Updated April 2023

With busy days and ever-growing to-do lists putting the squeeze on your writing time, it can be easy to neglect your author website. But if you constantly put website maintenance on the back burner, your site will soon become outdated and nonfunctional. Fortunately, the expert designers at Web Design Relief have a few quick, “same-day” fixes to help you freshen your author website without spending hours and hours of your time—and without breaking your budget.

Do This To Quickly Freshen Your Author Website

Add New Content

If the last time you posted anything new on your author website was ten years ago, it will seem dated and most visitors will assume it’s abandoned. The best (and easiest) way to freshen your author website is to add new content. You can list your latest publications, update your biography, write a new blog post, and so much more. Your website visitors will feel confident your site is current, and the searchbots that track Internet activity will notice your recent additions and move you up in search rankings.

Update Your Headshot And Images

Just like adding new written content, it’s always a good idea to also update your headshot every so often. A photo that features your favorite leisure suit or ’80s perm will instantly make your author website seem stale. After all, you want fans to recognize you at a reading event or see a more current photo next to your latest publication. If you’d like a little guidance, check out our guide to flattering author portraits.

You can also update other images on your website. Add photos from recent book signings, events, or conferences. Be sure your photos reflect who you are in the present.

Use Trending Colors

While changing the entire layout of your website can be a major project, updating the site’s color palette is a quick and simple way to make a big impact at much less effort and cost. You can tweak the colors of your backgrounds, headers, menu bars, and even your text to freshen up the site’s appearance. We recommend choosing on-trend colors to help your website look modern. Here’s Pantone’s color of the year for inspiration!

Check Your Hyperlinks

Nothing says “I never update my website” like pages full of broken hyperlinks. Check your hyperlinks periodically to make sure they’re still active and functional. Working hyperlinks—especially links to your published works—show visitors that you’re an active writer and your author website is kept up to date.

Add (Or Remove) Social Media

If you’ve recently joined the new, hip platforms TikTok and Snapchat or finally decided to become a member of the massive community of writers on Facebook and Twitter, you’ll want to add these social media buttons or widgets to your website. Likewise, it’s time to retire unused social media buttons for defunct platforms Google+ and Myspace.

Boost Security

With hackers finding new ways to break into websites and steal valuable data, it’s important to have the latest cybersecurity tools to protect your site. Update your current plugins or shop around for new security features. Many of these features, like CAPTCHA-protection, are visible on your web pages, so visitors will know you keep your security resources updated and effective.

These quick, same-day updates will help freshen the look of your author website without a big commitment of cost or time. With a few updates to your content, colors, and security, your website will look brand-new and your visitors will enjoy your up-to-the-minute content.

If you don’t have an author website, or are ready for a totally new one, the experts at Web Design Relief can help! Sign up for a free, no-obligation consultation to find out how you can boost your online presence with a budget-friendly custom author website designed especially for you!

Question: When was the last time you updated your author website?