Why Your Amazon Book Page Isn’t Converting — and How to Fix It

By Penny Sansevieri

Part of the Indie Author Series

JH: If you’ve been running ads, posting on social media, and doing all the “right” things but sales are still stuck in slow gear, the problem might not be your book—it might be your book page. The amazing Penny Sansevieri is here today, sharing exactly how to identify what’s holding your page back and how to fix it. 

Take it away, Penny…

You’ve written a great book. Maybe you’ve even run some Amazon ads, tried social media, or landed a few book reviews. But your sales? They’re trickling in—or worse, stalled completely.

Sound familiar?

If so, you’re not alone. One of the most common challenges authors face isn’t visibility. It’s conversion. In other words, people are finding your book—but they’re not buying it.

Behind the Red Pen: What to Look for When Vetting an Editor

By Jaire Sims, @JaireSims

Part of the Indie Authors Series

JH: Choosing the right editor for your manuscript is more than just picking the first name on a list or result page. Jaire Sims shares what you need to know when vetting an editor for your novel.

Jaire Sims lives, works, and writes where he was born and raised, Chicago. After spending years with social anxiety and undergoing counseling, he was eventually diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum. Still, he overcame the challenges before him, graduating from Monmouth College with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies. Off and on, he worked on and eventually published his debut novel, Getting By, named a finalist in the 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Jaire hopes to inspire and nurture aspiring authors and, through his work, champion marginalized voices facing similar struggles to him.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube

Take it away Jaire…

How to Find Your Readers

By Jenna Harte

Part of The Indie Author Series

JH: It's hard to sell a book if you don't know who you're selling it to. Jenna Harte shares tips on identifying and then finding your reading audience.

I wrote an article for Fiction University on Selling More Books with Marketing Mind Shift in which I suggested authors think less about selling a single book through a Tweet, and instead about building a community of avid readers. The article explained how to do that, with one exception; how do you find your audience? This piece is a follow up to that article to provide tips and resources on finding your readers and creating a community for them.

5 Tips for Scoring More Book Reviews

By Veronica Mixon

Part of The Indie Author Series

JH: Reviews can make or break a book. Veronica Mixon shares tips on how to encourage more reviews.

Veronica’s just a Florida girl living in a Georgia world. More specifically, in Savannah’s Low Country, where if your ancestry doesn’t go back four-generations you’re tagged as a TT (temporary transplant).

She began storytelling at a young age, somewhere around three, when a host of imaginary friends lived in her bedroom closet and encouraged her penchant for spinning tales. A career in marketing, twenty years of world travel, and a large and boisterous family supply her with ample material for the mysteries she loves to write. She lives on the Georgia coast with her husband and her nine-year-old Standard Poodle, Jasper.

Website | Goodreads | Instagram | YouTube 

Take it away Veronica…

The Ins and Outs of Coauthoring as an Indie Author

By Cassie Alexander, @CassieY4

Part of The Indie Author Series

JH: Writing with another author can be a rewarding experience, but how exactly does it work? Cassie Alexander discusses how to handle a coauthorship.

Cassie Alexander is a registered nurse and author. Her most recent book is Dragon Called, cowritten with Kara Lockharte, and they also write together as Cassie Lockharte. Prior to that, she wrote the five-book Edie Spence urban fantasy series, out now through St. Martin's Press, and the Dark Ink Tattoo series, a sultry urban fantasy about vampires in Vegas. Join her mailing list for news about her latest releases.

Website (Cassie) | Website (Kara) | Website (Cassie Lockharte) | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Mailing List 

Take it away Cassie…

Why Self-Editing Your Novel Doesn't Really Work

By Dario Ciriello, @Dario_Ciriello 

Part of The Indie Author Series

JH: It takes a sharp eye to edit a novel, and familiarity with the work dulls that eye. Dario Ciriello shares why writers shouldn't rely on only themselves when editing their novel. 

I once found myself reassuring an author on Twitter. The author had shown someone their final novel draft, which they’d gone through countless times, and the reader found a number of mistakes in just the first ten pages.

This isn’t in the least unusual. And although there’s currently a rash of books and blog posts on how to self-edit, the reality is that you’re not — unless you’re already a seasoned pro, and even then — going to catch the majority of issues with your own work. It’s impossible.

