Before and After: Writer Website Glow Up for Rachel Gabriel
Here’s another peek behind the scenes of my popular Author Website Glow Up service.
Rachel Gabriel is a writer, teaching artist, and literary citizen. As a multi-passionate artist in word, image and song, she loves to engage people of all ages in the joy-filled play of reading and writing.
With three books finished and seeking agent representation, Rachel decided it was time to re-focus her website on her writing, and to give the design a professional boost.
Before working with me, Rachel said:
“My goal is to attract agents to represent my projects and to build my author platform.
Currently, the website looks DIY to me and I’m ready to polish it for the professional career I’m building now.”
What is the one day Author Website “Glow Up” service?
Writers and authors like Rachel hire me to elevate their DIY Squarespace website, more or less overnight! I partner with writers to turn basic DIY Squarespace layouts into premium, author-centric websites.
Skip the design frustration with my one-day intensive makeover service. If you want a credible web presence but lack the hours or tech skills to build it yourself, I step in to do the heavy lifting.
Backed by years of specialized Squarespace experience, I will convert your current site into a professional marketing tool. The result is a polished, engaging digital home that immediately validates you to readers, literary agents, event organizers, and (if applicable) potential clients.
Let’s take a look at how Rachel’s Glow Up turned out:
AFTER: a professional, attractive design for Rachel’s projects and manuscript queries
AFTER: More screenshots, showing these author website pages after our Glow Up day (click to enlarge):
What “before” problems did we solve?
Rachel was ready to adjust the focus of her Squarespace website away from client services and toward her own publishing goals. She had strong wording and ideas, but, like many others, had struggled to achieve a professional layout with authentic images and an intentional color scheme.
What I did:
Made the website much more personal, using many of Rachel’s own photos, and her favorite brand font.
Added more visual interest and room to showcase even more images, with a dedicated Gallery page.
Established a beautiful color palette using not only Rachel’s favorite cool colors, but a sophisticated purple as the Call To Action accent color too.
Re-aligned the layouts to give breathing space where needed, and double-checked that everything looked good on mobile view.
Retired several pages that were no longer needed, and added a Projects page to showcase the breadth of Rachel’s current work.
Designed a beautiful new About page, with room for Rachel to introduce herself through her Artist’s Statement, formal Bio, and even a Ballad!
Created the Gabriel’s Folly area (using the Squarespace blog feature) where Rachel can share her “Word. Image. Song.” prompts.
Tidied up Rachel’s Contact form and verified that her newsletter signup works.
Put basic SEO settings in place — including “alt” tags for all the images — so that Google views Rachel’s website as professional and reliable.
Tested every page for mobile repsonsiveness.
And here’s what Rachel said about her refreshed writer website, afterward:
“I loved working with Pauline. After many years of relying on DIY web design, I am relieved and delighted to have hired a professional. Pauline brings expertise and creativity to her work. I highly recommend her "website refresh". Finally, I am proud to give someone my website link!”
BEFORE: Rachel needed to pivot her focus and level up the design of her site.
Ready for your own website “Glow Up”?
If your website needs professional rescue, it’s straightforward to book me for a day to work my magic:
Make sure your website uses Squarespace (this is where I have deep expertise, so it’s the only platform where I offer this service)
I’ll take a look at your site, and let you know whether I can help
If we’re a match, you’ll pick your date from my online calendar, pay a deposit to reserve that time, and prepare your wishlist for me to work on
We’ll meet and make a plan, about a week before your Glow Up day
Other author websites packed with personality:
Website tour: a memoir author website that builds connection
Showcasing historical research: a Glow Up for a YA novelist
Publishing a new book: a nonfiction author website Glow Up that showcases a second title, while acknowledging the first
Multi-passionate questions: Should your author website be named after you, or your book?
Multi-passionate questions: Should you put two creative businesses on one website?
Save 10% off your first subscription for a Squarespace website by using the code PAULINE10
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