Are you looking to help fellow self publishers discover valuable tools and insights? Finding the best resources can be overwhelming, but our Recommend a Resource templates make it easy to share your favorites and learn from others. Start building a stronger, more knowledgeable community today.
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Inviting members to recommend a resource taps into the collective experience of the community, allowing everyone to benefit from practical tools, articles, and advice others have found helpful. This approach fosters a culture of generosity and knowledge-sharing, making members feel valued for their contributions.
People are often eager to share what has worked for them, but may need a prompt to do so. These templates lower the barrier to participation by providing a clear, easy way to highlight resources. This not only surfaces hidden gems but also encourages ongoing engagement, as members return to discuss and build on shared recommendations.
By focusing on usefulness and real-world application, recommend a resource posts create a feedback loop where members explain how they use something, inspiring others to try new approaches. This drives continuous learning and improvement across the community.
What is one self publishing tool you could not live without? Share your go-to and why.
💡 Example: "I could not live without Scrivener for organizing my drafts. It saves me so much time."
Drop a link to a helpful article or blog post that improved your publishing process.
💡 Example: "This post on Amazon keywords really helped my visibility: example.com/keywords"
Has a podcast episode ever changed your self publishing mindset? Tell us which one and how.
💡 Example: "Yes, the Self Publishing Show episode on mailing lists inspired me to start my own."
Share your favorite YouTube channel for self publishing advice and what you learned.
💡 Example: "I watch Kindlepreneur for marketing tips. The tutorial on AMS ads was great."
What is one resource that helped you overcome writer's block during your publishing journey?
💡 Example: "750words.com keeps me on track when I hit a slump."
Recommend a free tool for formatting ebooks. How has it helped you?
💡 Example: "I use Calibre to convert and check formatting. It is user-friendly and reliable."
Which newsletter do you subscribe to for the latest self publishing insights? Share the signup link.
💡 Example: "I like The Hot Sheet for industry updates: example.com/hotsheet"
Share a resource that helped you with book cover design. Bonus if you share your own results.
💡 Example: "I used Canva tutorials to design my cover. Here is a before and after screenshot."
What website do you use for tracking sales and royalties? Tell us what makes it effective.
💡 Example: "Book Report gives me real-time sales data in a simple dashboard."
Is there a must-read book about self publishing you recommend? Tell us why it stands out.
💡 Example: "Let’s Get Digital by David Gaughran taught me the basics of digital publishing."
Share a checklist or template that keeps your publishing workflow organized.
💡 Example: "I use an Asana checklist for each book launch. Happy to share the template if anyone wants it."
Have you found a resource that makes ISBN registration easier? Share your tip.
💡 Example: "Bowker’s website has a step-by-step guide that simplifies the process."
What Facebook group or online community has helped you most on your self publishing journey?
💡 Example: "The 20BooksTo50K group on Facebook is very supportive and full of tips."
Recommend a free course or webinar that taught you something new about publishing.
💡 Example: "Reedsy’s free course on book marketing gave me a solid foundation."
Which formatting software do you trust? Share a quick pro or con.
💡 Example: "Vellum is easy to use but only available on Mac."
Is there a tool that helps you manage your author newsletter? Tell us about it.
💡 Example: "Mailerlite is budget-friendly and simple for beginners."
What is your favorite keyword research tool for Amazon KDP? Include a tip for using it.
💡 Example: "Publisher Rocket helps me find low-competition keywords. I always check the competition score first."
Share a resource that improved your book blurb writing. How did it help?
💡 Example: "Bryan Cohen’s free blurb course gave me a formula that increased my conversions."
Post a link to a video walkthrough that made a big difference in your publishing skills.
💡 Example: "This KDP upload tutorial was a game changer: example.com/kdptutorial"
What resource do you turn to for cover design inspiration? Share a sample or link.
💡 Example: "I browse thecovercollection.com for ideas before I start designing."
Have you used a free editing tool you would recommend? How did it help your manuscript?
💡 Example: "Grammarly catches a lot of typos before I send my draft to a professional editor."
Share a resource that helped you set up your author website. Was it easy to use?
💡 Example: "WordPress beginner guides made my site launch simple and stress-free."
What is the best place to find affordable cover designers? Share your experience.
💡 Example: "I found my designer on Fiverr and the results exceeded my expectations."
Is there a resource that changed your approach to book marketing? Tell us what you learned.
💡 Example: "David Gaughran’s blog taught me how to run effective promo campaigns."
Share a podcast that keeps you motivated as a self publisher. What is your favorite episode?
💡 Example: "I love The Creative Penn. The interview with Joanna Penn on mindset was eye-opening."
