Does a first-time author need a website?

The direct answer

Nothing requires a first-time author to have a website — you can publish a book on KDP with nothing but a social media profile. But a website is the one place online you actually control, which a rented social profile or a retailer's product page never is. For most authors, that difference becomes noticeable fast.

What a website does that Amazon and social media don't

• It's the one place your bio, your book, and your contact information live together, under your control, not a platform's
• It gives media, reviewers, and event organizers a real place to find and vet you
• It lets you capture reader emails directly — an audience you actually own, not one an algorithm decides whether to show your posts to
• It's findable by your own name and book title in search, separate from whatever Amazon or social platforms choose to surface

When it matters less

If you're publishing one book purely as a personal project with no plans to build a readership, promote future work, or be reachable by readers or media, a website may genuinely be more than you need. It's not required — it's a practical tool for authors who want an online presence they control rather than one they're renting.

What a first website actually needs

It doesn't need to be large. See what pages an author website should have for the short list that covers most first-time authors, and how much an author website costs for what affects the price.

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