bio you write for events or guest posts.
Can I link my Goodreads author profile on my site?
Yes. Ask GoDaddy Airo AI Builder to add a Goodreads link or profile element on your Books or About page through conversation. Keep buy links and your email signup primary; Goodreads supports discovery for readers who already use the platform.
How long does it take to build an author website?
A first version can be ready in one focused session. Launch simple early and add pages as release approaches.
What should be on my author website launch hub?
Cover reveal, ARC instructions, preorder links, release date, and post-launch reviews or events. One URL you update instead of rebuilding the whole site each milestone.
Start building your reader platform
The readers who pre-order, review early, and follow your next title often find your site before the wider market does. Building that platform before launch pressure hits gives you room to grow it steadily.
Build your author website with GoDaddy Airo AI Builder — free to try.