What tool do you use to create audiobooks? Share a tip for getting started.
💡 Example: "I use Audacity to edit my files. Watching a few tutorials made the learning curve easier."
Recommend a resource for staying on top of publishing trends. How often do you use it?
💡 Example: "I read Publishers Weekly every week to keep up with market shifts."
Share a Facebook group or forum thread that answered a tough publishing question for you.
💡 Example: "A KBoards thread about ISBNs cleared up a lot of confusion for me."
What free graphic design tool do you use for promos? Link to your favorite tutorial.
💡 Example: "Canva is my go-to. Here’s a tutorial I like: example.com/canvatips"
Have you found a resource that helps with book pricing decisions? Share your insights.
💡 Example: "KDP Pricing Support Tool helped me test different price points."
What is your favorite place to get beta readers or feedback? Drop a link if possible.
💡 Example: "I use Goodreads beta reader groups. Here’s the link: goodreads.com/group/betareaders"
Share a resource that helped you navigate copyright or legal issues.
💡 Example: "Self Publishing Advice Center has a great legal FAQ section."
Recommend a tool for tracking writing progress. How has it kept you accountable?
💡 Example: "I use Pacemaker to set daily word count goals and stay on track."
What is your go-to resource for learning about book ads? How did it improve your results?
💡 Example: "Mark Dawson’s Ads for Authors course helped me double my ROI."
What podcast or blog do you rely on for self publishing news? Share your latest favorite tip.
💡 Example: "I listen to Sell More Books Show. The tip on tracking read-through was useful."
Share a resource that helped you format print books professionally.
💡 Example: "IngramSpark’s free formatting guide improved my print quality."
What resource helped you improve your book descriptions? Show before and after if you can.
💡 Example: "I used Reedsy’s blurb generator. Here’s my old and new version side by side."
Recommend a tool for organizing series or multiple book projects. How does it help you stay focused?
💡 Example: "Plottr helps me track timelines and characters for each book in my series."
What is your favorite resource for learning about book launches? Share a key takeaway.
💡 Example: "Tim Grahl’s book launch checklist taught me to start planning early."
Have you found a resource that simplifies tax prep for authors? Share your recommendation.
💡 Example: "Author CPA’s website has clear guides for self publishing taxes."
To use these templates, simply copy and paste one into your community space, then tailor it to your topic or timeframe. Encourage members to add a brief explanation of why they recommend their chosen resource and, if possible, share a link or example of how they use it. Rotate through different templates to keep prompts fresh and participation high. Consider featuring especially helpful recommendations in a pinned post or weekly roundup to showcase community expertise.
Since these templates are designed for all platforms, keep the format concise and adaptable for both text and multimedia. Use clear calls to action and friendly language. On platforms that support rich media, encourage screenshots or short videos showing how the resource is used. Always provide context for new members so they understand the purpose of the thread.
You can use the templates to prompt members to share their trusted sources or guides for obtaining ISBNs, understanding copyright, or registering works. For example, tailor a post to ask, 'What service or guide helped you the most with ISBN registration?' This sparks discussions around specific, complex steps in the self publishing process and lets members share their real experiences with vendors or official channels.
Absolutely. Customize the templates to specify the format, such as 'Recommend your favorite eBook formatting software' or 'Share your go-to print layout resource.' Since formatting requirements differ between eBooks (like EPUB or MOBI) and print (PDF, bleed settings, trim size), this approach encourages targeted recommendations and richer discussions about industry challenges.
Use the templates to directly ask members for platforms, services, or communities where they’ve successfully connected with beta readers or critique partners. For instance, prompt with 'Where did you find your most helpful beta reader?' or 'What resources do you trust to vet critique partners?' This helps new members navigate a crucial yet often opaque part of the self publishing journey.
Adapt the templates to request resource recommendations based on real-world outcomes—like print quality, shipping times, or customer support. For example, ask, 'Which POD service provided the best quality for your illustrated children's book?' or 'Who has experience with international POD options?' This encourages nuanced discussions and first-hand accounts relevant to typical self publishing dilemmas.
Customize the resource prompt to focus on marketing channels typically used in self publishing. Ask, 'Which AMS ads dashboard do you find most intuitive?' or 'What newsletter service helped you grow your reader base fastest?' Members can then share insights into niche marketing tools that address the limited distribution channels self publishers often face.
Yes, adapt the templates to request recommendations for vetted professionals. Phrase the prompt with context—'Who designed your cover and did you see increased sales after the change?' or 'Which editor helped you avoid common indie author mistakes?' This approach not only surfaces reliable contacts but also highlights the impact of professional help on self publishing success.
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