Express Author Website Design
A simple starter site, professionally designed and launched for you
Let’s get you up and running fast with a simple, entry-level author website
Want to start with the essentials? My Express Website package delivers beautiful design, and cures your DIY tech headaches.
Essential website pages to introduce your books(s)
Claim your website domain name and start sharing it!
Begin to attract readers and grow your audience
Easy, streamlined preparation, so you can get back to writing
Enhance and expand your website over time
The brilliance of an Express Website lies in its simplicity.
But you still want professional advice and design, everything done for you, and zero time Googling how to launch.
Investment: $2500
Bigger goals? Services to sell? Do you need more pages, added features, and powerful integrations with other tools?
A Custom Author Website might be right for you, instead.
Your Express Author Website Includes
✓ 4 key pages: Home, About, Book(s), Contact
✓ Your choice of 3 initial blog posts loaded for you, or integration to display your Substack feed
✓ An email sign-up form, so you can begin to gather subscriber permission for your newsletter (Squarespace campaigns or Substack)
✓ Social media links and icons
✓ Expert website design and development in Squarespace
✓ Mobile responsiveness, to make sure every visitor gets a high-end experience
✓ SEO-friendly settings, to begin establishing your reputation with Google
✓ Accelerated project timeline: your site will be live in 2 days
✓ Ongoing access to a comprehensive video course, so you can feel confident working inside Squarespace
✓ A flexible website structure that you can add to later, either on your own or by booking a dedicated Day Intensive with me
✓ My personalized attention throughout our collaboration (I do not currently outsource or employ subcontractors, nor do I use AI in my designs)
✓ 7 Days of post-launch email support from me
✓ No retainer or costly maintenance package; you fully own your website
✓ 20% off your first year of Squarespace
Your Express Website starts from one of my tried and trusted author website templates, developed personally by me, specifically for authors like you.
It includes full customization of fonts and colors, to show off your book(s) perfectly.
Investment: $2500
“Pauline was a complete professional — organized, expert, and accountable. But she was also warm, personable, and patient, offering ideas and insights that made my website more complete and polished than I had anticipated. Pauline has earned my admiration and highest recommendation.”
— Jean Zimmer, editor and writer
How does this happen?
Here’s how our Express Website story will usually go:
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Chat and Choose
We’ll talk on a complimentary Zoom call to make sure the Express Website is right for your current author goals.
Assuming we’re a fit, we’ll choose the best starter template for you, and pick firm dates for our Design Period. You’ll pay a project deposit at this time.
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Preparation
You’ll work independently to prepare your website content, with guidance from me and a checklist so you know everything is in hand.
You’ll write your website copy and gather images, including a professional-quality photo of you.
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Design & Build
I now bring the perfect combination of my design, book marketing, and technical skills, to create your professional and powerful author website.
You’ll be closely involved during this phase, which lasts just 2 days. I only build one website at a time, so you can be sure of having my full attention.
Typically, I’ll nail the design first time, but you’ll be able to request one round of minor revisions.
You’ll pay the remainder of your project invoice before your site launches.
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Launch & Handover
On Day 2, I’ll launch your new website and handover full ownership to you.
This package includes self-guided training resources so you can get comfortable working inside your new site.
(Later on, you can add pages and enhancements yourself, or hire me for a one-day intensive to do it for you.)
Now, it’s over to you to start using your new site to reach your readers!
Questions and Answers
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An Express Website can accommodate one to three books. If you have published more than that, let’s discuss a Custom project.
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The Express Website includes 4 key pages. You can easily add more later, or you can hire me to add them for you. If you’d like more pages for your initial launch, consider my Custom Website service.
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Your Express Website will be “SEO friendly”, meaning it sets the groundwork for your good reputation with Google. Specifically, that means modern design, mobile responsiveness, appropriate page names, good page load speed, and image “alt” tags.
If you are looking for full optimization and keyword research, let’s talk about a Custom Website project.
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Your website template includes a new, blank, blog, with a few fresh posts added for you.
It’s usually possible to export your old blog and import it to your new Squarespace website, but it’s definitely extra work. Either you can do this after your new site launches, or you can hire me. Learn more about the process here.
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Yes! Squarespace allows you to add a fully integrated shop, whenever you’re ready. But please note, this package does not include shop pages or how-to tutorials.
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As well as step by step tutorial videos, you get free email support from me for 7 days. After that, the Squarespace team is there for you 24x7, at no extra charge. Beyond this, I offer one-day intensives where I’ll clear my calendar and take care of updating and improving your site.
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We’ll chat about template choice during our first call. Every template is designed for an author and is both professional and visually pleasing. And I’ll customize it fully for you, so it represents your book(s) and brand perfectly.
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You’ll need:
An ongoing subscription to Squarespace (Basic or Core plan: I will guide you in this and you’ll get 20% off your first year)
Your own domain name
Possibly a subscription to Squarespace Campaigns, if you plan to send a newsletter immediately
You might also choose to pay for professional photos
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No, I’ll tell you when it’s time to pay for your Squarespace subscription. You’ll also save 20% on your first year.
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No! Hosting is included as part of your Squarespace subscription. (But don’t buy that yet, I’ll tell you when it’s time.)
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Absolutely. Everything I build features responsive design, to work well on different screen sizes.
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I can replace everything inside the template with your own colors, text, logo, and images. Squarespace includes over 1000 fonts at no extra charge, so we’re sure to find one that works with your book(s) and brand. If you don’t have any branding yet, don’t worry. I will still make your website look wonderful.
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Unless you want to start from scratch, my Author Website Glow Up service is probably a better match. Learn more about that here.
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We’ll meet by Zoom once each day, for up to an hour. That’s the perfect amount of time for you to be involved and give feedback, while putting the bulk of the work in my capable hands.
Hello, I’m Pauline, and I’m an author too
With 6 of my own books, I have a personal track record of book marketing success.
(Want to peek? There are 1200+ Amazon ratings for my debut novel.)
When we work together, you gain business solutions from an experienced marketing partner. I will create your author website with meticulous attention to your author goals.
If you value quality and efficiency, delivered in a friendly and supportive way by someone who’s “been there”, then we should get to know each other.