Selling your books outside of Amazon? Learn how direct sales for authors can increase profits, build reader relationships, and grow your brand. Discover the best platforms for selling books direct, how to set up your own storefront, and whether selling direct is right for you.

• Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)

Mentioned resources & affiliate links:

• Gumroad - https://gumroad.com
• Payhip - https://DaleLinks.com/Payhip (affiliate link)
• Shopify - https://shopify.com
• BookFunnel - https://bookfunnel.com/
• Laterpress - https://laterpress.com/
• StoryOrigin - https://DaleLinks.com/StoryOrigin (affiliate link)
• Stripe - https://stripe.com/
• PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/

• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.\

Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding!

- Dale L. Roberts

Keywords and categories make or break your book’s discoverability. Learn how to find the right keywords, choose profitable categories, and boost your book’s ranking on online stores. Whether you're on Amazon, Kobo, or selling wide, these SEO strategies for authors will help you sell more books effortlessly.

• Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)

Mentioned products (affiliate links):

• KIP Scout - https://DaleLinks.com/Scout
• Dibbly Create - https://DaleLinks.com/DibblyCreate
• Publisher Rocket - https://DaleLinks.com/Rocket
• BKLNK: Tools for Authors - https://www.bklnk.com/categories_2022.php
• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding!

- Dale L. Roberts

Amazon officially closed down Kindle Vella this past week. Smashwords is running their annual Read an Ebook Week, find out how this is an incredible promotional opportunity. The Kindlepreneur Dave Chesson just rolled out updates for his Book Description Generator. Barnes & Noble Press shared details about their partnership with the audiobook platform Author's Republic. ProWritingAid rolled out a new feature called Manuscript Analysis. And so much more for the self-publishing news this week.

• Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)
• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

Sources:

• Smashwords' Read an Ebook Week - https://DaleLinks.com/Smashwords
• Bestseller Book Launch Plan - https://DaleLinks.com/BestsellerBook
• Kindle Vella Update FAQ - https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GUJHP3574Z3DLPZD
• Kindlepreneur's Book Description Generator - https://DaleLinks.com/HTML (affiliate link)
• ProWritingAid's Manuscript Analysis - https://help.prowritingaid.com/article/318-what-is-the-manuscript-analysis?afid=6615 (affiliate link)
• Author's Republic + Barnes & Noble Press - https://crm.authorsrepublic.com/bnpress
• March Authortunities Newsletter by Angela Yuriko Smith - https://authortunities.substack.com/p/5-legacy-mags-acquired-by-1-paragraph
• Streetlib on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@streetlib-us \

Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding!

- Dale L. Roberts

Are you wasting time on things that don’t move the needle? Discover the 80/20 rule for book marketing, how to focus only on what works, and cut out time-wasting tasks that don’t lead to sales. If you want smarter strategies that save time and bring results, don’t miss this!

• Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)
• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding!

- Dale L. Roberts

Amazon is removing the ability to download and backup Kindle ebooks. And on the same day they roll out that change, Amazon will be closing down Kindle Vella. IngramSpark has a few marketing opportunities this month, as well as a giveaway for five free books. Findaway Voices by Spotify announced an agreement to distribute digitally-narrated audiobooks by Elevenlabs. And so much more in the self-publishing news this week!

• Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)
• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee

Sources:

• Amazon’s killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books - https://www.theverge.com/news/612898/amazon-removing-kindle-book-download-transfer-usb
• Kindle Vella Announcement - https://www.kdpcommunity.com/s/article/Kindle-Vella-Announcement?language=en_US
• Amazon: We are winding down Kindle Vella - https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/a/faq
• Spotify Welcomes Digital Voice Narrated Audiobooks from ElevenLabs via Findaway Voices - https://blog.findawayvoices.com/spotify-welcomes-elevenlabs-audiobooks/
• Amazon Ads - https://advertising.amazon.com
• Apple Books for Authors - https://authors.apple.com
• IngramSpark: Nominate Your Book Today - https://www.ingramspark.com/editorial-calendar
• IngramSpark: Mastering Metadata: Are Your a Book Marketing Pro? - https://ingramcontent.jotform.com/250495414855160
• Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://GetAuthenticBookReviews.com
• ProWritingAid: Manuscript Analysis - https://DaleLinks.com/Analysis (affiliate link)
• PublishDrive: Audiobooks - technical requirements, easy fixes and FAQs - https://streamyard.com/watch/HNgSJGxZHf44
• Why Cheap Promo is No Bargain: One Unusually Prolific Example - https://writerbeware.blog/2025/02/21/why-cheap-promo-is-no-bargain-one-unusually-prolific-example/
• The Power of Reviews: What Every Author Needs to Know - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-reviews-what-every-author-needs-know-ross-brand-ho7ne
• Get More Book Reviews—Faster & Easier! (Book Bounty interview) - https://www.youtube.com/live/WFyyMPjJDXk?si=kwmWznhD8vrKz34T
• Join my ARC Team - https://DaleLinks.com/ARCTeam

Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding!

