7 Author Website Audit Tips That Will Make Readers Click

Why Author Website Audit Tips Matter

If you’re looking for author website audit tips that actually help you get more clicks and readers, you’re in the right place. I recently hosted my first live session full of author website audit tips, offering real-time advice, honest feedback, and simple ways to improve your online presence.

In this post, I’m breaking down 7 of the most helpful tips that came up—so you can avoid common mistakes and build a website that feels intentional, professional, and ready to work for you.

Let’s get started.

7 Author Website Audit Tips You Can Use Today

You don’t need to hire a web developer or spend weeks tweaking your site to see real improvements. These author website audit tips come straight from live audits I’ve done with real writers, and they’re all things you can start applying right now.

Some are quick wins. Others might take a little more time. But each one is designed to help you build a site that not only looks good—but actually works to attract more readers, grow your email list, and connect you with your ideal audience.

Let’s dig into the seven tips.

1. Author Website Audit Tip: Know Exactly Who You’re Speaking To

Before you focus on layout, colors, or plugins, you need to know who your website is for. This is one of the most essential author website audit tips—start with clarity around your audience. Not everyone. Not “readers in general.” One specific type of person.

Start by asking:

• Who is your ideal reader or client?
• What are they looking for when they land on your site?
• What problem do they have that your book or service helps solve?

Whether it’s a stressed-out parent looking for bedtime stories, or an aspiring writer seeking publishing tips—you want your homepage to make that person feel seen. When your content speaks directly to one audience, your messaging gets sharper, your navigation gets easier, and your call to action becomes obvious.

👉 Pro tip: Give your ideal reader a name and personality. Write your homepage like you’re talking to them.

2. Author Website Audit Tip: Use a Clear, Clickable Call to Action

Your author website needs to guide visitors—not just impress them. That’s where a call to action (CTA) comes in. It’s the one thing you want your reader to do next.

Do you want them to:

• Join your email list?
• Read a sample chapter?
• Buy your latest book?
• Book you for a school visit?

Great—now put that action front and center. Don’t make people scroll or guess. Place your CTA near the top of the page (what’s called “above the fold”) and make it feel inviting.

Instead of:

“Click here”
Try something like:
✅ “Start Reading for Free”
✅ “Get the First Chapter”
✅ “Join My Reader Club”

Also: make it a button, not just a hyperlink. Buttons convert better and stand out visually—especially on mobile.

3. Author Website Audit Tip: Make Your Site Mobile Friendly

More than half of your website visitors are likely using their phone. If your site isn’t easy to read and navigate on a small screen, you’re losing readers before they ever see your book.

Here’s what to check:

• 📱 Text is large enough to read without zooming
• 👆 Buttons and links are easy to tap
• 🖼️ Images scale correctly and don’t break your layout
• 🧭 Navigation is simple and doesn’t hide behind tiny icons

Most modern site builders and themes offer responsive design, meaning your site automatically adjusts to different screen sizes. Still, it’s worth pulling up your homepage on your phone—and maybe a friend’s too—to make sure it feels smooth, fast, and intentional.

👉 If you have to pinch, squint, or guess where to click, so will your readers.

4. Author Website Audit Tip: Optimize Image SEO the Right Way

Images do more than just make your website look good—they help your site get found and understood. Every image on your author website is an opportunity to boost clarity and SEO (search engine optimization).

Here’s how to get the most out of them:

• Rename your image files before uploading
  Instead of IMG_2938.jpg, use something like
  middle-grade-book-cover-jennifer-perkins.jpg
• Add alt text (alternative text) to every image
  This tells search engines what the image is about
  Example: “Cover of The Ball at the Circus, a children’s book by Jennifer M. Perkins featuring a monkey on a red-and-white ball under a spotlight.”
• Compress images so they load fast
  Big image files = slow site = readers bouncing. Before you upload images, run them through a free tool like compressor.io to reduce file size without losing quality. It’s quick, intuitive, and will help your pages load faster—especially on mobile.

