How to Maintain an Author Website
Your author website is more than just a place to show off your books. It helps readers learn about you, gives them a way to buy your books, and can even get you invited to events. But none of that works if your website is out of date or broken.
If you’re a writer who wants to look professional, keeping your website in good shape is a must. Here’s how to maintain an author website the right way.
1. Keep Your Payment Info Up to Date
This might sound boring, but it’s super important.
If the credit card on your website account stops working, your hosting company will shut your site down. No one will be able to visit it. If your domain name (that’s the website’s name like YourNameAuthor.com usually purchased from GoDaddy.com or NameCheap.com) expires, someone else can even buy it.
To avoid problems:
- Make sure your hosting and domain companies have a working credit card on file.
- Set a reminder to check it every few months.
- If your payment method changes, update your accounts right away.
2. Update Your Plugins and Website Software
Plugins are little tools that help your website do cool stuff—like collect emails, sell books, or track visitors. But plugins need updates, just like apps on your phone. If you don’t update them:
- Your site could slow down.
- Things might stop working.
- Hackers could get in.
Also, the system your site is built on (like WordPress) needs updates too. Try to check for updates once a month. And if you’re not using a plugin anymore, delete it. Less clutter means fewer problems.
3. Change the Copyright Date Each Year
Look at the very bottom of your site. See where it says something like “© 2025”? If it still says last year, people might think your site is old or forgotten.
All you have to do is change the number to the current year. It only takes a second but makes your site look fresh and active.
4. Keep Your Info Current
Old info can make readers think you don’t care. Don’t leave things like:
- An event from last year listed as “upcoming”
- A book marked “coming soon” when it’s already out
- A blog post from two years ago as your most recent update
Fixing this is easy:
- Remove outdated events
- Update book status and links
- Hide blog post dates if you’re not posting often
Even better? Try to post blogs regularly. That shows Google (and your fans) that your site is alive and well.
5. Don’t Forget the Small Stuff
Some things are tiny but still matter:
- Test your contact form to make sure it works.
- Make sure all book links go to the right places.
- Check that your site looks good on phones and tablets.
Doing these things keeps readers happy. And keeps you looking like a pro.
Why It Matters
Your author website is the center of your online world. It’s the place people go to learn about you, read your blog, or buy your books. If it’s out of date or stops working, you could lose readers, or worse, sales.
Keeping it updated doesn’t take much time, but it makes a big difference.
Need Help Maintaining Your Author Website?
Your words are powerful and your website should be, too. At Publish Pros, we offer expert website maintenance services designed just for authors. From plugin updates and content changes to security checks and backup support, we’ll keep your site running smoothly so you can stay focused on writing.
