Building an Author Website on a Budget

Creating your author website doesn't have to drain your bank account. Thanks to the wealth of low-cost and free tools available to writers today, we no longer have to pay an arm and a leg in order to have a high-quality, functional, and beautiful website. Platforms like Wordpress.com, Wix, and Weebly offer free or low-cost options that work wonderfully for authors and are complete with essential features like blog sections, book showcase pages, and contact forms. Many of these services include basic hosting and domain registration packages that cost less than a cup of coffee per month, making them an excellent choice for authors just starting their online journey.

Here are several ideas to help you get started without breaking the bank.

Wix, Weebly, Wordpress.com, and Squarespace

These website builders offer free or affordable website design tools and hosting plans. Though they have limitations, such as displaying ads or using a pre-assigned subdomain, their free options give new authors an excellent starting point to build upon over time. In fact, all the elements found in Five Essential Features of an Author Website are provided free in Wix, Weebly, or Wordpress.com.

TIP: To be confident you'll be able to work with a particular website builder, play around on their website and head out to YouTube to watch how-to videos. Each builder works a little differently, so getting familiar with the platform before committing may save you some frustration later down the road.

Choose Affordable Hosting and Domain Services

Wix, Squarespace, Bluehost, GoDaddy, and HostGator are reliable hosts that offer low-cost hosting plans starting at $2 or $3 per month.

 You can also purchase your domain at minimal cost using any of the above companies.

Free and Low-Cost Themes and Templates

You can find many free themes and templates in your website builder. If you’ve chosen one of the builders mentioned above, the templates available for free will often be beautiful, modern, and very functional.

Social Media Widgets

Social media integration widgets, which are typically free, can help connect your website with your existing profiles on platforms like Instagram, Goodreads, and X.

Use Free Plugins and Apps

In addition to social media integration widgets, many builders offer free tools to help you build your perfect website—like contact forms, popups, social media feeds, and payment buttons. The list goes on and on, so use your imagination!

Limit Customization

Stick to ready-made templates and themes to avoid the cost of hiring a designer or developer. When choosing your website builder, template, and additional tools, be sure to choose options you’ll be able to update on your own in the future.

By strategically combining budget-friendly tools and services, you can create a professional-looking author website that serves as an effective platform for connecting with readers and promoting your work.