Every entrepreneur faces moments where they realize they’ve built their business on someone else’s foundation. For me, that realization came after watching my first ebook languish in Amazon’s vast marketplace, competing with thousands of similar titles for visibility I couldn’t control.
The wake-up call? I was essentially paying Amazon to limit my relationship with my own customers.
The Platform Trap
When I launched my initial freelancing guide through Amazon KDP, it felt like the smart play. Amazon has the traffic, the trust, and the infrastructure. Why reinvent the wheel?
But here’s what I didn’t anticipate: platform dependency creates a ceiling you can’t break through. Every reader who found my book was Amazon’s customer first, mine second. I had no way to follow up, no insights into what resonated, and no control over how my content was presented or priced.
Most frustrating of all? I was competing in an oversaturated marketplace where success often comes down to algorithmic luck rather than content quality.
Finding Inspiration in Unconventional Places
The shift in my thinking came from studying how successful indie entrepreneurs like Pieter Levels approach product distribution. Instead of fighting for attention on crowded platforms, they create their own spaces where they control every aspect of the customer experience.
This got me thinking: what would direct-to-consumer look like for digital books?
My Solution: The Full-Visibility Sales Model
For my second guide, I’m experimenting with what I call “transparent selling.” Instead of hiding content behind sample chapters and hoping people trust the purchase, I’m showing everything upfront—with one strategic twist.
The entire book is visible on a single page, but with scrambled text that preserves the structure while protecting the content. Readers can see:
- Exact chapter breakdown and flow
- Real length and depth of material
- Actual examples and case studies (scrambled)
- Complete table of contents
It’s like letting someone examine a product in a physical store before buying, except digitally.
The Business Logic Behind This Approach
This model solves several problems simultaneously:
For readers: Complete transparency about what they’re purchasing eliminates buyer’s remorse and builds trust.
For me as the creator: I own the entire customer journey, from discovery to purchase to follow-up. Every transaction teaches me something about my audience.
For the business: Higher margins (no platform fees), direct customer relationships, and complete control over pricing and presentation.
The checkout process uses Stripe, keeping things simple without forcing customers to create accounts they’ll never use again.
Early Lessons and Next Steps
I’m still in the testing phase—gathering feedback and refining the approach before launching any serious marketing efforts. But the early signs are encouraging. The few people who’ve seen it understand the concept immediately and appreciate the transparency.
The real test will come when I start driving traffic and see how conversion rates compare to traditional platforms. My hypothesis is that removing uncertainty from the buying decision will significantly outperform the “trust us with your money” approach most digital products use.
Why This Matters for Other Entrepreneurs
Platform dependency is everywhere in modern business—not just publishing. Whether you’re selling on Amazon, building an audience on social media, or relying on Google for traffic, you’re vulnerable to algorithm changes and policy shifts beyond your control.
The companies that build lasting value find ways to own their customer relationships directly. Sometimes that means more work upfront, but it creates sustainable competitive advantages that platforms can’t take away.
My publishing experiment is really about testing whether direct relationships can beat platform reach. The early signs suggest they can—at least for certain types of products and audiences.
See It In Action
If you’re curious about this transparent selling approach, you can experience it firsthand at readfreelancesuccess.com. Whether you purchase or not, you’ll get a feel for how complete product transparency might change buying decisions.
The bigger question this raises: what other industries could benefit from pulling back the curtain and showing customers exactly what they’re getting before they buy?
Building sustainable businesses often means choosing harder paths upfront for better long-term outcomes. If you’re wrestling with similar platform dependency challenges in your own ventures, I’d love to hear how you’re thinking about solutions.