A practical follow‑through for indie authors who don’t have time – or budget – to waste.

Launch day isn’t a finish line. It’s the first day your book must stand on its own. The following month decides whether curiosity turns into steady sales or fades. This plan keeps things simple: fix the page where people buy, collect honest proof, create ways new readers can find you, and then lean into whatever is working. No jargon. No busywork.

If you haven’t yet, take the SOURCE Score™ and open your Signature Blueprint. It gives you a quick read on your starting point so you can work this plan in the correct order.

Days 1–7: Stabilize the storefront, earn proof, keep your message consistent

Start with your retailer page. Read your description out loud. If the promise isn’t clear in the first few lines, tighten it. Make sure your subtitle, categories, and search terms match the words real readers use in your subgenre. Minor edits here usually move the needle more than another week of social posts. If you want help, my Amazon Metadata Polisher is built for this. If people land on your page but don’t buy, an Amazon Page Tune Up focuses on clarity, formatting, and basic conversion fixes.

Now, line up early reviews the right way. Follow up with ARC readers and your warm audience, and make it easy to leave a review. A short reminder with direct links is enough. If you don’t have a system, ARC on Demand sets up the request form, reminder emails, a simple tracker, and listings on trusted platforms so you’re not chasing loose ends.

Keep your message consistent everywhere. Send a short “book is live” email with a clear, single call to action. Pin a purchase-ready post on your main social channels that matches the email – cover, one-line hook, link. Update your bio link and any site banner so everything points to the same place.

Stand up a lightweight weekly tracker. You don’t need a dashboard – just a simple note of sales, new reviews, list growth, and any spend. You’re looking for the slope: up, flat, or down. Adjust accordingly.

Days 8–14: Remove friction and widen the circle

Use what you learned in Week 1 to clean up discoverability and conversion. Refine your search terms and categories so they reflect buyer intent. Rework your description for skimmers: short paragraphs, clear subheads, and a straight-to-the-point close.

Shift some energy into durable discovery. Start pitching podcasts your readers already trust. Offer two or three topics their listeners will care about – what you can teach, explain, or entertain – rather than “I wrote a book.” A one-sheet with your bio, headshot, book summary, suggested topics, and links makes booking easy. If you want it off your plate, the Essential Podcast Outreach Plan handles research, pitching, and scheduling.

On your own channels, publish proof and context. Share a short review quote or a credible comparison title. Add a brief “Behind the Book” note or FAQ on your site that answers common questions and builds trust.

Days 15–21: Build momentum without burning out

Pick one idea from your book and turn it into a few pieces of content across your channels. Keep the message the same; open different doors for readers to walk through. You’re not trying to impress an algorithm – you’re helping the right people connect the dots.

Keep email working. Send a “reader reactions” note with one or two short quotes and ask people to reply. If you didn’t launch with a welcome series, set a light, friendly one now so new subscribers don’t go cold between mentions and interviews.

Warm up partners the right way. Offer a short excerpt or guest post to one aligned blog or newsletter. Build a small list of micro influencers in your niche and start engaging before you ever ask for anything. When you do reach out, you won’t feel like a stranger.

Days 22–30: Look at the numbers and choose the next move

Review your weekly tracker. Did sales jump when a cluster of reviews landed? Did a podcast spot drive a real bump in page views? Follow the signal and do more of that.

• If people can’t find you, tighten your metadata and subtitle.
• If they see you but don’t buy, sharpen the first 70 words of your description and compare your hook to the top titles in your lane.
• If reviews are the bottleneck, send one more polite reminder to verified readers and your list.
• If reach is the issue, expand podcast outreach or secure one quality partner placement. Save paid visibility tests for when the page is solid and start small.

Pick one lever – proof, discoverability, or reach – for the next two weeks. Write a micro plan you can execute. If time is the problem, outsource the one task that frees you up: a metadata tune-up, a researched outreach list, or a drafted newsletter. Focus beats noise.

Common mistakes to avoid

Don’t confuse movement with progress. Random posting isn’t a plan. Every touch should do one of three jobs: add proof, help people find you, or help them decide to buy. Fix positioning and evidence before you chase reach. It’s cheaper – and saner – to convert warm traffic than to pour cold traffic onto a messy page. Post-launch success comes from steady, simple work. Stabilize the page where people buy. Earn real proof. Create discovery that lasts longer than a newsfeed. Then scale what your own numbers justify.

If you want a quick read on where to focus, take the SOURCE Score™, open your Blueprint, and pick the matched Plan or Lite Pack. If you need hands-on help, use the services that match the bottleneck: Metadata Polisher (discoverability), Amazon Page Tune Up (conversion), ARC on Demand (proof), and Podcast Outreach (reach). When you’re ready, reach out to me through the contact form – I’ll point you to the lowest lift, highest return move for the next two weeks.