Here's useful info on ebook file types and preference at retailers.

Before formatting your ebooks, let's get familiar with free tools Amazon provides to help you at the start and along the way.

Preliminary info on formatting that is important to know before we actually do the formatting.

Here is the list and order of the most common front matter elements along with a demonstration of how to insert them.

This is a great way to format chapters all the way through your ebooks.

Whether you're creating a Table of Contents the Amazon way or the Universal Method, this tutorial explains it all.

Most ebooks have at least one image inserted, along with hyperlinks for the author and readers to connect on social media sites. This lesson demonstrates that and also shows how to check those links in Amazon's preview mode at KDP.

If your book has multiple images or complex formatting, you may have better conversion results (especially at Amazon) if you save MS Word as HTML Web Page Filtered.

Learn to use Calibre for converting MS Word .docx in ePub files, a format preferred by some retailers.

EPUB files must be validated before they can be sold by retailers. This is the same program used by the major retailers who sell ebooks, so it's wise to try your files now to see if they pass inspection of if they need any fixes.

What you need to know before hiring out or if you decide to try making your own.

A range of options for professional cover design from amazingly affordable to fairly expensive.

If you decide to make a cover yourself and save money, templates could be a great help.

For those who really want to make a cover from scratch, here are great free resources to help.

Amazon is the king of sales for most indie authors. It's a great place to begin although now is the time to decide whether to participate in KDP Select or not. The choice is yours.

When preparing for Smashwords, the main formatting differences will be the changes to front matter, having a Universal TOC and deleting hidden bookmarks. If you plan to upload an ePub file, it's necessary to add a cover within the document as the first page. Calibre is great for that.

Smashwords does not have a preview mode, so after uploading you'll want to download the ePub (or other) file and check to see how it looks, especially if it converted from MS Word. That's free for the author even for a priced book, and you can always upload a new version anytime. Once you're happy with it and it has passed Premium Status in your Dashboard, you can select the distribution channels and choose which retailers to send it to.

Draft2Digital will accept anything you send in, so it's up to you to format professionally. They also will populate your document with certain common elements (like a Title or Copyright page) if those choices are checked. You get to decide whether to allow them to do that or to provide those elements yourself, which I recommend.

Barnes & Noble's Nook Press is an other great place to upload your ebook for sales. They have a built-in editor which is a good way to correct any small fixes within their system if necessary.

Kobo Writing Life also has a built-in editor, like Nook press. They're a Canadian outfit and another great place to sell from.

Google Play is a bit difficult for some authors and it definitely has its quirks, like reducing the sales price of your book after you list it. However, they do have a tremendous audience and do sell ebooks so it's a fine choice for another retailer.

Get ready to set up an automated system for direct sales from your websites using PayPal or a shopping cart program.

The first step for enabling direct PayPal sales is to upload your ebook files to your website or blog.

The next step for PayPal sales is to create a download page that customers will be directed to after purchase.

See how to create and implement PayPal buttons to your website or blog for direct sales.

Another method for direct ebook sales at your own sites with a shopping cart application. Ecwid is a great program for that and also runs on autopilot.

A philosophy for how to approach social media to maximize potential while minimizing time.

Here's a closer look at Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and YouTube. These four social media sites can be extremely important to any author's marketing platform.

Overview of websites and blogs and what they should have, along with a brief tutorial for using Google's Keyword Planner for smart keyword choices.

Even though you don't have to blog, many indie author superstars have blogging in common. See an example of making a blog post with the most common elements included.

Make the most of your Amazon Author Central Profile.

Public Relations (PR) are an important part of ongoing author platform. These tips will help keep your internet presence growing and the book sales coming in.

Reviews are among the hardest things for indie authors to attain because we rely on others to get this done. Here are plenty of tips for getting the ball rolling.

Get contact information and links to money saving coupons for other courses.