Images aren’t just decoration—they’re part of your content. The more descriptive and optimized they are, the more useful they become.

5. Create Irresistible Lead Magnets for Your Readers

If you’re trying to grow your email list (and you should be), you need something valuable to offer in return. That’s where a lead magnet comes in—it’s a free resource that makes your readers say, “Yes, I want that.”

Here are a few simple ideas that work great for authors:

• 📘 First 3 chapters of your latest book
• 🎁 Printable quote pack or bookmark
• 🧠 Behind-the-scenes look at your writing process
• 📝 Reader’s guide or book club discussion questions
• 🧩 A fun character personality quiz

The key is to keep whatever you offer short, simple, and relevant to your audience. Then place it in a visible spot on your homepage with a short sentence like:

“Want a free sample? Join my email list and I’ll send it to you.”

Not sure what to offer as a freebie? This post on how to make money on the road includes lead magnet ideas that pair well with these author website audit tips—especially for authors, coaches, and creators.

👉 Remember: a great lead magnet solves a small problem or sparks curiosity.

6. Make Your Website Easy to Read and Scan

Let’s be honest—most people won’t read every word on your site. They’ll skim. So your job is to make that easy for them.

Here’s how to format your content for real human behavior:

• Use short paragraphs (2–3 lines max)
• Add subheadings to break up sections
• Bold important phrases to draw attention
• Use bullet points (like this!) for clarity
• Add visuals to reset the eye

Also, avoid giant blocks of text. It doesn’t matter how beautifully written your copy is—if it looks hard to read, people will scroll past it.

👉 The easier your site is to scan, the more likely visitors will stay, click, and engage.

7. Author Website Audit Tips for Ongoing Blog and Podcast Updates

A blog or podcast is more than extra content—it’s a sign your site is alive. Regular updates give returning visitors something new and show search engines that your site is active.

If you blog:

• Use strong headlines (analyze yours with this free tool)
• Set a featured image for every post
• Break up your text with subheadings and quotes
• Link to your books, events, or email list

If you podcast:

• Include show notes with each episode
• Add relevant keywords and categories
• Use platforms like Libsyn to auto-distribute
• Embed the player directly into your blog or site

You don’t need to post every week. Just be consistent—and make it easy for readers (or listeners) to explore more of your world.

Bonus Author Website Audit Tips from the Live Event

During the live audit, we covered a few extra ideas that are worth keeping in your back pocket as you improve your author website.

Here are some quick wins and hidden gems:

• ✅ Use descriptive file names and alt text for every image (especially book covers) to help with SEO and accessibility
• ✅ Add a “zoom” or “enlarge on click” feature for images, especially if you want readers to get a closer look at your books
• ✅ Use mockup tools to create 3D-looking versions of your covers—it makes your books feel more real and more clickable
• ✅ Set affiliate links to “no follow” and have them open in a new tab so your site stays open and stays Google-friendly
• ✅ Use headline analyzer tools (like Monster Insights) to improve your blog post titles and boost click-throughs
• ✅ Consider adding a Google Business Profile if you’re doing school visits, events, or local book fairs—it gives you visibility in local search

These extras might seem small, but together they can make a real difference in how your site looks, performs, and connects with your audience.

Final Thoughts + Your Next Steps

Ultimately, you don’t need a perfect website—you just need a purposeful one. These author website audit tips are about making intentional changes that help readers connect with you, your work, and your message—and turn casual visitors into loyal fans.

Start with just one or two tips from this list. Even a small tweak—like a clearer headline, a better call to action, or a stronger lead magnet—can make a noticeable difference in how your site performs.

✅ Ready for More?

I host a free live audit every month on Prolific Writers Life. You’re invited to attend, share your site, and get personalized feedback in real time.

Want deeper support?
You can also book a 1:1 website audit or full design package—tailored to your goals, your audience, and your creative vision.

Let’s build something that works.

🎧 Full Transcript (Optional Reading)

Want to read the full conversation from the live event? Here’s the complete transcript.