5 Options for Creating Your Amazon Ad Copy

By Beth Whitney

Part of The Indie Authors Column

JH: Authors are great at writing stories, but we're not always so great at writing ad copy to sell those stories. Beth Whitney shares tips on finding the right words for our Amazon ads.

Beth Whitney has always loved reading, writing, and word play. After achieving a mixed degree in Technical Editing, English, and Culinary Arts, she spent a decade working in kitchens across the Mountain West before taking up copy editing work again. Since joining the Best Page Forward team, she’s been rediscovering the joy of helping other creatives refine their words and make them shine.

Take it away Beth...

We’ve all sat staring at that blinking cursor, waiting for the right words to jump into our brains. But as I’ve written for Best Page Forward, I’ve gradually developed some strategies for quickly creating ad headlines. Now the short and snappy taglines are my favorite part of the blurb to work on. I save them for last, like leaving a sweet for after dinner.

Secrets to Successful Self-Publishing: Invest in Your Team

By Laurisa White Reyes, @lwreyes

Part of The Indie Authors Series 

JH: There's a lot to consider before taking the indie-publishing plunge. Laurisa White Reyes shares tips and thoughts on how to put together the right team for publishing success.

Laurisa White Reyes is the award-winning author of seventeen books, including 8 Secrets to Successful Self-Publishing. She is also the founder and senior editor of Skyrocket Press and teaches English composition at College of the Canyons in Southern California. Visit her website at www.SkyrocketPress.com.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |

Take it away Laurisa...

Advanced Business Practices for Marketing Your Books

By Dave Chesson, @DaveChesson

Part of The Indie Authors Series 

JH: There are so many options for marketing a novel, and it's often hard to know which one to try. Dave Chesson shares a few options you might not have considered yet.

Dave Chesson is the founder of Kindlepreneur.com and creator of Publisher Rocket, a software that helps authors market their books more effectively.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Take it away Dave…

How to Get Readers Onto Your Mailing List... And Keep Them!

By Dave Chesson, @DaveChesson

Part of The Indie Authors Series 

JH: A mailing list helps authors connect to their readers, and keeps them updated on their books. Dave Chesson shares how to encourage readers to sign up for your list. 

Dave Chesson is the founder of Kindlepreneur.com and creator of Publisher Rocket, a software that helps authors market their books more effectively.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Take it away Dave…

Connecting with your readers is an important part of being an author, whether you’re independently published or traditionally published. Why? Because staying in touch with past readers gives you the chance to tell them about future books! 

Why Query Letters Matter to Self-Published Authors, Too

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Part of the Indie Authors Series

If you’re self publishing, you might think your query-writing days are over—but they’re not (sorry!). The target of those query letters has simply changed.

A good query letter bears a striking resemblance to good cover copy. They’re both designed to entice a potential reader to pick up the book. The same skills that go into writing a strong query letter also apply to great cover copy, and you’ll need great cover copy for your self-published book. 

Think about it—a query for an agent or editor only needs to convince a handful of people to read the book. Cover copy has to convince every reader to read it. That’s a lot of pressure for a few paragraphs.

Luckily, some of the details that complicate a query letter don't apply to cover copy, which makes the process a little easier. 

Successful Self-Publishing: Build Your Brand

By Laurisa White Reyes, @lwreyes

Part of The Indie Authors Series 

JH: A successful writing career takes more than just writing great books. Laurisa White Reyes shares tips on how to build your author brand, and why it's a critical element of an author's career.

Laurisa White Reyes is the award-winning author of seventeen books, including 8 Secrets to Successful Self-Publishing. She is also the founder and senior editor of Skyrocket Press and teaches English composition at College of the Canyons in Southern California. Visit her website at www.SkyrocketPress.com.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |

Take it away Laurisa...

How to Create a Free Book Trailer Using Adobe Spark

By Chrys Fey, @ChrysFey

Part of The Indie Author Series

JH: Creating a book trailer is a lot easier than you might think. Chrys Fey explains step by step how to bring your book to the "little screen" with Adobe Spark.

Chrys Fey is the author of the award-winning book Write with Fey: 10 Sparks to Guide You from Idea to Publication. She is also the author of the Disaster Crimes series. Visit her blog, Write with Fey, for more tips.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog | Newsletter

Take it away Chrys…

Successful Self-Publishing: Write a Great Book (Part 2)

By Laurisa White Reyes, @lwreyes

Part of The Indie Authors Series 

JH: Writing a great book takes work and dedication. Laurisa White Reyes shares a few tips on how to stick with it to get the book you want.

