Services I pay for (as an indie author)

🌟Services I pay for as an indie* author… 💰

💰MS Word
Word processor. Tried and tested. Love it.

💰Canva
Online graphics tool to create social media posts (like this). There is a free version that’s absolutely fine too.

💰Mailerlite
The platform I use to send my monthly newsletters.

💰Bookfunnel
Easy to use, does what you need it to.
An eBook distribution platform. Allows me to send out Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs), and exclusive newsletter freebies.

💰Wordpress
Website/blog host. Works well. I find it a bit complicated and frustrating, but does what I need it to.

💰Atticus
A tool that allows you to format eBooks and physical books.
I haven’t used it much, but I plan to moving forward.

💰Scrivener
A word processor specifically created for long-form content and novels. I found it useful for planning out my current novel.

💰Cover design
Self-explanatory. We all judge books by their covers, so a good cover is a MUST. I highly recommend Ruth Anna Evans and Christy Aldridge.

💰Editing & proofreading
Self-explanatory. In my experience, indie authors are judged more harshly, so ensuring my manuscript is as close to perfect as I can get is a priority for me. I highly recommend Mary Hoyle (@mary.h.writes).

🌟Services I might pay for with my next novel… 💰

💰BookBub
A promotion and marketing tool – works on a newsletter system where prospective readers (interested in your genre & who signed up for the mailing list) are sent marketing material.

💰Netgalley
An Advanced Reader Copy platform where authors/publishers upload their books prior to release in order to raise awareness of the book and gain some pre-release reviews.

💰Adverts-fb/amazon
Exactly what you’d think. I dabbled in this previously, but was put off after a bad experience. I need to research more and figure out a strategy before I dive in next time.

*Indie authors are authors who are published outside of the BIG FIVE publishers who dominate 80% of the market (Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hachette Book Group, and Macmillan Publishers), including small press authors and self-published authors. ❤

Author friends, what services do you find useful? Are there any you’re considering?