WHY EVERY ROMANCE WRITER NEEDS A WEBSITE (EVEN IF YOU JUST SELL ON AMAZON)
If you’re a romance author selling exclusively on Amazon, it’s easy to wonder whether you really need a website. After all, Amazon already handles sales, downloads, and discovery… right?
Here’s the truth:
Amazon is where readers buy your books — but your website is where your author brand actually lives.
And those two things serve very different purposes.
Let’s talk about why every romance author needs a website, even if Amazon is currently your only sales platform.
Amazon Is a Storefront. Your Website Is Your Home Base.
Amazon is an incredible tool — but it’s not yours.
You don’t control:
The layout of your author page
How your books are recommended
What readers see next
Whether readers ever hear from you again
Your website, on the other hand, is the one place online where:
You control the narrative
You guide the reader journey
You build a long-term relationship with your audience
Think of Amazon as the checkout line.
Your website is everything that happens before — and after — the sale.
Romance Readers Want More Than a Buy Button
Romance readers don’t just read books. They follow authors.
They want:
Reading order clarity
Series information in one place
Bonus scenes and epilogues
Sneak peeks and upcoming releases
A way to stay connected between books
Amazon isn’t built for that.
Your website is where readers can:
Explore your backlist without distractions
Understand your series structure
Fall deeper into your world
Stick around long after they finish the last page
That kind of connection is what turns casual readers into loyal fans.
Your Website Works With Amazon… Not Against It
Having a website doesn’t mean you have to sell direct or abandon Amazon.
In fact, many romance authors use their website to:
Link directly to Amazon for purchases
Highlight their latest release
Send readers to Kindle Unlimited
Promote preorders and new launches
A well-structured author website actually supports your Amazon sales by:
Making it easier for readers to find your books
Reducing confusion about reading order
Driving intentional traffic to the right Amazon links
You’re not competing with Amazon. you’re strengthening your presence around it.
You’re Missing Out on Email List Growth Without a Website
An email list doesn’t grow just because you have one — it grows because readers are given a clear, compelling reason to join.
Your website gives you a dedicated place to:
Offer bonus chapters, epilogues, or deleted scenes
Share early access to new releases
House reader-only content tied to specific series
Funnel readers to one clear next step instead of multiple platforms
For romance authors, this matters because readers often finish a book and immediately want more. Your website lets you capture that moment, while interest is high, instead of hoping they find you again later.
Without a website, email signups are scattered across platforms. With a website, they’re intentional, visible, and connected to your books.
That’s how a reader becomes a long-term fan.
A Website Makes You Look Established (Even Early On)
You don’t need dozens of books or a massive audience to benefit from a website.
In fact, having a website early:
Builds credibility
Makes you look professional
Signals that you’re serious about your author career
Gives readers confidence in investing their time and money in your work
Your website doesn’t need to be complicated… it just needs to be clear, intentional, and easy to navigate.
“BUT I DON’T WANT TO DEAL WITH TECH”
This is where most romance authors get stuck.
You know you need a website… you just don’t want to start from a blank screen, make the wrong design choices, or spend hours trying to figure out what’s “normal” for an author site.
That’s exactly why Billie Grace Studio exists.
We design website templates and offer semi-custom and fully custom websites specifically for romance authors. Every option is built with intentional structure already in place, so you’re not guessing what pages to include or how to organize your books.
You don’t need to code.
You don’t need design experience.
You don’t need to overthink it.
You just need a website that supports your books, your readers, and your long-term goals… and a starting point that actually makes sense.
→ Explore website templates designed for romance authors
→ Learn more about our semi-custom website design experience
→ Learn more about our fully custom website design
The Bottom Line
Amazon plays an important role in selling your books — but it isn’t where your author brand lives.
Your website gives your stories a home, your readers clarity, and your career a foundation you control.
That’s it. No extra steps required.
