If you’re a reader, or happen to interact in any way with an author, you’ve likely been asked to purchase their book. If you did make that purchase, a huge thank you! That kind of support means the world to authors. But did you know there are other ways you can support indie authors?
What you can do: Follow them and engage on socials.
How it helps: Authors receive instant feedback on whether they’re reaching readers, and what’s interesting to their readers. It provides a space for authors to quickly share information about their books and other offerings. The more you engage with their social accounts, the more likely they are to reach potential new readers as well.
Benefits for you: Stay in the know - social media is just about as real time as it gets! Get to know a more candid side of your favourite author.
Here are my social channels:
I’m also considering experimenting with these a little more:
Vero
Copper Books
(Undecided about Bluesky!)
What you can do: Visit their website, read their blog, click around…
How it helps: More traffic and engagement on an author website means more credibility according to search engines. This means websites get bumped to the top of a search page, and the info an author is trying to share is more likely to be found!
Benefits for you: Have fun exploring a new place on the internet. If there is a blog, be entertained. Double check if there are any books by your favourite author that you’ve missed.
What you can do: Subscribe to their podcast.
How it helps: Again, this is about helping authors gain exposure. The more you interact with their free offerings, the more algorithms and apps will boost it so new readers see it. If an author is attempting to monetize their podcast, your interaction with it will enable them to get sponsors and earn more revenue from ad agencies.
Benefits for you: You get to be entertained by their podcast!
What you can do: Subscribe to their newsletter.
How it helps: An author’s email newsletter is the only digital information about their readers that an author has full control over. Social media websites can shut down. Podcasts are hosted on other platforms like Spotify and Apple. Those lists of subscribers can disappear in a second, and an author can’t do anything about it. But an email subscriber list is something an author can hold onto for good, even if their email provider breaks down one day. This means authors can maintain contact with this little community for as long as they like (and for as long as a reader remains subscribed). It’s the only surefire way of maintaining contact with their readers.
Benefits for you: Never lose touch! Email newsletter subscribers often receive free gifts such as chapters, short stories, deleted scenes, and more. Plus, you’ll be sure to receive updates sent straight to your inbox without the risk of getting lost in the algorithm.
You can sign up for my email newsletter using the following form. You’ll receive the first three chapters of A Collection of Scars, and a deleted scene straight to your inbox!
What you can do: Join their Patreon, Substack, etc…
How it helps: These are paid subscription websites where subscribers receive a (usually) digital product in exchange for a monthly fee. For authors, this means a stable monthly income.
Benefits for you: Exclusive content! This could be additional stories or chapters, bonus podcast episodes, a live Q&A session, character artwork, stickers, and more.
Here’s my Substack. I share these monthly blog posts there, and paid subscribers receive a quarterly short story.
What you can do: Learn about their other offerings and take part.
How it helps: Many authors offer products or services beyond their books as a way to supplement their book sales. Some sell merchandise, special editions of their books, digital courses, and even publishing services. Any money you spend on an author’s offerings (especially big ticket items) will help support their career.
Benefits for you: You get some cool stuff, whether it’s bookish products or educational opportunities or cool reading experiences and beyond.
What you can do: Check out (and buy into) their Kickstarter campaign.
How it helps: If you haven’t heard of it, Kickstarter is a website where creators of all kinds can launch a campaign for their product that enables fans to “back” their product before it’s available for sale, or for exclusive products. In the case of authors, this typically means backers pay authors for their book when the book is written, but production isn’t quite finished. As a result, authors aren’t quite as blind when they launch their book; instead, they know they will have some cash coming in before spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on production.
Benefits for you: Some author kickstarters are very creative and filled with tons of great products. Besides receiving a copy of the book you back, you could receive merchandise, ebook and/or audiobook copies, special editions, signed copies, and more.
What you can do: Ask your local bookstore and/or library to stock or order their book.
How it helps: At the very least, you’ll put the book on a librarian or shopkeeper’s radar. Best case scenario, the book joins the library system, which means it’s easily available to a wider audience, and the author may receive payment each time the book is loaned!
Benefits for you: You’ll be able to loan the book from your library if buying it is out of your budget. If you requested the book from your local bookstore, you’ll receive your book knowing you also supported local!
What you can do: Buy their book.
How it helps: Buying an author’s book puts money in their pocket. If you’re buying from an established website or bookstore, it also gives them more credibility as stores make sales on their book. You might even be helping authors reach best seller status!
Benefits for you: You get the book!
Check out my books below:
What you can do: Review their book.
How it helps: Reviews can tip the scales in favour of a potential reader finally making a purchase. The more reviews a book has, the more likely a reader will trust the average rating, the more likely they’ll give the book a chance.
Benefits for you: This is pretty much a from-the-goodness-of-your-heart kind of activity, but you’ll know that you’re helping an author out.
You can write a review at Goodreads, or Storygraph, or wherever you bought your book!
What you can do: Talk about their book online or in person.
How it helps: Word of mouth is still a wildly powerful tool. Similarly to reviewing the book, you could be convincing other readers that trust your take to finally purchase that book.
Benefits for you: When someone tells you they loved that book you recommended, you get to feel pretty cool for having influence over them.
What you can do: Lend or gift their book.
How it helps: Even though this doesn’t put money into an author’s pocket, it could gain them another fan who may eventually purchase their own copy and write their own reviews and share the book with their friends, thus continuing the cycle you started…
Benefits for you: Enrich someone else’s reading life. Find a book buddy who can talk about this book with you.
What you can do: Attend their live events.
How it helps: Firstly, it’s a huge bummer to have nobody come to your event, so you’ll make your author feel great! You’ll help them gain credibility with their venue, make the event much more fun and successful, and provide a great marketing opportunity by being present.
Benefits for you: Enjoy a great event, meet your favourite author in person, and feel part of an exclusive community.
Whatever you do, us authors are extremely grateful to you. It’s a big busy world and we recognize that you could be spending your time, energy, and money elsewhere. No matter what you can give, every little bit counts. So thanks!
Want to keep in touch? Subscribe to the email newsletter for the first three chapters of A Collection of Scars, a deleted scene, and weekly updates, takes on bookish news, and recommendations.
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