Social Media for Writers 101
by Mary Kole | Former literary agent, now a freelance editor, writing teacher, and IP/story developer for major publishers and creators.
As a published author, you know how important it is to have an effective book marketing strategy. One of the most powerful tools in your arsenal is social media for authors, if you can stomach the work and engagement that it takes to do this type of book marketing. With its massive reach and ability to help you engage with your target audience, social media for authors can be an invaluable asset for those looking to get their work out into the world and generate a readership … and book sales, because, let’s face it, now that you’re published, you are probably doing a lot more book marketing than you hoped for. Here are some tips on how you can use social media for authors to maximize your reach and impact.
Create a Social Media for Authors Presence on Multiple Platforms
When creating an online presence on social media, it’s best to start by establishing an account on multiple platforms. The two biggest platforms for authors are Twitter/X and Instagram, but there are plenty of other options that may be beneficial depending on the type of book you’ve written or the target audience you’re trying to reach. Think about where your readers hang out online and make sure you have accounts there, too. Make sure your accounts all have recognizable branding so that readers will be able to connect the dots back to your online presence, no matter which platform they’re on. Ideally, you will want to choose one handle and keep it consistent between accounts. If you can’t quite standardize that, make sure your social media for authors profiles have a consistent avatar.
Post Regularly and Strategically
Once you have social media for authors accounts set up, it’s time to start posting regularly. You don’t need to post every day, but make sure you’re posting at least a few times each week so that your followers know what you’re up to and when they can expect new content from you. Consistency is absolutely key with these book promotion strategies, though. A dead or inactive profile will actually do you a disservice, compared to one that’s updated less frequently than you’d like.
It also helps if you can come up with a strategy for when and what type of content should be posted. This will ensure that your posts are more targeted and effective to hook the reader.
Engage with Your Audience on Social Media for Authors
Social media for authors isn't just about broadcasting—it's also about engaging with people who follow or comment on your posts. In fact, the number of followers you have is less important to any social network algorithm than the engagement that your posts generate. This means comments, likes, shares, and screenshots. Reply to comments, ask questions, share stories about yourself—anything that will help build relationships with potential readers. This way, they won't just think of you as another author, they'll think of you as someone who takes time out of their busy life to engage directly with them. This relationship-building will go a long way towards helping people remember your name and connect with your creative writing work.
Using social media for authors effectively requires dedication and strategy, but it can be incredibly rewarding if done correctly. Hopefully these tips will help get you off on the right foot when using social media for book marketing purposes. With the right approach, you can maximize your reach and create lasting connections with your audience through social media channels.
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