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Writers Building Websites

Writers Building Websites

Build an Author Website

Build a complete author website using WordPress with this free beginner-friendly course. Attract your audience, grow your mailing list, and drive book sales!

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Course Curriculum

This course is designed as a beginner-friendly, step-by-step guide, requiring no prior knowledge of web design or WordPress. It’s divided into eight comprehensive modules, each focusing on a key aspect of building a professional and successful author website. Here’s what you’ll learn:

01. Build a Starter Website for Authors

Learn how to build a secure, fast, high-performing, and SEO-friendly foundation for your author website. We’ll start by streamlining your WordPress installation, stripping it back to the essentials, applying optimal settings, and adding only the plugins you truly need.
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02. Brand Your Website

Module 2 teaches you to create a cohesive, professional brand for your author website using Breakdance. Learn to customise colours, typography, and global settings, craft a Style Guide, and design presets for consistent, user-friendly layouts that reflect your unique author identity.
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03. Header & Footer

Module 3 teaches you how to create a professional header and footer for your author website. You'll build a responsive header with a logo and menu that enhances branding and navigation. You'll also build a multi-column footer layout, adding links, calls to action, social media links, and copyright information.
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04. Books Custom Post Type

Module 4 shows you how to create a Books Custom Post Type with ACF, adding dynamic layouts, star ratings, and series details for professional, SEO-friendly book pages.
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05. Single Book Template

Module 5 teaches you to build dynamic book templates with Breakdance, featuring hero sections, ratings, CTAs, reviews, and post loops to showcase books and boost engagement.
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06. Book Archive Templates

Module 6 guides you to create dynamic genre, series, and book archives in Breakdance, enhancing navigation, SEO, and reader discovery on your author website.
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07. Forms for Authors

Module 7 covers creating contact and newsletter forms, thank you pages, and email integrations to boost reader engagement, grow your audience, and increase conversions.
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08. Essential Web Pages

Module 8 covers creating a privacy policy, About page, and homepage to build trust, engage readers, and boost conversions.
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Try out a lesson

using rem instead of pixels boosting accessibility and flexibility in author websites

Using REM instead of Pixels

Stephen Gordon 22/11/2024
Learn why REM is better than pixels for author websites. This guide covers REM’s benefits for responsive design and accessibility, plus an easy CSS solution.
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