As a book author, you sometimes become a book main character, or in-depth researcher, or an editor – each role on a particular stage of the journey from the spark of a book idea to a finished product. In order to find new readers and make sales, you also need to become a book marketer. Just as there are many ways to write a book, tons of book marketing methods exist, too. Social media is one of the most effective and budget-friendly options out there.
It takes a lot more than a few “Hey, I wrote a book!” posts to your friends and family to make your creative work a success, however. Here’s how to make social media work when it comes to promoting your book. Hint: It’s best to start well before you publish!
This is by far the most important thing to keep in mind when you journey forth onto various social media platforms to promote your book. All marketing is about serving your target audience, after all. These are the people who are most likely to buy your book, who hunger for the type of story or information you create. Figure out who they are.
Then, build a brand around your book that gives them what they want. Author brands usually revolve around their name or pen name. Unless you only plan to write one book in your whole life, do not create your whole brand based on its title or even a series name.
What Does Your Author Brand Need?
- Write an engaging bio with information that matters.
- Pick a cohesive visual identity: author logo, color schemes, fonts, and graphics.
- Present book covers the right way. Use 3D mockups or personal photos.
- Create a genre-related tagline or slogan for your brand, not just your book.
Craft Engaging, Shareable Content to Post Regularly and Widely
What should authors post on social media to get more attention on their books? Before diving into the diverse answer to that question, first understand that regular, organized posting matters a lot. Create a content calendar and stick with it. Share a quote from your book every Tuesday or pass on writing progress posts every Friday. Your schedule should focus on what your audience wants, what platforms they congregate on, and when they look for new content.
Static Graphic Posts
Well-branded, book-focused, and eye-catching graphics work well on Facebook and Instagram, though the latter skews a bit more toward photos. These can include anything from book cover reveals to artwork of your characters to stylish blocks with quotes emblazoned on them.
Actual Photos
Readers love getting to know their favorite authors. If you’re comfortable with it, invite them into your life and writing process with photos of yourself or your workspace. Show off your book cover or the empty cup of coffee next to your keyboard. Another powerful social media idea for book promotion involves asking followers to share pictures of themselves holding or reading your books.
Video Social Media Content
Every platform allows videos of some kind, but YouTube and TikTok top the list. BookTok has become a huge marketing option for writers of all kinds. Consider everything from ‘day in the life of a writer’ vlogs to faceless page-flip videos with excerpts from your story.
Try not to reuse content directly from one site to the next. Tweak things at least a little bit to make it engaging for your followers. Also, always include the necessary data so viewers can find your books: title, author name, ISBN number, other SM pages, and your website.
Optimize: Hashtags, Cross Linking, and More
Create your own author brand hashtag and use it all the time. You can introduce hashtags based on your book metadata such as title and taglines, too. This helps fans find you wherever your content appears. Also, research popular tags used for your genre or book topic. There are tons of readers groups out there focused on everything from steamy romance to entomology. Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, you can find them.
Crosslink your content to create a sturdy web of attraction across different social media platforms. A graphic post on Facebook could suggest visitors view your TikTok video for an exciting book teaser, or a YouTube short can direct people to your latest blog post. Although building this type of interconnected social media web helps promote your books, reaching beyond your own content and getting involved in the community can bring better results.
Focus on the Social Side of Popular Platforms for Readers
All the suggestions above lay the foundation for marketing your book on social media. They’re the minimum any author should do to build their brand and present their projects in the best way possible. “Social” is the keyword for these platforms, however, and it takes an interactive focus to really leverage the power of Instagram or TikTok.
First and most importantly, interact with your followers. Create content that speaks to them directly and shares stuff they care about. If someone comments, reply to them. Answer questions and give information. Remember, socialize, don’t just advertise.
Building true relationships with your readers is how you get them to follow you, care about your brand, and buy future books or other merchandise. Invite them to share user-generated content like photos of them with the book, artwork of your characters, or anything else suitable for the platform.
Create interactive content like quizzes, polls, and more. Social media marketing power shines with options like live Q&A sessions, virtual book readings, and collaborative author events.
Before you have many readers following you, collaboration with other writers in your genre or niche can really help. Look for group events on popular platforms, challenge or special interest hashtags, and influencers or big-name authors that welcome interaction.
Social media provides a wealth of options to market your book and author brand successfully. Of course, all platforms offer paid advertising opportunities, too. Before you dive into further investment in your writer career, build a strong foundation of content and interaction across multiple sites. This is how readers will find you and come to appreciate what you have to offer them.
Raghav is a talented content writer with a passion to create informative and interesting articles. With a degree in English Literature, Raghav possesses an inquisitive mind and a thirst for learning. Raghav is a fact enthusiast who loves to unearth fascinating facts from a wide range of subjects. He firmly believes that learning is a lifelong journey and he is constantly seeking opportunities to increase his knowledge and discover new facts. So make sure to check out Raghav’s work for a wonderful reading.
