I totally agree with the idea of being active on social media. I just got active on Instagram after 3 years (!!) and I recently created a Substack newsletter plus my own authortube channel here on YT. It's scary being vulnerable online but some of the authors who I follow are those that bit the bullet, show their faces and give glimpses into their lives. I want my readers to feel just as welcomed as those authors make me feel! ♡ Great tips, I'll keep them in mind when I have my debut out.
Yes! It can be scary putting yourself out there for strangers to judge, but I try to keep all my online spaces really positive and encouraging, so if anyone doesn't come in with those intentions, it's important to protect your space. And I think it's never too late to start 😊
Lindsey, I love your videos. As a beginning indie author I appreciate all the tips on marketing and what works, or doesn't. You have talked about your expenses for Adobe where you do your own formatting and covers. Can you do a video showing how you make your covers? Or the formatting? Many of us really need tutorial on these basics. Also, you show putting the next book cover at the end of the current book. Did you create this on Adobe? Can you show/tell us how you created it? Thank you for all your great tips.
Thank you so much, I'm glad it's helpful! I'd love to make a video on formatting! When I'm ready to format the third book in my series, I'll try to document the cover and formatting process and get a video out.
Honestly, #1 is so important! I've been trying to market my books on and off on social media and when burnout really hits with it I've noticed it's because I'm way too focused on getting results vs building my community and showing my personality.
SO much this. I recently got a wakeup call and started relaxing and really just getting to know others on social media. I am starting to get follows from other authors and readers now. I am very goal-oriented so it has been difficult to know what to post on social media. I find just posting everywhere about everything is working.
So I agree with a lot of what you’re saying in this video. I do have a question, I enjoy the short form videos on social media but the growth on my social media accounts have not grown in years. A lot of my posts are not receiving engagement. The analytics show that my posts are not reaching less than 10 people on each social platforms (IG and Twitter specifically). It can feel like my work is getting thrown out the algorithm. I’m under the belief that I may be shadowbanned. What are your thoughts when you are faced with these challenges as an indie creator?
I find Instagram growth extremely difficult unless you’re using reels. I was on Instagram for years and was posting photos and carousels with barely any growth or engagement. But they’ve really been pushing reels for the last couple of years, trying to compete with TikTok. I don’t really use twitter but I have an indie author friend who’s found some success by engaging with other author accounts who will share posts and making sure the links you’re using are affiliate links if you’re published through Amazon. When it comes to marketing, it’s all about pivoting until you find something that works. Algorithms are always changing, but we have to remember that we’re trying to reach and connect with real people.
Thank you. Marketing is one of those things I have a problem with. For one thing, I'm old ... no really, I passed that half century mark two decades ago. I've been writing since I was 12 and discovered I was more interested in the story than the self insert gratification I was providing for my circle of friends in the same fandom. I did no marketing for my small fantasy anthology, and still managed to get two very nice reviews out of the six sales, neither of them family or friends. Having just finished a book in a totally different area of the genre, fantasy, I'm looking into marketing which scares me. Almost as much a pressing the send button did on submitting the anthology on KDP. So, thank you for your insights. Now I just need to fix the cover on the paperback version of the anthology and find a cover for the new book ... And maybe I'll work on the marketing angle while I'm panicking over those two.
Thank you so much for sharing! I'm curious where you get your paperbacks printed at? IS? Because the images are printed so flawless and dark, showing up perfectly on video. I've tried that with Amazon printing, and there are always lines through the graphics and photos!
I actually get mine printed through Amazon's KDP! I know they can be a little inconsistent with their printing, but I personally have never had any big issues.
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