Four Ways to Help Yourself as an Indie Author

Social places, marketing your book from the start, having affordable tools, and continuing to write books will help you as an indie author

Choosing to publish a book is a brave act in itself.

But choosing the path of self-publishing is a whole other brave act. Mainly due to the fact that you are personally wearing the hats of marketer, partial editor, sometimes cover designer, social media manager, and so much more. And in addition to this, you need to gain the trust of readers who are seeing you for the first time.

Now the question is: how do you help yourself as an Indie Author?

Put Yourself in Social Places

Writers are for the most part naturally introverts. (If you aren’t, then kudos to you!)

However, part of being an author is building awareness for not only yourself but for your work. This means you need to be present in social places where your target audience is going to find you. 

Places like:

• Free Little Libraries

• The Local Library

• Social Media

As wonderful as it is to have an author website for your audience to go to, it’s worth nothing if no one knows that it’s there.

This is why you should choose a platform you feel comfortable posting on and begin interacting on it. Whether this be commenting, sharing other people’s posts, or posting yourself. Know that being there will only be beneficial if you engage there consistently and make an effort.

If you are a new indie author who is working to build up an audience for yourself, then beginning to build a following on social media is a great first step.

For more on this, see: Building a Personal Brand from Scratch and What Should Authors Do to Achieve Social Media Success?

Market Your Book From the Start

Talking about your book when it’s still in its early stages is difficult.

Why?

Because you are still working on the ideas, characters, and plot. Because you are still figuring it all out as you go. And because many authors fear that someone will steal their ideas.

Here is the truth:

• Even if someone does the same concept, it won’t be your concept

• Without you talking about your book, there is a high chance that you won’t be able to build momentum for it before it is published

• You don’t have to give too much away to market the book

Yes, in the beginning stages, it can feel as if we don’t have as much to share about our work. 

Try these ideas if you are struggling with how to talk about it from the time you begin writing it:

• Post on social media what word count you just reached

• Talk about your favorite characters in the book or a character dilemma you are having

• Share location reveals and description reveals, character reveals, or some of the research you are conducting

• Talk about scenes you ended up deleting and why

• Share your writing process

• Share your genre and what books compare to yours

Marketing in the beginning can be small. The point is to get your book on readers’ radar. And when you do this far in advance, you have the opportunity to build decent momentum.

For more on this, see: 5 Book Marketing Techniques Before Release Time and Marketing Your Book Before It’s Finished: Why It Matters

Choose Your Tools Wisely

You do not have to spend thousands to publish a quality book.

I spent three thousand dollars publishing my first book. Why? Because I was so eager to publish a book I didn’t take the time to research ways I could release a quality book at a low cost.

When choosing the path of self-publishing, it is essential that you find ways to make it sustainable or you won’t be able to make it a career.

Editing- You can find quality editors on freelance websites such as Fiverr or Upwork for an affordable price. Be sure to check their reviews and ask if they would be willing to offer a sample edit of the first few chapters of your book for $50 to $100.

Formatting- Many people pay to have their books formatted. I thought you had to as well, but I found you can format your book for free using Reedsy.com. It can also be done with Word. The choice is up to you. Just know that if you upload to a platform like Draft2Digital, which publishes to multiple platforms, different platforms have different formatting.

Marketing Images and Graphics- One of the most essential parts of marketing a book is having images and graphics or tools to create marketing content. Know there are services like Canva.com or Visme that offer low-cost or free options and cover a wide range of your needs in content creation.

Cover Design- Perhaps one of the most essential parts of your book is the cover because it gives the reader the first impression of the book. So, it’s important to get it right. You can find qualified freelancers on Upwork or Fiverr, but be sure to see samples of their work, provide them examples of what you envision (this can be in the form of comparison book covers in your genre), and take your time to find the right fit. You can also try your hand at cover creation if you have an eye for it, but know you need to test it on readers before you stick to a cover.

If you find self-publishing is the route for you, you need to make sure that you can sustainably continue to do it. So set yourself up for success with the right tools.

For more on this, see: Writing and Publishing Resources to Have in Your Toolbox 

Write More Than One Book

Did you know that it takes 3 to 5 books to grow a reader following?

The chances that your first book will be a huge hit are unfortunately slim, but if you start a series of books or plan on writing a few more, it helps your odds. Why is this? Because it’s easier for readers to jump from one book to another if it’s already available.

When indie authors work to publish books consistently, they allow themselves the opportunity to continue delivering content to their audience.

And in doing so, if done well, could lead to:

• Your readership to grow

• Your books to gather reviews

• More recognition and sales

If your first book doesn’t do well, know that:

• It takes 3 to 5 books to grow a reader following because you are instilling trust in your audience

• Readers are more picky with debut authors

• Sometimes it’s all about timing, luck, and the amount of marketing that was conducted

• It’s rare for a debut book to be a hit

Should you choose self-publishing and the path of becoming an Indie Author, know that it’s possible to have a career.

But you need to continue to learn the business, the industry, and how you can continue to grow as an author to succeed.