How to Sell Ebooks on Readfeed as an Indie Author: The Complete Guide
Selling direct does not have to mean building your own store from scratch. Readfeed lets indie authors publish EPUBs, keep most of the revenue, and turn every buyer into a reader community member.
What Is Direct Ebook Selling on Readfeed?
Readfeed lets indie authors upload an EPUB, set a price, and sell directly to readers while keeping roughly 85% of each sale. Unlike a generic storefront, Readfeed is built around books: every purchase automatically creates a reader community, connects buyers to book clubs, and gives authors tools to engage readers through live events, Q&A, and messaging.
For indie authors, this solves a problem Amazon KDP cannot. KDP distributes your book, but you do not own the reader relationship, you cannot see who bought your book, and you have no built-in community. Readfeed gives you direct revenue and a direct audience in one place.
Why Indie Authors Are Adding Readfeed
The indie publishing model has matured. Most authors now understand that relying on a single retailer means surrendering audience data, discovery control, and long-term reader relationships. Direct sales channels are no longer optional for serious indie careers.
Readfeed is designed specifically for authors who want:
- Direct revenue with a transparent 15% platform fee
- Owned audience with exportable subscriber data
- Book-native community that forms automatically on every sale
- Book club conversion including bulk purchases at quantity discounts
- Sample-to-purchase analytics so you can see what is working
The platform is free. You only pay when you sell.
Step-by-Step: How to Sell Your First Ebook
Step 1: Create Your Author Account
Sign up free at Readfeed's author program. No credit card is required. You will get access to the author console where you manage ebooks, communities, earnings, and reader engagement.
Step 2: Connect Stripe
Before publishing, connect your Stripe account through the author dashboard. This is how you receive payouts directly. Stripe Connect handles payment processing; Readfeed never holds your money.
Step 3: Create Your Listing
Go to Sell Ebooks in your author console. Set your price (between $0.99 and $1,000), write a compelling description, and configure your sample percentage so readers can preview before buying.
Step 4: Upload Your EPUB
Upload your full EPUB and an optional sample file. Readfeed delivers watermarked streaming to protect your work while keeping the reading experience seamless in the browser.
Step 5: Publish and Share
Submit for review. Once approved and live, share your sample link. Readers who sample and buy join your title's reader community automatically. You can track sample opens, purchases, and conversion rates in your per-title analytics dashboard.
What You Get Beyond the Sale
Every ebook sale on Readfeed triggers more than a transaction:
- A reader community is auto-created for your title
- Buyers can highlight passages and share quotes in club chat
- You can host live AMAs and launch parties with built-in video
- Book clubs can purchase in bulk with a 10% discount at 3+ copies
- You receive reader Q&A, direct messages, and subscriber exports
This is the difference between selling a file and building a readership.
Pricing and Royalties
Readfeed charges a 15% platform fee on ebook sales. Authors keep roughly 85% before Stripe processing fees. There is no monthly fee, no listing fee, and no charge for using the author platform, clubs, live video, or Q&A tools.
Compare that to typical KDP royalty bands of 35% to 70%, where you still do not own the reader. On Readfeed, higher margins meet audience ownership.
Genres That Perform Well
Readfeed's reader base skews toward engaged book club audiences. Indie authors in romance, fantasy, mystery, thriller, and book-club fiction tend to find strong conversion, especially when they connect with clubs reading in their genre. Nonfiction authors with book-club-friendly topics also perform well.
Getting Started Today
If you already have an EPUB and a Stripe account, you can be live on Readfeed in an afternoon. Create your free author account, upload your book, and start building the reader community that every indie author needs but most platforms never provide.
For a quick overview of the indie sales model, see the Readfeed indie author sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do indie authors sell ebooks on Readfeed?
Indie authors sign up free at Readfeed, connect Stripe, upload an EPUB, set a price between $0.99 and $1,000, and publish. After approval, readers can sample and buy directly. Authors keep roughly 85% after Readfeed's 15% platform fee, and every buyer automatically joins a reader community for that title.
How much does it cost to sell on Readfeed?
The author platform is free with no credit card required. Readfeed only takes a 15% fee on ebook sales, so authors keep roughly 85% plus Stripe processing. Signed copies carry a 5% platform fee, and reader gifts carry a 10% fee. There is no monthly subscription.
Do I need to leave Amazon KDP to sell on Readfeed?
No. Most indie authors keep KDP for distribution and add Readfeed as a direct-sales channel that owns the reader relationship. You can sell the same title in both places and use Readfeed for community, analytics, and book club bulk purchases that KDP does not provide.
What happens when someone buys my ebook on Readfeed?
The buyer gets access in their Readfeed library, and a public reader community is automatically created for your title. Buyers can discuss the book, join live author events, and participate in club bulk purchases. You gain a direct, exportable relationship with every reader who purchases.