Functional to Exceptional: Transitioning & Transforming Chandler's Author Website from Wix to Squarespace
“Ann is amazing. She combines a creative sensibility with a practical business mind. She was always thinking about how the website could serve me, my brand, and my business and giving thoughts on how I could take my website and make it cohesive with my image and a better representation of who I am.”
We’re thrilled to share the transformation of Chandler's author website - it's like unveiling a beautiful masterpiece.
For over a decade, Chandler - a brilliant author, lawyer, and mom- struck a delicate balance between her multiple roles. Like many authors, Chandler started with a DIY website on Wix, a perfectly practical solution at the time.
The Spark for Change: Preparing for a Bestseller Launch
Then came a turning point - Chandler's novel, the riveting Whisper Network, became a New York Times bestseller. And as she geared up for her next release, The Husbands, in August 2021, it became evident that her website needed a professional touch, a virtual stage worthy of her extraordinary work.
Turning Hesitation into Excitement: Chandler's Initial Concerns
But, let me be honest here, Chandler had her reservations. She confessed, "I just wanted to make sure it was functional on mobile phones and computer, that it was easy for users to get the information they needed. I was a little hesitant to lose some control I guess."
Here’s Chandler’s old website:
Utilizing our Custom Website Design Service: A Leap Towards Professionalism
As Chandler's career turned towards even greater success with her bestselling novel, she realized the need for a professional upgrade to her website. This led her to engage with our custom website design service. Our team understood the unique nature of Chandler's work and her vision for an online presence. We worked closely with her, addressing her initial hesitations and ensuring she felt comfortable with every decision. We transformed her website from functional to exceptional, weaving her brand story into every page, every element, and every feature. This journey has elevated Chandler's online presence and built a robust platform that seamlessly merges her professional accomplishments with her personal narrative. The process was much more than a service transaction; it was a collaboration that led to a visually appealing, user-friendly, and engaging author website that Chandler is proud to share with the world.
An Author's Virtual Haven: The Website Transformation
So, what did we do? We embraced her concerns and used them as a foundation for creating a captivating, user-friendly, and professional website on Squarespace that Chandler could still control if she desired.
The New Look: Sophisticated, Vibrant, and Engaging
Dive into Chandler's newly minted Squarespace author website. It's just like her prose—deep, captivating, and an exquisite showcase of her prolific work.
We sprinkled some magic all over Chandler's website:
Professionalized the website by adding brand photos - Added professional branding photos that align with Chandler’s novels about modern, professional women.
Professionalized the website by matching Chandler’s branding - For brand consistency, we updated the website to match Chandler’s existing branding of pink, white, and black.
Encouraged long-term reader engagement by adding a newsletter sign-up- Encouraged readers to connect with Chandler by adding an option to sign up for Chandler’s newsletter.
Encouraged book sales by adding a call to action button - We made it easy for readers to buy Chandler’s book by adding a call to action to buy Chandler’s books. Readers can buy the book at their preferred retailer.
Encouraged readers to follow Chandler by adding social media links - Chandler has a strong social media presence that she uses to connect with her readers, so we added links to Chandler’s socials on the side of the website, in the footer, and in the menu so website visitors could always access her social platforms.
Encouraged readers to share the book with their communities by adding book club pages - We wanted to encourage Chandler’s readers to share the books, so we added book club pages for each book. Chandler’s audience can more easily discuss her books in their book clubs.
Dedicated one page per book to showcase Chandler’s work - Added unique pages for each of Chandler’s books. This helps Chandler’s readers learn more about each book.
Created a thorough portfolio by adding Chandler’s other writing - An author’s website is their comprehensive resume and portfolio. So, we created book reviews and essay pages to include all of Chandler's writing. We also added a press page containing all Chandler’s press mentions.
Added personal details about Chandler - Chandler’s readers want to get to know her, so we added personal details about Chandler on the home page and the about page.
Business Impact: From Functional to Exceptional
Now, the results speak for themselves. Chandler's author website isn't just functional - it's exceptional. It's become a comprehensive portfolio showcasing all of her work, a hub where readers can connect with her on a deeper level. The compliments she receives and the interest from other writers indicate the website's success.
The Afterglow: Chandler's Thoughts Post Transformation
What kind of gains have you/do you expect to experience?
I've had compliments and had other writers ask who designed my website, and I'm always thrilled to pass along Ann's information. My website is now functional and does exactly what it needs to do: provide information about me as an author and press updates to share for quick references for others.
What would you say to someone on the fence about working with us?
Ann is incredibly professional, communicative, and organized. She will listen and think about how you should present yourself to your industry and turn that into a gorgeous online home base to which you will be proud to direct people.
