My Indie Author Website and The Wonderful Wizards of Wix

Wix CMS for Indie Author Websites

Last week we discussed the need (my opinion, but still…) for indie authors to have their own website/ Content Management System (CMS). That topic prompted discussions on which CMS would best serve the needs of an indie author who may have limited website knowledge but who desires future growth in their publishing endeavors. While I’ve used WordPress, Webs, Weebly, and corporate CMS sites, I always go back to Wix. Other indie authors and small business owners may have their preferences, but mine is Wix, and so I'm crowing about it here.😊 Wix offers an intuitive and user-friendly platform for building, customizing, and managing indie author websites without the need for coding or extensive technical knowledge.

Wix Offers:

Ease of Use

What I love most about Wix, is its intuitive drag-and-drop editor. A user-friendly interface that allows novice users to design their websites with ease. Indie authors can choose from a wide selection of customizable templates and easily drag (or Copy/Paste) elements onto the canvas to create personalized layouts. This flexibility allows for quick experimentation and enables beginners to build professional-looking websites effortlessly.

Versatile Template Collection

Wix offers an extensive library of templates, catering to various industries and website types. Whether you're creating an indie author blog, an online bookstore, a portfolio of characters, or details on your world-building, Wix will have a template that suits your need. Each template is customizable, allowing you to change colors, fonts, images, and layouts to match your brand and vision.

Mobile Optimization

This is important so read closely. Everyone uses their phone to net-surf now, and having a mobile-responsive website is vital. Most of my site visitors (at least 80%) are on mobile devices. All Wix templates are optimized for mobile devices, automatically adjusting the design to fit various screen sizes. While it can be a little glitchy (hiding elements works better than deleting them for some reason) this responsiveness not only enhances the user experience but also boosts your website's search engine rankings, as search engines favor mobile-friendly sites.

App Market for Enhanced Functionality

Wix offers an App Market! From contact forms and social media integrations to e-commerce tools and booking systems, the App Market provides a range of add-ons to enhance your indie author website's capabilities without the need for coding. Some are free, some cost, so research first.

SEO Features and Analytics

This is the best part! Wix comes with essential SEO (Search Engine Optimization) features that enable you to optimize your indie author website for search engines. With easy-to-follow prompts and checklists, indie authors can customize meta tags, URLs, and headings, giving you better control over how your website appears in search results. Additionally, Wix provides built-in analytics. These analytics provide insights into website traffic, visitor behavior, and other performance indicators, helping indie authors make data-driven decisions to improve their website's effectiveness.

Secure Hosting and Backups

Back in the day, finding reliable webhosting was a nightmare. With Wix, indie authors don't have to worry about that. The platform handles hosting, ensuring your indie author website remains accessible and performs well. In the decade I’ve been using Wix, I’ve only had one site go down, and that was my own. It went dead overnight. I contacted Wix support, and the site was up and running again within the hour. Regular backups are performed automatically, protecting your data in case of any unforeseen events.

E-commerce Pages for Sales

For indie authors looking to sell their works on their own terms, Wix provides seamless e-commerce integration. You can create an online store with book listings, shopping carts, secure payment gateways, and various shipping options, all within the Wix platform. I’ve sold several books on my site, and it’s seamless!

The Wix website creator offers benefits that cater to indie authors seeking a user-friendly website solution. From its AMAZINGLY intuitive drag-and-drop editor to its multiple templates, SEO features, and e-commerce options, Wix empowers indie authors to create stunning websites that resonate with their readers. Whether you have one book or twenty, Wix provides the tools and features you need to succeed in a growing indie author landscape.