Readers research an author online before deciding whether to buy, follow, or engage with their work. That moment of research determines the relationship before the first page is ever read.

Readers admit they are more likely to trust an unfamiliar author with a strong online presence than a known author with none. That reversal proves how deeply digital credibility shapes perception.

Readers say an author’s digital presence influences their perception of the author’s credibility as strongly as the writing itself. That parallel judgment is now baked into every decision they make.