Selling directly to readers allows authors to retain more profits and fosters deeper connections. Yet, managing your own shop can demand significant investments of time and money. Enter Direct2Readers, a new magazine and discoverability platform by the publishers of Indie Author Magazine, which is designed to simplify direct sales and bridge gaps between creators and their audience.
IAM publisher Chelle Honiker describes Direct2Readers as "a reader-focused discovery hub and marketplace, built to connect readers with the storytellers they love." Integrated with IAM’s sister publication, Storyteller Showcase Magazine, the platform accommodates all forms of storytelling media, allowing creators to sell directly or link to retailers, with authors earning 80% of sales directly through the site.
Tips for Authors:
1. Set up Separate Storefronts for Each Pen Name
If you use multiple pen names, Direct2Readers lets you create separate storefronts to target distinct audiences. Each pen name costs $100 per year with unlimited product listings, individual sales pages, author bios, reviews, and trailers. Tags like categories, genres, and tropes help readers easily discover your work.
2. Leverage Affiliate Links to Popular Retailers
You can list your books as affiliate products to major retailers such as Amazon or Apple Books, expanding visibility without handling direct delivery. Direct2Readers imposes no exclusivity demands, so authors using Kindle Unlimited or transitioning to selling directly can comfortably showcase their work.
3. Offer Diverse Product Formats
Unlike other platforms, Direct2Readers supports diverse storytelling formats, including ebooks, audiobooks, comics, serials, graphic novels, films, and even interactive storytelling. Users can easily browse through specific formats directly from the homepage categories.
Pro Tip: Follow up with buyers directly through email, thanking them and inviting them to join your newsletter, strengthening the bond with dedicated readers.
4. Use BookFunnel for Effortless Ebook Delivery
Direct2Readers integrates with BookFunnel for secure and easy ebook delivery and handling of customer service queries. While having a BookFunnel account is encouraged, it's not mandatory to utilize this convenient feature.
5. Streamline Print Fulfillment with Lulu or Bookshop.org
If you wish to sell print books without direct fulfillment hassles, Direct2Readers integrates with Bookshop.org, which supports independent bookstores, or Lulu for print-on-demand services, offering quality paperback and hardcover editions.
Tips for Readers:
6. Create a Reader Account for Enhanced Personalization
Creating an account isn't required to make purchases, but registering allows readers to save preferences, track orders, and benefit from tailored recommendations, creating a more rewarding shopping experience.
7. Chat with the Librarian AI for Personalized Recommendations
Direct2Readers employs an AI-driven chatbot, "Chat with a Librarian," offering personalized book suggestions based on reader’s genre and trope preferences. Recommendations include titles, authors, descriptions, and reasons for selection, enhancing book discovery efforts.
8. Easily Search and Filter Listings
Use Direct2Readers' search tool to locate specific titles or filter by author or genre. Each listing provides detailed book information and links—some redirecting directly to external shops or allowing purchases directly on-site.
9. Subscribe to the Newsletter for Exclusive Deals
Signing up for the Direct2Readers newsletter grants readers special promotions and personalized recommendations, alerting readers directly to discounts and updates from their favorite authors.
10. Explore More with Storyteller Showcase Magazine
Direct2Readers' sister publication, Storyteller Showcase Magazine, captures more unique author stories, exclusive interviews, and new release insights beyond IAM's scope. Available quarterly and distributed globally, including events like Reader Nation, this magazine further deepens readers' connections to indie storytelling.
Pro Tip: Authors can boost their visibility through classified or featured ads within Storyteller Showcase, presenting optimal promotional opportunities.
Alongside Direct2Readers and Storyteller Showcase Magazine, expanded multimedia interactions, such as Indie Author Spotlight Amazon Channel, will soon provide even richer author-reader connections. As a cooperative platform, Direct2Readers helps indie authors overcome typical direct sales hurdles, benefiting both creators and readers through streamlined interactions and enriched storytelling experiences.
Jenn Lessmann is the author of Unmagical: A Witchy Mystery, and has published several stories on Kindle Vella. Formerly a barista, stage manager, and English educator with advanced academic credentials, Jenn blends humor and paranormal fantasy for new adults, fueled heavily by caffeine and curiosity.
