Navigating Your Dashboard
A complete tour of BookAuth's role-specific dashboards — understand the sidebar navigation, stat cards, quick actions, and how to find every feature.
Every role on BookAuth has its own dedicated dashboard designed to surface the most important information and actions. This guide gives you a complete tour of each dashboard so you always know where to find what you need.
What You'll Learn
- How the sidebar navigation is organized for each role
- What the dashboard stat cards show and how to interpret them
- Where to find quick actions for common tasks
- How the dashboard adapts between roles
The Author Dashboard
When you log in as an Author, your Dashboard is your command center. Here's what you'll see:
Welcome Banner & Stats Row
At the top of the dashboard, you'll see a personalized welcome message and four key performance stat cards:
| Stat Card | What It Shows | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Total Books | Number of published books in your catalog | Track your catalog growth |
| Total Readers | Unique readers engaging with your content | Measure your audience reach |
| Reviews | Total reviews received across all books | Social proof and ranking signal |
| Subscribers | Your newsletter subscriber count | Your owned audience size |
Each stat card includes a trend indicator (e.g., "+114 new readers") and a mini sparkline chart showing the recent trajectory.
Performance Chart
Below the stats, a Performance Overview chart shows your book sales over a configurable time period. You can switch between:
- Line chart — for trends over time
- Bar chart — for comparing discrete time periods
- Time range selector — last 7 days, 30 days, 90 days, or custom range
Quick Action Cards
Two prominent action buttons appear on the Dashboard:
- Edit Profile — jump directly to your author profile settings
- Add New Book — start the book creation flow immediately
Author Sidebar Navigation
The left sidebar is organized into logical groups. Here's the complete navigation tree:
📊 Dashboard
─────────────
📚 CONTENT
├── My Books
├── Series
└── ARC Campaigns
─────────────
📢 MARKETING
├── Newsletters
│ ├── Campaigns
│ ├── Templates
│ ├── Sequences
│ └── Calendar
└── Subscribers
├── List
├── Tags
└── Analytics
─────────────
💰 REVENUE
├── Sales
├── Bundles
└── Discounts
─────────────
🛒 SERVICES
├── Marketplace
├── My Quotes
└── My Projects
─────────────
📈 ANALYTICS
├── Overview
├── Books
├── Followers
└── Reading Lists
─────────────
🌐 WEBSITE
├── Dashboard
├── Pages
├── Blog
├── Content
├── Design
├── Navigation
├── SEO
└── Domain
─────────────
👤 ACCOUNT
├── Profile
├── Link Page
└── Settings
├── General
├── Profile
├── Billing
└── Payout
Pro Tip: Dropdown groups (like Newsletters, Subscribers, Analytics, Website, and Settings) expand and collapse when clicked. Only the active section stays expanded, keeping the sidebar manageable.
The Reader Dashboard
The Reader Dashboard is focused on your reading activity and community engagement.
Stats Row
| Stat Card | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Currently Reading | Books you've set to "Reading" status — includes tiny cover thumbnails |
| Want to Read | Your TBR pile count |
| Books Read | Total books you've completed |
| Following | Number of authors you follow — includes small avatar circles |
Featured Feed: "From Authors You Follow"
Below the stats, a horizontal carousel shows the latest books from authors you follow. Each card shows:
- Book cover thumbnail
- Title and author name
- Star rating and view count
- Quick action buttons: "View Book" and "Add to List"
Quick Action Cards
Four quick-action cards give you fast access to your most-used areas:
- Library — jump to your purchased books
- ARCs — check your ARC campaign applications
- Discover — browse the book catalog
- Profile — edit your reader profile
Reader Sidebar Navigation
📊 Dashboard
─────────────
📚 Library
📋 Reading List
─────────────
📖 Book Clubs
├── Browse Clubs
└── My Clubs
─────────────
📝 My ARCs
✍️ My Reviews
─────────────
⭐ Reputation
👤 Profile
🔗 Link Page
⚙️ Settings
The Professional Dashboard
The Professional Dashboard focuses on your business metrics and incoming work opportunities.
Stats Row
| Stat Card | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Total Earnings | Your cumulative earnings from completed projects |
| Active Projects | Number of currently in-progress projects |
| New Quote Requests | Incoming requests from authors needing your services |
| Completion Rate | Your project completion percentage (aim for 95%+) |
Recent Quote Requests Table
A table below the stats shows your most recent quote requests with columns:
- Author — who sent the request (with avatar)
- Service — what type of work they need
- Budget — their stated budget range
- Deadline — when they need the work completed
- Action — "View Quote" button to review and respond
Professional Sidebar Navigation
📊 Dashboard
─────────────
📋 Listings
├── My Listings
└── Create New
─────────────
💬 Quotes
├── Incoming Requests
└── My Quotes
─────────────
📁 Projects
├── Active
└── Completed
─────────────
🔗 Link Page
⚙️ Settings
Common Navigation Patterns
Regardless of which role you're in, these patterns are consistent:
Top Bar
- BookAuth logo (top-left) — click to return to your Dashboard from any page
- Search bar (top-center) — search across the entire platform
- Notification bell (top-right) — view unread notifications
- Profile avatar (top-right) — account menu, role switching, and logout
Breadcrumbs
Most pages show breadcrumb navigation below the top bar: Dashboard > Content > My Books > Edit Book. Click any breadcrumb to navigate back to that level.
Mobile Navigation
On mobile devices (screens under 768px):
- The sidebar collapses into a hamburger menu (☰)
- Tap the menu icon to reveal the full navigation
- The dashboard stat cards stack vertically instead of side-by-side
- The performance chart remains interactive with touch gestures
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I switch between dashboards?
A: Click your profile avatar in the top-right corner and select "Switch Role." Your entire sidebar and dashboard will update to the selected role.
Q: Can I customize which stats appear on my dashboard?
A: Currently, the stat cards are fixed per role. Custom dashboard configuration is planned for a future update.
Q: The sidebar is too long. Can I collapse sections?
A: Yes! Dropdown groups (marked with a chevron icon) collapse when clicked. Only keep the sections you're actively using expanded.
Q: Where do I find the AI Assistant?
A: The AI Assistant appears as a floating chat widget in the bottom-right corner of every Author page (Pro/Business plans). Click the sparkle icon (✨) to open it.
Q: I'm on my phone and can't find a feature. Where is it?
A: Tap the hamburger menu (☰) in the top-left corner. This reveals the full sidebar navigation, identical to the desktop version.
Related Articles
- Getting Started as an Author
- Getting Started as a Reader
- Getting Started as a Professional
- Understanding BookAuth User Roles