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*First written July 2025, updated November 2025.* In this lengthy article I’m going to explain my view on what the bot attacks are, how to spot a fraudulent order, what to do if you get attacked, and how to prevent them happening again. In 2025, several of the authors I work with have experienced multiple… Read more: Bot attacks on Shopify Stores

Have a plan for your customer emails The emails that you send out to your customers will be a huge driver of more revenue. In other words, if you know someone has bought from you before, they are your best bet for buying from you again. Plus, you already have their details and haven’t got… Read more: Post-purchase emails

I see this question come up a lot, which is why I think it merits an article of its own. In an ideal world, you would create your own Shopify store so that you know all the ins and outs, every setting and every checkbox. However, building a Shopify site from scratch is time consuming,… Read more: Should I build my own store, or hire someone to do it?

1. Should I set up a Shopify store at all? There has been a bit of a craze for authors to create their own stores and sell directly to readers, for very good reasons. Shopify is a great platform for doing this. However, I need to give a word of caution: setting up a Shopify… Read more: FAQs

Sales tax. Two little words that strike fear into the hearts of most authors venturing into direct selling. Sales tax is not optional, and you can’t ignore it. I am not a tax professional or an accountant and cannot advise you on how to meet your tax liabilities. This page is for information purposes only from what… Read more: Sales Tax

There is a bewildering array of apps you can add to your Shopify store – anything you want, there’s an app for that. Check out the app store: https://apps.shopify.com/ Many of them will cost you money, and potentially clog up your store and slow it down. I’m an advocate for simplicity, and for saving money. You can… Read more: Essential apps for your store

Click here to download my checklist for uploading a book to Shopify. There’s a list for ebooks, audiobooks, and paperbacks/hardbacks. I’ve assumed the print books are with BookVault and the ebook/audiobook are with BookFunnel.  Please note, this checklist doesn’t explain every step in detail. You need to already know how to add books. The checklist… Read more: Checklist for uploading books to Shopify

Shopify doesn’t create store backups for you, so this is something you’ll need to do yourself. Also, you’re responsible for keeping accurate records of your business. It is vital to save your site’s information in case of some sort of catastrophic error within Shopify (unlikely), an app screwing up your site (also unlikely if you… Read more: Backing up your Shopify site data

Why having your own store is a good idea In my experience, it’s best not to think of your own store as being a rival to any of the big retailers. What you are creating through your store is your own special corner of the internet, where your readers should want to come and buy… Read more: The Personal Touch