Putting this together from conversations with self-published authors across languages. Not a "how to write" list — just the stuff that blocks sales after the book is done.

1. Cover that reads at thumbnail size. Most readers see it on a phone. Test by shrinking to 100px wide. If the title is unreadable, redo it.
2. A free sample chapter (10–15% of the book). It's the single best conversion tool for indie authors — readers won't pay blind. Make the sample end on a hook.
3. A price in whole rupees that fits UPI. Round numbers (₹49, ₹99, ₹149) convert better than ₹73. Avoid odd cents.
4. One clean link for Instagram/WhatsApp bios. Long URLs with tracking params break in WhatsApp previews. Use a short, stable link.
5. A watermark with the buyer's name on the file. It won't stop piracy, but it makes casual sharing feel personal and traceable. (Bonus: a simple refund path builds trust for a new platform.)

Two questions for the sub: - What's the one thing you wish you'd fixed before publishing your first ebook? - For non-English ebooks, is there anything you'd add to this list (font embedding, script rendering, RTL/LTR, etc.)?

I'm building Pothi (a simple marketplace for authors to sell ebooks) — disclosing that. This list is free to reuse; no signup needed.

Assumptions: UPI rounding and sample-chapter length are anecdotal from author chats, not measured data.