Book is up. Either the ads aren't working, or you're scared to start. Most authors at this stage burn budget on listings that don't convert. The work here is diagnostics first, then targeted fixes.
Book is live. The first 90 days are make-or-break. Follow the launch playbook → set up the author page → run paid ads + promotions → build the long-term review and audience engines. Curated from our library of 181 guides.
Pre-launch → launch day → week 1 → week 2 → month 1. Concrete time-stamped actions, not generic advice.
Read the guide →Set up the author page properly — bio, photo, Follow button, editorial reviews. The free marketing tool most indies underuse.
Read the guide →Practical UK-focused guide — setup, optimisation, costs, common pitfalls.
Read the guide →Diagnosis guide — keywords, categories, cover, pricing, and what to fix first.
Read the guide →How UK self-published authors generate honest Amazon reviews before / at launch.
Read the guide →StoryOrigin vs BookSirens vs NetGalley vs Hidden Gems vs Voracious Readers Only — costs, UK reach, when to use which.
Read the guide →Authentic-review strategies, the UK legal line, and what review services actually do.
Read the guide →Free prequel novella + BookFunnel delivery + MailerLite. The single most valuable asset in indie publishing. UK GDPR-compliant flow included.
Read the guide →MailerLite vs ConvertKit vs Substack vs Ghost vs Beehiiv. Honest comparison + the platform 90% of indies should start with.
Read the guide →Carrd vs WordPress vs Shopify — what every author site needs, what to skip, UK GDPR/cookie requirements, realistic costs.
Read the guide →80/20 value-to-promo. Email types that work (behind-the-scenes, mini-lessons, Q&A). The voice and cadence that keeps subscribers opening for years.
Read the guide →How to find genre-matched swap partners, run a clean swap, expected 50-150 new signups per swap. The highest-ROI list-growth tactic in indie.
Read the guide →20-100 super-fans who post reviews + social during launch week. Recruit from your list, brief clearly, manage via Facebook/Discord. Coordinated launch + BSR boost.
Read the guide →TikTok and Reels in 2026 — what works (15-60 sec aesthetic vertical) and what's dead (90-sec book trailers). DIY via CapCut, BookTok creator collabs.
Read the guide →How to find + pitch book influencers. Free review copy vs paid sponsored posts. Etiquette, disclosure rules, realistic ROI per tier.
Read the guide →One appearance reaches 1,000-50,000 targeted listeners. How to pitch with topic angles, what to say, realistic ROI per show size.
Read the guide →How to use KDP Select's free days and KCDs — which promo sites to stack with, realistic ROI, and how often to run them.
Read the guide →The single most powerful indie promo. £200-£900 cost, £3k-£15k typical return. Application strategy, acceptance criteria, what to expect on the day.
Read the guide →Separate from Featured Deal — cost-per-click ads with author-readers targeting. When BookBub beats Amazon Ads for international + audience targeting.
Read the guide →Build + manage a list with GDPR compliance, costs, and practical tools.
Read the guide →What still works, what's a waste of time. Profile setup, Listopia, reviews strategy — and why Goodreads Ads and paid Giveaways are skippable.
Read the guide →Which platforms work for books, what to post, how to grow without burning out.
Read the guide →What content works, how to find your audience, and the strategies that work.
Read the guide →Organic + paid channels for authors with no big ad budget.
Read the guide →Social, BookTok, press, bookshop events, ads — the full UK playbook.
Read the guide →Working with distributors, approaching shops, and the realistic odds.
Read the guide →Step-by-step takedown playbook for KDP, Kindle Unlimited, and Goodreads.
Read the guide →What to fight, what to ignore. DMCA process from UK. Fake Amazon listings are the biggest risk; obscure pirate sites mostly aren't worth chasing.
Read the guide →The full launch sequence from pre-order to week-one rank, step by step.
Read the guide →Write a press release that local and trade media actually pick up.
Read the guide →The BookBub alternatives worth paying for — and how to stack them for a sales spike.
Read the guide →Pay-per-download ARC reviews from genre-matched readers.
Read the guide →Manage your ARC team and chase reviews systematically.
Read the guide →Deliver ARCs and reader magnets securely across every device.
Read the guide →Recruit a launch team that drives day-one reviews and visibility.
Read the guide →Find, pitch and build lasting relationships with book bloggers.
Read the guide →Get your book in front of reading groups and book clubs.
Read the guide →Promote on Reddit and niche forums without getting banned.
Read the guide →Land local radio and press — and perform well on air.
Read the guide →Apply to festivals and turn a slot into lasting sales.
Read the guide →Run Facebook ads that build your list, not just burn budget.
Read the guide →60-second forensic check of your listing. Cover at thumbnail size, search-result title block, blurb opener, review base — scored out of 100 with a clear verdict.
Target 15-30 reviews live by launch day or week 1. Below 10 reviews looks abandoned; 25+ unlocks BookBub Featured Deal applications. Build via ARC distribution to genre-matched readers in the 4-6 weeks before launch.
£10/day per campaign minimum to give Amazon's algorithm enough data to optimise. Below £5/day, ads starve and never spend. Start with one Auto campaign + one Branded keywords campaign at £10-£15/day each.
Monthly is the floor; bi-weekly is the sweet spot for most indie authors. 80% value-driven content (behind-the-scenes, recommendations, mini-lessons) + 20% promo. Pure promo lists die within six months.
Yes for any eligible book. Application is free; acceptance is competitive (~10-20%). When accepted, a £200-£900 spend typically returns £3,000-£15,000 across direct sales + follow-on series sales. Most powerful single indie promo in 2026.
Micro-tier (1k-10k followers): £50-£300 per post produces 10-50 sales. Mid-tier (10k-50k): £100-£500 per post produces 50-300 sales. Build relationships over time — repeat collaborators outperform one-shot posts.