I’ve been asked by many of my author clients if they really do need a landing page for their book, and here’s my response: “Do you want to be able to connect with your readers?”
Since the answer is yes, then your book needs a landing page!
So, what is a landing page, and how is that different from your website? A landing page can be an extension of your website but can only be reached by those who have the link. In your book you direct readers to your landing page, but others coming to your website could not find the landing page if they didn’t have the link’s address. In other words, your landing page may offer navigation back to your website, but you couldn’t access the landing page from your website alone.
In this way you can require readers who loved your book and would like to have access to additional resources to provide you with basic contact information (I only require first and last name and email address) in order to have access to all the resources on this landing page.
What types of resources might you place on your landing page? I believe that this resource list can be as simple or extensive as you’d like, and what’s even better, it can be kept evergreen and expandable so that it’s a valuable resource for readers to revisit over time.
Types of additional resources offered might include a bibliography, links to organizations that might also offer services of interest to your readers (I believe the only link in your book should lead to YOU), as well as checklists, templates, questionnaires, assessments, and other materials. This is especially valuable in instances where you would like for readers to record and evaluate their answers, remembering that some readers don’t like writing in their books. Also, readers using electronic eBooks will find that these downloadable forms and exercises allow them to fully utilize the valuable content in your book.
You may also offer content that is supplemental to the book on your landing page, and you won’t be paying for the additional cost of a bigger, less accessible product. This means you can include content that provides a deeper dive that may not be relevant to all your readers.
The other advantage of a landing page is that it can house the exercises and other content that would be ideal for an accompanying workbook but doesn’t require you to go to that effort just as your nonfiction book is being published. This allows you to remarket the book once again when the workbook is released.
But the biggest advantage of a landing page is that as the author you build your community of readers and followers so that you can keep them updated with new products and services. Your book continues to market you and your business.
If you haven’t yet considered a reader landing page, there are so many reasons to make this part of your author journey.