I am an independent author, and I run a free book directory. Here is what I have seen work for indie authors without spending money — and what tends not to.
- Finish your Amazon author page. Author Central is free. A photo, a bio and all your books in one place is the first thing a curious reader checks.
- Make your buy links reach every country. Amazon has separate stores for the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and more. A reader in the wrong country cannot buy from a link to the wrong store. List them all.
- Give readers a real sample. A full opening chapter, free, no signup. It is the single most persuasive thing you can put in front of someone who has never heard of you.
- Ask every reader for an honest review. Never pay for one — it is against Amazon’s rules and, in the US, against the law. But asking is allowed, and most authors never do.
- Get into libraries. If your ebook is distributed to library platforms, tell your local library it exists. Librarians take requests from patrons seriously.
- Talk to local bookstores. Many independents take local authors on consignment. Bring one copy and a one-page sheet with your ISBN and price.
- Link to your book from everywhere you already are. Your website, your social profiles, your email signature. Links from other sites also help readers find you through Google.
- List it in free directories — including mine. BookDiscovery is a free, community-driven directory I run for independent authors: no fees, no paid placements, ever. Readers browse by genre and buy from your own links. It will not make you famous overnight, but it is one more door, and it costs nothing.
What tends not to work
Paying for reviews, paying for followers, and posting “buy my book” to groups that did not ask. Readers can tell, and so can the platforms.