The Most Affordable Option for Author Websites

Product research really paid off this time. 

As a writer, I find online writing groups extremely valuable for asking niche questions on writing. I spend a lot of time in Facebook groups, specifically. There are so many experienced writers who give genuine advice. But these groups can also give insights on my business, since it's directly related to writing. 

So I searched for posts related to author websites to see what the vibe was. Though I've done extensive research on my own, it's best practice to keep up-to-date on developments and monitor the market.

Sure enough, someone recently posted looking for advice on what website builder to use for their author website. The comment section was huge, but most responses were as I expected.

The Author Perspective On Website Builders

Several people use WordPress but find it difficult, so they never make updates and aren’t happy with their design. I found this situation very common throughout previous research I had done. Several people happily used Wix and Squarespace, though warned of the yearly fee, upwards of $200. Again, this aligns with my previous research. But there were more comments about Google Sites than I anticipated. 

I knew Google Sites was an option for authors and business owners alike, but I hadn’t considered it a super viable option because of its design limitations. But the majority of comments from folks who were happy with their websites came from people using Google Sites—for free. While I’m glad authors have access to such an easy-to-use, free tool, it made my author website templates built on Wix feel less necessary. And that’s what I built my entire business model on.

The "Oh Shit..." Moment

First, I panicked. At this point in my business, all the website templates I offered were built on Wix. My research showed that it was a slightly better option than Squarespace and a much better option than WordPress.

Then I tested it out and realized that Google Sites is a viable option for authors, and it’s free to connect a purchased domain (though the domain costs about $20-30 per year). An author can create a Gmail account, then create a very basic website that looks clean.

But the design options on Google Sites are very limited. You can only choose three colours to work with, you can't crop photos into shapes (like making your author headshot a circle), you can't edit the mobile design, you can only place images and text in certain positions, there are no shapes or graphics built in to enhance your design, and more.

So I asked Google, “Can I sell website templates made on Google Sites?” and the answer was “Yes.”

Then I got excited. 

The "Shit Yeah!" Moment

I realized I can use my design skills to workaround some of the major the design limitations in Google Sites! I can make custom headers, custom graphics and more. Plus drawing on my professional background in marketing and copywriting, I can guide authors on what to include on their sites. With these products specifically designed for authors, my products provide real value at a low cost.

How Google Sites Compares to Wix

With Wix, you have to purchase a Premium subscription at around $200+ per year in order to connect a domain (which is a separate purchase, around $20-30 per year). Connecting a domain is mandatory if you want your website to look professional (which is the whole goal of an author website). But with that yearly premium fee, you get a whole lot of value. You can run a newsletter right from Wix, help your site appear in search results with search engine optimization (SEO) tools, create automations for email marketing, and much more. My website templates that are built in Wix range from $49.95 to $119.95 at the time of writing this article.

With Google Sites, there is no extra yearly fee to connect a domain, you just buy the domain itself. But it lacks marketing tools and design capability majorly when compared to Wix. My website templates that are built in Google Sites range from $39.95 to $59.95 at this time.

Wix is the obvious winner for authors who want a website with highly customizable, modern design capabilities—but a Google Sites template built by a marketing professional can give authors a site that’s steps above what they can achieve on their own. And it’s extremely affordable, especially when you consider that a custom website from an agency can cost authors anywhere from $2,500-$4,000 and up. 

Basically, a Wix template is the right choice for authors who prioritize customizable design and marketing capability, and a Google Sites template is the right choice for authors who prioritize affordability and ease-of-use.

Creating More Value for Affordable Author Websites

So it really paid off that I continued product research in the right places. Then, instead of being gutted that authors could circumvent my offerings, I figured out a way to add value to their already-great option.

Now, authors can get a professionally designed website at an affordable, one-time cost, and I still get to help them advance their writing careers with my marketing skills. Authors who value design and marketing capabilities in their website builder can still choose from the Wix templates I offer. It's up to them to chose their priorities.

I truly love working in the arts and culture community and I love a good deal, so I am stoked to be able to offer website templates for authors on Google Sites. You can find them all here or follow my newsletter to see when new ones are launched.