i3dify for self-published authors
Your Kindle Look-Inside is broken on mobile. Replace it with a 3D book preview readers flip through — doubles as podcast press kit.
The problem
You spent 18 months writing the book. The first 30 pages are your conversion engine — they decide if a reader buys. But the Kindle 'Look Inside' button on a phone is hidden behind a tap, then a slow-loading flat reader. Your author website is either a Squarespace template ($23/mo) that looks like every other indie author's, or doesn't exist. Podcast hosts ask for a press kit — you send a Google Drive folder. Each touchpoint underdelivers compared to the book itself.
Three ways self-published authors use i3dify
Pick what fits your workflow
3D book sample on your author site
Embed a 3D flippable preview of your first 20-30 pages on your author website, Substack, or Beehiiv. Visitors flip through, fall in love with the prose, buy on Kindle. Beats the 'Look Inside' button by a mile.
Build a 3D book sampleNewsletter lead magnet
Give your newsletter subscribers a 3D bonus chapter or short story. Password-protect with a passphrase sent in the welcome email. Newsletter signups go up because the magnet is actually unique.
Build a lead magnetPodcast press kit + author card
A 3D card with your bio, headshot, book cover, press quotes, Calendly. Send to podcast hosts pre-interview. They see your work and book themselves to chat. Beats a Google Drive folder of PDFs.
Build your press kitWhy it works for self-published authors
Specifics that matter
Beats Kindle Look-Inside on mobile
Kindle's mobile sample preview is functional but ugly. A 3D flippable preview with your cover, paginated cleanly, is the format your book deserves. Higher sample-to-buy conversion in early reader data.
No $23/mo Squarespace author site needed
Your i3dify book preview + Substack newsletter = full author web presence for $0-3/mo. Squarespace authors pay $276/year for a template you can match with a free i3dify embed on Substack.
Embed on Substack, Beehiiv, Ghost, WordPress
iframe embed code works on every major author-blog platform. Your book preview travels platform-independent — when Substack rolls a new feature you hate, your preview moves with you.
BookTok-friendly — fans share the URL
When a fan loves your work and wants to recommend it, they share the URL of the 3D preview. Beats sending a Kindle deep link that requires Amazon login. Word-of-mouth conversion via a viewer native to socials.
FAQ
Questions self-published authors ask
How many pages can I include in a sample?
Free tier (50 MB total) typically fits 30-60 pages depending on density. Most authors use the first 20-30 pages — the marketing tradition since print. Pro ($3/mo) bumps to 10 GB for full appendices or special editions.
Can I link from the sample to my Amazon page?
Yes. Add a clickable pointer on the last page of the sample saying 'Continue on Kindle →' linking to your Amazon URL. Most authors put it on the last page as the conversion trigger.
Will my publisher / KDP care if I host a preview elsewhere?
Self-publishers (KDP, IngramSpark) generally don't restrict you from hosting samples on your own properties. Always read your specific contract. For traditionally published authors, ask your editor — sample limits vary by publisher.
Can I password-protect for ARC readers?
Yes. For Advance Reader Copies, set the project to unlisted + password-protect, send the URL + passphrase to your ARC list via email. Removes the friction of mailing physical ARCs.
What about #BookTok — does this fit their format?
BookTok skews video, but the 3D viewer makes for great background visuals in unboxing/announcement TikToks. Several authors film themselves flipping through the 3D version of their book — the visual moment is shareable.
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