- Dale L. Roberts

No budget? No problem! You don’t need a big advertising spend to market your book effectively. Learn free and low-cost book marketing strategies that actually work, how to sell more books with minimal effort, and where to focus your time for maximum impact. If you’re an indie author on a budget, this episode is a must!

• Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)

Mentioned Sites & Services:

• MailerLite (email marketing) - https://DaleLinks.com/MailerLite
• Kit (email marketing) - https://kit.com
• Author Letter - https://authorletter.com
• My List of Book Promotion Site Lists - https://DaleLinks.com/BookPromo
• PodcastGuests - https://PodcastGuests.com
• StoryOrigin (book marketing resource) - https://DaleLinks.com/StoryOrigin (affiliate link)
• BookFunnel (book marketing resource) - https://BookFunnel.com
• eBookFairs (book marketing resource) - https://DaleLinks.com/eBookFairs (affiliate link)
• GetCovers (pro cover design service) - https://DaleLinks.com/GetCovers (affiliate link)
• Hidden Gems Books (ARC service) - https://HiddenGemsBooks.com
• NetGalley Co-Op (ARC service) - https://DaleLinks.com/NetGalleyCoOp (affiliate link)
• BookSirens (ARC service) - https://BookSirens.com
• Pubby - https://Pubby.co
• Get Authentic Book Reviews - https://GetAuthenticBookReviews.com
• Book Bounty - https://DaleLinks.com/BookBounty (affiliate link)
• Gemsy - https://DaleLinks.com/Gemsy (affiliate link)
• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee

Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding!

- Dale L. Roberts

Bookvault made a major announcement about box sets and slip cases for authors. The self-publishing company PublishDrive will be down for scheduled maintenance. Smashwords is having their annual Read an Ebook Week in March. The Kindlepreneur Dave Chesson updated his article about direct sales for authors and the stats are pretty surprising (in a good way)! Laterpress leaked some insider info you will want to know. And, hear about other relevant news in the world of self-publishing.

• Book Award Pro - https://DaleLinks.com/BookAwardPro (affiliate link)
• Subscribe to The Self-Publishing Hub - https://TheSelfPublishingHub.com
• Subscribe to my email newsletter - https://DaleLinks.com/SignUp
• Join Channel Memberships - https://DaleLinks.com/Memberships
• Join Me on Discord - https://DaleLinks.com/Discord
• Check out my main YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@DaleLRoberts
• My Books - https://DaleLinks.com/MyBooks
• Wanna tip me? Visit https://dalelroberts.gumroad.com/coffee.

Sources:

• Bookvault: Introducing Box Sets and Slipcases: Available now! - https://bookvault.app/introducing-box-sets-and-slipcases-available-now/
• Use code BVDALE to waive your first three upload fees.
• PublishDrive - https://DaleLinks.com/PublishDrive (affiliate link)
• Smashwords: Read an Ebook Week 2025 - https://www.smashwords.com/dashboard/sitewidePromos
• Selling Books Direct: Insights from 500+ Authors [2025 Update] - https://kindlepreneur.com/the-truth-on-selling-books-direct-insights-from-authors/
• Laterpress - https://Laterpress.com
• 120 Author Opportunities + Some Hope (I hope...) - https://authortunities.substack.com/p/over-100-author-opportunities-some
• Getting started with MailerLite - https://mailerlite.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RV0gFn6CQw-pE4vxT39bAw#/registration
• MailerLite - https://DaleLinks.com/MailerLite (affiliate link)
• Authors Meet Author Assistants: Streamline Your Publishing Journey at Our Virtual Hiring Event - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/F1qcpvnDSuGrzc68puegXg#/registration
• Master Amazon Ads: Live Ad Audits for Authors - https://www.youtube.com/live/a0snbVjJEPw?si=0MyTn_iQxYQL69yV

Where noted, some outbound links financially benefit the channel through affiliate programs. I only endorse programs, products, or services I use and can stand confidently behind. These links do not affect your purchase price and greatly helps to building and growing this channel. Thanks in advance for understanding!

- Dale L. Roberts