If you are an indie author, you will publish independently your books. Probably you have no experience with traditional publishing, or you are rejected by publishers.
You will build your reader's base and promote your books. You will make your book cover by yourself, or you will hire professional cover designers. You will pay an editor. After your book will be published, you will ask for reviews.
There are millions of indie authors around the world. Many will not sell more than a few books and your investment will not be effective. Some authors will give up, others will follow their passion.
In your path to success, you will fall into some traps. I know that from my experience.
Aware of the next traps:
Fake promises. Some authors will offer you a review swap. It is punished by Amazon, by deleting these reviews. Also, even if you review other's author's books and expect the same, it is not guaranteed that the author will review your book as reciprocity.
Unwanted advice. Some authors will brag that your book is not good, give you tips, but no reviews, and try to make money on you. Some authors will say that your book is bad edited and they will offer you a service for a fee.
That leads me to the next point.
Paid reviews. Some people will give you reviews, but you will pay for this. If you want a review, you must give the money. I never accept this and I block every attempt at paid reviews.
Bad editing. Some editors will ask for a big money and your editing will be half done or the book will not be edited. So, you pay and your book still has errors. This happens, and you must tell this to your editor or brag in public.
Subjective reviews. Some people will think they do a favor to you by saying your book is a masterpiece, and they will not read it at all. Biased reviews are punished by Amazon.
Spam. While you are promoting your book, many authors will try to spam you with their books, ask you to review them or buy them, because some people are just amateurs. They are like sellers door to door, and you need to avoid spammers.
Abusing. Some authors will use your page to try to flirt with you or to make you their servant. If you are an attractive woman author, some men will try to get close to you. It is not your audience, you will waste time with such men.
Piracy. Be careful with whom you are sending your manuscript. Write that is for the purpose of review or ARC book copy. You never know how your book can be used for a bad purpose.
The life of the indie author is not an easy life. It is like a cold war, but you can get out of the battle if you build your reader's base. Open the group and meet people. The authors will collaborate with you if you share their work and help them. If you talk to them you can get useful information.
They must know with whom they are dealing. Once when you build your audience, things will go easier.
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