Laurisa White Reyes is the award-winning author of seventeen books, including 8 Secrets to Successful Self-Publishing. She is also the founder and senior editor of Skyrocket Press and teaches English composition at College of the Canyons in Southern California. Visit her website at www.SkyrocketPress.com.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |

Take it away Laurisa...

How to Set Up Your Sponsored Product Ads in Amazon

By Dave Chesson, @DaveChesson

Part of The Indie Authors Series 

JH: Advertising your book on Amazon might seem like a challenge, but it's easier than you think. Dave Chesson shares a step-by-step process on setting up your sponsored ads. 

Dave Chesson is the founder of Kindlepreneur.com and creator of Publisher Rocket, a software that helps authors market their books more effectively.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Take it away Dave…

Amazon ads are an amazing marketing tool for authors who want to see more conversions--whether that means Kindle Unlimited borrows or just plain sales. For that reason, indie authors should probably be investing some of their marketing budget, no matter how small or big, into Amazon’s advertising platform.

Successful Self-Publishing: Write a Great Book (Part 1)

By Laurisa White Reyes, @lwreyes

Part of The Indie Authors Series 

JH: In the end, it all comes down to the novel itself. Laurisa White Reyes shares why it's so important to start with a great book.

Laurisa White Reyes is the award-winning author of seventeen books, including 8 Secrets to Successful Self-Publishing. She is also the founder and senior editor of Skyrocket Press and teaches English composition at College of the Canyons in Southern California. Visit her website at www.SkyrocketPress.com.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |

Take it away Laurisa...

How My Self-Published Book Got a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly

By Jenn Gott, @gottwords

Part of The Indie Authors Series

JH: Getting reviewed by the Big Reviewers is a challenge for indie authors. Jenn Gott shares her experience (and tips) on getting reviewed by the industry trade publications. 

Jenn Gott is an indie author and a writer with Reedsy, so she basically spends all her time either writing books, or helping people learn how to write books. She firmly believes there is no writing skill you cannot learn with practice and the right guidance. When she’s not working, she enjoys keeping up with the latest superhero movies, reading, and swimming.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter

Take it away Jenn...

Successful Self-Publishing: Learn Your Craft

By Laurisa White Reyes, @lwreyes

Part of The Indie Authors Series 

JH: Before you jump into publishing, learn how to write well. Laurisa White Reyes shares tips on things to do if you want a successful writing career.

Laurisa White Reyes is the award-winning author of seventeen books, including 8 Secrets to Successful Self-Publishing. She is also the founder and senior editor of Skyrocket Press and teaches English composition at College of the Canyons in Southern California. Visit her website at www.SkyrocketPress.com.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |

Take it away Laurisa...

4 Mistakes Amateur Self-Publishers Make That the Pros Don’t

By Dave Chesson, @DaveChesson

Part of The Indie Authors Series 

JH: It's easy to make mistakes when venturing into self publishing. Dave Chesson shares four mistakes new authors make when they go indie, and shows us how to fix them. 

Dave Chesson is the founder of Kindlepreneur.com and creator of Publisher Rocket, a software that helps authors market their books more effectively.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Take it away Dave…

Self-publishing can be pretty intimidating for new authors. It’s easy to make mistakes without knowing you’re making them, and with competition stiff nowadays, being on top of your game has never been more important.

Building YOUR Indie Author Brand

By Ray Flynt

Part of The Indie Author Series

JH: Once you decide to go indie, the next step is to ensure you have a strong author brand. Ray Flynt is back this month with tips on how to build your indie author brand.

Forty-six years ago I moved to an unfamiliar community to develop a new program for my employer. Eventually, I’d be hiring staff, but to begin with it was just me. I only had two contacts in that new community. One was a minister who had once preached at my home church. He hardly knew me, but when I showed up to say “Hi,” he made me feel welcome.

During a tour of his church, we stopped by the choir room. He asked if I sang, and when I replied that I did, he invited me to come for choir rehearsal the following night. I showed up as the proverbial stranger in a strange land. The following Sunday, I joined with forty-five others to sing in the choir loft. I began to make friends.