STOP doing these 10 THINGS if you actually want to win the war for readers:
1. Relying on Amazon for everything
That’s not a business. That’s a leash. When Amazon changes the rules, you lose visibility, margin, or worse—your entire account. Selling direct gives you control over pricing, data, relationships, and delivery. It’s not about ditching Amazon entirely; it’s about building a fallback base the algorithm can’t nuke.
2. Writing for algorithms
Trends don’t tell you what to write—your mission does. Chasing tropes or hot keywords might give you a short-term boost, but it builds shallow foundations. Readers can sense when a story is engineered to please bots instead of people. Tactical storytelling means depth, consistency, and characters who feel like real-world operators.
3. Giving away your best book for free
Lead magnets are useful, but stop giving away the story that defines your brand. If it’s your best work, charge for it. Buyers are more committed than freebie seekers. You want an audience who invests—emotionally and financially. That’s who sticks around for book two, three, and fifteen.
4. Begging for reviews instead of building a tribe
Reviews help, but a loyal readership buys more books than five stars ever will. Focus on storytelling, consistent communication, and direct offers. Treat readers like allies, not algorithms. A single true fan is more valuable than ten strangers with opinions.
5. Ignoring your own store
If your website is an afterthought, you’re surrendering the high ground. Your store is your HQ—it should be fast, easy to navigate, and built to convert. Showcase your series. Make the buy buttons impossible to miss. Funnel readers like it’s your op plan. Because it is.
6. Thinking ads are the whole game
Ads are fire support, not a strategy. If you don’t have a solid landing zone (aka your store), you’re lighting money on fire. Build the funnel first. Test every touchpoint. When a reader clicks, they should land in your world—not get confused, distracted, or lost.
7. Writing without strategy
Every series should have a purpose, a path, and a plan for monetization. If you can’t articulate why a reader should care about book four before they’ve read book one, rethink your arc. Product design matters. Reader journey matters. Strategy is the difference between a hobby and a career.
8. Selling like a hobbyist
This is your FOB, not your book club. Use professional tools. Track your conversions. Send emails with intent. Get serious about merchandising, packaging, and positioning. Every page, every product, every post—treat it like it's your brand's battlefield.
9. Chasing vanity metrics
You can’t deposit a bestseller badge. Focus on profit, not rankings. If your ads break even but build your list, you’re winning. If you own the customer data and can resell later, you’re winning. Likes and follows don’t equal freedom. Revenue does.
10. Forgetting what got you here
You started this because you had something to say. A world to build. Characters worth following into the fire. Don’t let marketing noise drown your mission. The best tactic is still the book. The best strategy is still storytelling. Keep your edge sharp.
Your store is your forward operating base.
Build it. Fortify it. Own the reader journey.
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