In the past, authors would put their email addresses on their websites so readers could contact them directly. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But soon, spammers began harvesting these emails and selling lists of them. Before long, inboxes were filled with spam instead of messages from readers.
As an author, you want to stay connected to your readers. This connection helps you understand your audience better so you can write books that resonate with them. It also turns regular fans into super fans, which is essential for your next book launch.
So, how do you create an effective contact page?
First, don’t copy what other authors are doing. Many author contact pages are poorly designed. They frustrate readers and don’t foster super fan connections. Instead, let’s discuss how to make a contact page that works and that readers will enjoy using.
Why Have a Contact Page?
A contact page can serve two purposes:
- To make it harder for spammers to reach you.
- To make it easier for readers to connect with you.
Ask yourself: Do I want to make it easier or harder for people to contact me? Most of the time, you’ll want it to be easy for readers but difficult for spammers.
We’ll discuss keeping spammers out in a moment. For now, let’s focus on making it easy for readers to reach you.
Beyond Just a Contact Form
Many authors make the mistake of creating a contact page and simply adding a form. That’s not enough if you want readers to connect with you easily.
Add a Phone Number
Consider adding a phone number. Using your personal number might lead to unwanted calls at all hours. Instead, try a free Google Voice number, where you can set times for it to ring or send all calls to voicemail. Or, consider using Zoom Phone, which provides a dedicated work number and costs a bit extra. Zoom Phone lets you make calls from your cell phone without revealing your personal number.
Add a Mailing Address
Consider adding a mailing address, but avoid using your home address. If you already include it in your email newsletter, anyone can find it there. Otherwise, consider a PO Box or a UPS Box. A UPS Box can receive mail from USPS, UPS, and FedEx, which is more versatile than a regular PO Box. Plus, customer service is often better with UPS.
Don’t underestimate the power of snail mail. Some readers love sending letters to authors. I enjoy receiving letters and books from listeners, and that’s why I have a UPS Box listed on my contact page. Physical mail creates a tangible connection, which can be meaningful.
Include Active Social Media Accounts
List any social media accounts where you’re active. Some readers may prefer to message you on social media rather than email or fill out a contact form. Only link to the accounts you actively use, not old or inactive ones. If you’re not checking an account regularly, don’t list it.
Customize Your Contact Page
Your contact page should serve your readers. If you’d prefer all contact form submissions to go to an assistant, you can set it up that way. I personally include social media links I actively use, though I’m not very active on social media. You may be more active, and that’s great. Provide a link to the accounts where readers can reliably reach you.
Creating an effective contact page can improve reader engagement and build stronger connections. Make your contact options easy, intuitive, and reader-friendly.
What’s in a Contact Form?
Let’s talk about the contact form itself. A contact form is useful because it generates an email for you without revealing your email address to spammers.
If you’re using Wix or Squarespace, you’re limited to the contact form plugins they offer. But if you’re on WordPress, you have many options. Personally, I use Gravity Forms. It’s a paid tool with no free version, but if a professional webmaster built your site, you may already have it. Gravity Forms offers a package for webmasters that includes unlimited sites for a reasonable price, making it a common choice for professional website builders.
If you’re building your own site and need a budget-friendly option, try Contact Form 7 or WP Forms. Both are popular, easy to use, and available directly in the WordPress plugin repository. The free versions are often all you need. These plugins are widely used, and each has millions of users.
You don’t need a complex form unless you’re using it for something more involved, like a launch team application. A Google Form can be a great option for applications, but it isn’t ideal as a general contact form.
One feature you might consider paying for is email list integration. Some paid plugins let you add a checkbox to subscribe users to your newsletter. This feature allows anyone contacting you to opt into your list. However, in my experience, this feature isn’t always worth the cost, depending on your budget.
Add Spam Protection
Always add spam protection to your contact form. If you’re already using Akismet for your blog, you can also use it to protect your contact form. I find Akismet sufficient for spam protection, though it’s wise to enable any non-intrusive options available. Avoid annoying methods like CAPTCHA images unless necessary.
Test Your Contact Form
Testing your contact form is essential. Submit a test message using your form as if you were a reader. Enter your name, email, and a test message, then check if it reaches your inbox. Unfortunately, around 50% of author contact forms don’t work because they’re never tested.
I once worked with an author who missed a year’s worth of emails because she changed her email address but forgot to update her contact form settings. Messages from readers, event coordinators, and media contacts were left unanswered. So don’t just test it once. Test it regularly—perhaps annually, like checking a smoke detector. Make sure messages aren’t getting lost or sent to spam.
Keep It Simple
Stick to the basics: email address, subject, and message fields. Avoid extra fields like “favorite book” or “phone number” unless essential. The reader can include additional information in the message body if they wish. Too many fields, especially required ones, can be off-putting.
At one point, I required users to include a website address, which filtered out some contacts. I no longer do that because I want to hear from authors who may not have websites. You may go through different seasons where you want more or less communication, and your contact form can reflect that.
Creating an effective contact form can enhance your connection with readers. Make it simple, user-friendly, and well-tested for the best results.
Make it Easy to Find
Make your contact form and contact page easy to find. Place it in the top menu of your website as the last menu item—this is where people expect it. Use the single word “Contact.” Avoid phrases like “Contact Me” or “Contact [Your Name].” Menu items should be simple and standard, not creative.
If you have a theme in your book, like “The Horn of Gondor,” don’t label your contact page with that term in the menu. You can use it as a graphic on the page itself, but keep the menu straightforward and just use the word “Contact.” This simplicity makes your website easier to navigate.
Following this approach can lead to more reader interactions. You may receive more emails through your contact form and even voicemails if you offer a phone option. I enjoy getting voicemails from readers. I even provide a way for them to upload a question, which I might feature in an episode or use as inspiration.
Make it easy for your readers to reach you, and they will.
Patrons-Only Episode: Election Results Breakdown
This week, I have a bonus episode just for patrons. We recently had a presidential election here in the United States, and in this bonus episode, I break down the results. I also share lessons authors can learn from the election about writing and marketing books.
If you’ve enjoyed my recent craft and zeitgeist episodes, you’ll probably like this one. It might be worth becoming a patron to check it out. I’ve also set up this episode so you can pay for this one episode without becoming a full patron if you’d prefer.
And if you’d rather not hear me talk about politics, don’t worry—it’s patrons-only, so it won’t appear in this main feed.
Featured Patrons
New October Patrons:
- Leah Shir
- Alexander Macris
- Fiber Goose
- James Finke
- Katerina Ferrara
- Liz Feldman
- Sarah Clifford
- Kelsey
- Caroline Boxall
- Jacque
- Jackson Williams
Thank you so much for being patrons of the podcast. Thank you for your support that helps me do this crazy, weird job. My family and I appreciate it. I do hope that you live long and prosper.
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