Here are a few tools and resources I use every day or regularly which really help build my business. Hope you find them useful.
eBook Syndication
Draft2Digital.com
Distribution to Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook and Amazon
PublishDrive
Another distribution platform that gets your book onto over 400 stores including Google Play and international markets including China.
Smashwords.com
One of the older eBook distribution services, recently re-vamped that gets your eBook into all the major eBook sellers as well as smaller ones.
KDP
Direct publishing to the Amazon Kindle platform
eBook production
Pressbooks.com
Based on WordPress. Just copy in your chapters as if to a blog and Pressbooks generate eBook files based on various templates.
Scrivener
Scrivener is a powerful content-generation tool for writers that allows you to concentrate on composing and structuring long and difficult documents. While it gives you complete control of the formatting, its focus is on helping you get to the end of that awkward first draft.
Scrivener Training
How you can get Scrivener to do exactly what you want and accelerate your writing career in less than 1 week. Click here for an depth course on learning Scrivener Fast…
Reedsy
Reedsy is a marketplace for sourcing editors, proofreaders, publicists, ghostwriters, book marketers and cover designers. You can also import your book into their editor and produce all the ebook formats as well as a print ready PDF…for free.
Use this link for a $25 credit toward their services.
Vellum
If you own an Apple Mac use Vellum. I don’t but am tempted to get one just to use this tool that creates and compiles amazing eBooks.
Book covers
99 Designs
Have designers submit cover designs based on your brief and then choose the winner.
eBook delivery
Bookfunnel
Service to deliver your books to your readers. Many readers struggle with how to get ebooks onto their devices. This is an awesome service that aims to deal with this problem. They also offer giveaways with an option to help build your email list.
List Builder Promotion
Bookfunnel
(see above)
BookBoast
Swap email sends for your latest books or book offers and push sales or your email list.
Prolific Works (formerly Instafreebie)
A fast-growing popular platform for authors that can help you grow your list quickly.
Print on Demand
Ingram Spark
Reach Ingram’s bookstore distribution network. There are more set-up costs associated but if you keep an eye on their emails they do give you coupon codes to negate this cost.
KDP Print
Amazon’s POD facility that enables you to upload your cover and interior PDFs, get printed books and have them available on Amazon. Recommend you opt for just Amazon distribution and use IngramSpark for wider book distribution.
Online Business
Asana
Keep on top of your project tasks with this app.
Slack
We use this to input ideas and conversation between team members via #channels
Google Alerts
Get sent emails instantly as new content is indexed on Google on your chosen keyword phrase. Your first phrase to monitor should be your name!
Dropbox
Syncs my laptop, phone and main PC, no more emailing back and forth and keeps all or files in one place.
Aweber
This autoresponder just keeps improving and is an essential part of your business.
Hostgator
For the best value web hosting around and in my experience has always been very good, with no problems. Only thing I suggest is not to get domains through them.
Namecheap
For domain names which are then pointed over to hostgator.
Fiverr.com
Gigs from $5. Choose an array of useful services if on a budget
I will add to and update this page on a regular basis.
