P.C. ZICK

From a Writer's Mind

How to help Indie Authors – A Primer

Help an IndieHow to help Indie Authors – A Primer for family, friends, fans, and other Indie Writers

It’s not easy taking the route of Indie Author or any route as an author. The field is crowded, and it’s hard for readers to sift through it all. So in addition to writing, most of us Indies spend a great deal of time promoting our work. Most of us try not to annoy our friends and family, but it’s inevitable that many of them will see our promotional stuff. So as we move into the holiday season, I’d like to give some advice to anyone associated with an author. Also, there’s a little bit of advice for other authors as well. I wish you peace and relaxation during the coming season. Take the time to read a book, maybe even from an Indie Author in your life.

Besides buying the books of your favorite authors, there are other things that can be done to help raise the visibility of Indie Authors, who are adrift in a massive sea of other Indies trying to be seen, heard, and read. So here’s a primer for simple things you can do to help raise us up. It all has to do with SEOs and Google searches, and believe me, it all helps. In the case of Facebook, it means more people see the post if there are likes and comments on it. It’s amazing to see what happens to a post on Facebook when even a few people hit the “like” button. Your vote does count in a huge way.

Amazon and other book purchase sites

  • Leave a short review after reading an Indie Author book. If you’re related or somehow related to the book, leave the review to someone else. If you’re not, leave a short review. I’m a believer in the short, but sweet, reviews. They all help. Here’s one of the best ones for my book Live from the Road.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Trip Worth Taking May 29, 2012
    By Marisella Veiga
    Format:Kindle Edition
    This novel is a spirited travel story. It is packed with humor, understanding, and difficult conflicts. What is more, it is sprinkled with insights,love and no love. If you’re looking for a fun read that shares nuggets of wisdom, this is the book for you.
  • Press the “review was helpful (or not)” button on other reviews.
  • If you don’t purchase the book, at least add it to your “wish list” and then push the Twitter button about it.
  • Tweet after you purchase a book (buttons are provided on Amazon).

 Blog help

  • After reading a blog post (large hint here), “like” it. I get tons of notices about blogs every day, and I can’t read every one of them, but I open many of them and at least give a “like.”
  • After reading a blog post, leave a comment.
  • Press any of the share buttons at the end of most blog posts.

 Facebook

  • Leave a comment on posts by Indie Authors.
  • Follow or like author pages.
  • Share posts by Indie Authors if you feel your friends might enjoy something.

 To Indie Authors

  • If you are featured on someone’s blog, go to the post, and “like” it AND post a comment.
  • Follow the blog where you’ve been featured. Check back for comments by others for a few days after post. Comment on comments!
  • Like all comments on posts where you’re featured.
  • Share the post on all of your social media sites.
  • If you have your own blog, reblog to your followers.
  • If you’re a blogger, respond to every comment left on your posts. Also, now that WordPress gives you the choice of liking comments, do so.
  • And as you were taught as a child, send a thank you note to the blogger who featured you. Remember your manners.
  • Treat your fellow Indie Author as you wish to be treated as an Indie Author.

I hope this helps. Helping out an Indie Author is really quite simple and easy, but it might mean the of a sale of one book or the addition of one follower. I think of my journey as an Indie as a domino effect, with one thing leading to another.

Give the gift of “like” to your favorite Indie this year. What did I leave out? Please let me know, by leaving a comment below. I promise I’ll respond.

PC ZICK PHOTO COLLAGE

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43 responses to “How to help Indie Authors – A Primer”

    • Thanks, Jet. It’s been something noodling at the back of my mind for a few months now. Finally, one night when I couldn’t sleep, I got up and just wrote the darn thing! I hope it helps others.

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  7. Awesome post, Patricia! Even though I’m pretty good at most of the things you mention, I did find a couple I could do and several I could do better. Thanks for speaking for authors! and I like to thank the blogger in the comments when they’ve had me on their blog.

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  11. Good post! I know there are a lot of people out there with great stories, who give up, simply because even though they know their work is being read, but nobody takes the time to acknowledge them. It can be very disheartening.

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  14. All this is so important. I had my first book published this year after people pressing me to write one. Sure enough, like everyone else, books were sold as those who knew me or my Blog purchased a copy, but then everything went quiet, and now you could hear a pin drop in the sales room. Visiting Blogs, Liking pages and supporting other authors can make all the difference and at least keep morale going until that elusive break comes your way

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    • Peter, It’s a tough world out there. I just came from a book signing that was a bust at an Indie bookstore. You would have thought they’d been falling over themselves to help my fellow author and me, but it was the weirdest thing. They didn’t even tell people who came in the door that we were around the corner talking about our books. We must be vigilant, support one another, and keep writing. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.

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