How to Help Indie Authors Without Spending a Nickel

Indie authors put a lot of work into the books you love to read on Amazon and other places. But what happens if you’re strapped on cash? Times are tough, and you can’t support your favorite authors without spending money, right?

Here are some ways to support your favorite author and even read some books in the process.

#1- Sign up for their newsletter. Sure, this is my blog that some of you have subscribed to, but I also have a newsletter. My newsletter (and that of other authors) is a goldmine of info. In fact, I give my newsletter subscribers links to all kinds of free stuff. There’s at least one free book from another author and a freebie or sale book from me in every newsletter. Click here to join mine, and look up your favorite author to catch theirs.

#2- Recommend a purchase to your local library. Do you read on the Libby app or with Hoopla through your library? If an author is widely distributed (not in KU) you can request their book at your library. Even if they are in Kindle Unlimited and can’t have eBooks anywhere else, you can request a paperback purchase to your library. Go to your library’s website and search for a suggest purchase link. Most libraries have one. You’ll need the book’s ISBN number from the paperback or hardback version. (Not the ASIN.) No purchase link for your library? Give them a call. Librarians like to talk about books.

#3- Recommend a book you like to your friends. This goes without saying. The best way for an indie author to get their name out is word of mouth. We can run Facebook ads until we’re blue in the face, but we sell way more books if kinky Ruth from your Bible study recommends our books on the downlow. Don’t pretend you don’t all have a Ruth in your life. I know some of you ARE the Ruth. Don’t be shy.

#4- Vote for our books in Goodreads lists. Looking forward to an upcoming book? Did you know Goodreads has lists that can help author books be seen? Here’s one for All I Wank for Christmas this year. Click to give your favorite books a vote or add them to a list!

#5- Follow us on social media and share our book posts. This may seem like a no-brainer, but the more followers we have, the more popular we look. We also don’t want fake followers like User48765739. We want real followers that like and share our stuff. I swear that I’ve sold more books from people sharing my posts on THEIR social media than I have from some promo newsletters I do.

#6- Click on our links on social media, newsletters, and blogs. Why? Many of us do something called group promos. I use Bookfunnel group promos where I combine forces with other authors and promote ALL our work. Why should you click these? Well, because sites like Bookfunnel track how many clicks we get. The higher our click average, the more other authors want to play with us in the sandbox and do newsletter swaps or promos. It’s actually really helpful.

#7- Sign up for an ARC. ARCs are advanced reader copies. We need reviews when we release a book, and most authors send out ARCs to readers so that we can have some HONEST reviews when we drop a book. Bonus to you: You get to read our new book absolutely free. (Don’t ever trust an author that makes you pay for an ARC.) Just make sure you leave a review somewhere for the author. (Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub….dealer’s choice. I appreciate all reviews.) Places to get an ARC? You can follow your fave author on social media and click their link in bio. Most of us have info there. You can also join sites like NetGalley and Booksprout for free!

#8 – Actually leave a review, even if you didn’t read an ARC! This goes with #7, but leaving a review on any book is helpful. The algorithm likes reviews, even if they are 3 star or something lower. Why would anyone leave a low one, right?

Did you know that Amazon allows you to review books even if you didn’t purchase it through Amazon? Did you grab my paperback book through a local used book sale or from that Ruth lady? Go review it for me on Amazon. Did you read it from the library? Review it on Amazon. Amazon has “verified purchase” badges for people that got the book on Amazon, but you can totally review even if you didn’t read it through your Kindle store or by buying the paperback off Amazon. Paste the same review in Goodreads. Paste the same review in BookBub.

Please note: Do not leave reviews on family members’ books. Amazon really doesn’t like that and can take it out on the author.

There you have it. I’m sure I forgot something, but other authors can comment if I missed something!

Happy reading!