5 Ways Your Author Website Can Supercharge Your Book Launch (And Get More Reviews!)

The first five days of a book launch can make or break your book's success.

Amazon's algorithm pays attention to that initial surge of activity. Early reviews signal to the platform (and potential readers) that your book is worth noticing. But here's the problem—most picture book authors treat their website like a digital business card instead of a launch pad.

Big mistake.

As someone who designs websites for authors, I've seen firsthand how a strategically built website can become a review-generating machine.

Get More Website Visitors, Get More Reviews

Most authors think their website's job is to look pretty and list their books. But, during a launch, your website should be working overtime to drive specific actions—especially book reviews.

Think about it: When someone discovers your book, where do they go to learn more about you? 

Your website. 

When a teacher wants to share your book with colleagues, where do they send them? 

Your website. 

When a parent loves your book and wants to tell other parents, what's the easiest thing to share? 

Your website.

Your website isn't just representing you—it's converting visitors into readers, and eventually, reviewers.

5 Tips For Turning Your Website Into A Review Generating Machine

Tip #1: Create a Dedicated Launch Page to Organize Your Team

I learned this from a picture book author who got 47 reviews in her first week. Instead of burying a generic "please leave a review" somewhere on her site, she created a dedicated launch page with this simple message:

"Loved reading [Book Title] with your little one? I'd be so grateful if you'd take 2 minutes to share what you loved about it on Amazon. Your review helps other families discover books that spark joy and connection."

Then she included direct links to leave reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble. No hunting, no friction—just click and review.

The secret? She made it about the reader's experience, not her need for reviews.

Tip #2: Build Your Launch Team Before You Launch

Don’t be the author who gets busy and leaves their launch team until after their book releases. Publishing a book can be a hectic time, but prioritizing your launch team will multiply the impact of everything else you’ve worked so hard on.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. Here's a move that tripled one author's review count: She added a bright, friendly banner at the top of every page during launch week that said:

"NEW BOOK ALERT! Help [Book Title] reach more families by leaving a quick review!"

The banner linked to a simple page with:

• A heartfelt thank you message

• Direct review links for all platforms

• Social media graphics that people could share

• A printable bookmark as a thank-you gift

She removed the banner after five days, creating urgency while the momentum was hot.

Tip #3: Provide Bonus Content to Encourage Reviews  

If you're not collecting email addresses on your website, you're missing your biggest opportunity. That list of engaged readers? They're your launch day army.

One author I worked with sent a pre-launch email to her list with the subject line:

"You get the first peek!"

She included:

• An exclusive early look at interior pages

• The story behind writing the book

• A personal request: "If this book brings a smile to your family, would you consider leaving a review on launch day?"

The result? Twenty-three reviews on day one, all from people who felt connected to her story.

Tip #4: Build a Relationship With New Subscribers 

Here's where most authors drop the ball. Someone visits your website, loves what they see, maybe even buys your book—and then you never hear from them again.

Smart authors create a simple email sequence for new subscribers that goes out during launch week:

• Day 1: Welcome + free activity sheet related to the book

• Day 3: Behind-the-scenes story about creating the book

• Day 5: Gentle review request with direct links

It's not pushy—it's relationship building that happens to result in reviews.

Tip #5: Teachers & Librarians Are Review Goldmines 

Picture book authors, listen up: Teachers and librarians are review goldmines, and your website is how you'll reach them.

Create a dedicated educator page with:

• Free discussion questions for your book

• Downloadable activities

• Easy contact form for virtual or in-person visits

When teachers use your materials and love your book, they don't just buy more copies—they leave detailed, thoughtful reviews that carry serious weight with other buyers.

Bonus Tip: Your Website Should Work While You Sleep

The beauty of a strategic website is that it's generating reviews even when you're not actively promoting. The first five days might determine your book's trajectory, but a website that's built for launch success keeps working long after the initial buzz fades.

Think about it: while your Instagram story disappears after 24 hours and your Facebook post gets buried in the algorithm, your website stays live and discoverable. Parents searching for "books about friendship for kindergarteners" can find your launch page six months later, download your discussion questions, and leave a review after reading your story with their child. 

Your website turns every visitor into a potential reviewer, long after your official launch week is just a memory.

Final Thoughts

Your book launch doesn't have to be a chaotic scramble of scattered links and frantic messages. By setting up these five website strategies before your launch, you're not just making it easier for your launch team to help you—you're creating a professional, organized system that maximizes every single review opportunity. 

And here's the best part: while other authors are exhausted after their launch week, your website will keep working to attract new readers and generate reviews for months to come.

So whether you're launching next month or next year, start building these website elements now. Your future bestseller (and your sanity) will thank you!

Meet Lynn

Lynn Krueger is a web designer who understands the unique struggles authors face online—because she's navigating them herself. As a seasoned brand strategist with a decade in marketing and publishing AND a debut novelist with literary representation, she helps authors go from cringing at their URL to confidently sharing it with agents and readers. When she's not building websites, she's probably writing her next novel or traveling to a new country.