How to Do Social Media as an Author & Promote Your Book?

Feeling overwhelmed by the vast world of social media? You may wonder how to navigate it all and actually sell some books. There are benefits of publishing a book and there are benefits of having social media to promote it. This guide will cover the main things you need to get started with social media as an author.

Social media isn’t just about endless scrolling and cat videos. It’s a powerful tool for building a community around your book. Imagine a vibrant space where you can connect with readers who love your genre, share your passion for writing, and spread the word about your latest masterpiece. 

Sounds pretty awesome.

How to Do Social Media as an Author?

Before we dive in, let’s talk about the benefits of getting your book out there. Publishing it on social media allows you to:

• Share your voice and stories with the world.
• Connect with readers who resonate with your work.
• Build a lasting legacy as an author.
• Potentially earn income from your passion. (Who doesn’t love that?)
• Gain potentially new audience (new readers, clients etc. like describing that they can reach even winder audience they didn’t know before smth like that)

Main Social Media Channels

Social media refers to online platforms that enable users to create, share, and interact with information, ideas, and content. It’s a space for connection and community building through digital tools. Here are a few popular social media platforms you could use as an author:

• Facebook: A massive platform for connecting with friends, family, and following interests. People share posts, photos, and videos, and participate in groups.
• Twitter: A microblogging platform where users share short messages (tweets) with the world. Hashtags categorize topics and facilitate discovery.
• Instagram: A photo and video-sharing platform with a strong focus on visual content. Users can follow creators, brands, and friends to see their stories and posts.
• YouTube: A video-sharing platform where users can upload, watch, and comment on videos. It’s a great platform for sharing book trailers, author interviews, or even readings.
• LinkedIn: A professional networking platform where users connect with colleagues, showcase their work experience, and find job opportunities.
• Reddit: Is a massive online forum divided into communities by topic. Here, authors may be able to connect with readers by sharing valuable content and engaging in discussions, but blatant self-promotion is a turn-off on Reddit.
• TikTok: Is a short-form video platform where users create and share engaging, often viral, content. It’s a space for creativity, entertainment, and trends, with a strong emphasis on music and challenges.

Know who you are and to whom you want to sell your book

Now, before you begin sharing content and promoting your book, it is mandatory to make an account no matter what kind of platform you decide to use. Before setting up your social media profiles, it’s crucial to understand two key elements: yourself as an author and your ideal reader. 

Here are some questions to delve into before diving headfirst into creating profiles:

1. Define Your Author Brand:

What is your writing genre? 

Are you a master of suspenseful thrillers, a weaver of heartwarming historical fiction, or a maths and science academic curator? Identifying your genre helps you attract the right audience.

What makes your writing unique? 

Every author has a voice. Do you incorporate historical details seamlessly? Do you write with a touch of humour that sets your characters apart? Highlight your unique selling points as an author.

What are your passions outside of writing? 

Are you a retired teacher who injects life lessons into your stories? A former travel journalist who brings novels to life? Share your experiences to connect with readers on a deeper level.

2. Identifying Your Ideal Reader:

Imagine who are the people who are reading your book:

• Age: Are your target readers your own age, younger, or older?
• Online habits: Where do they hang out online? Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin or TikTok. Keep in mind that every platform has its specific and it attract a certain type of person
• Challenges: What are their pain points? Are they looking for a thrilling escape, a heartwarming story, or trying to improve themselves and grow their knowlage? Understanding your audience’s needs will help you tailor your social media content effectively.

By taking the time to answer these questions, you’ll gain valuable insights. This self-awareness will guide you in crafting a compelling social media presence that resonates with your target audience.

7 Steps How to Promote a Book on Social Media Effectively

As you already know there are steps to getting your book published and there are steps on how to promote it on social media. Here, we’ve managed to combine the 7 most important ones.

1. Content Sharing:

Regularly share engaging content related to your book and genre. This could include content ideas like:

• Intriguing excerpts or teasers from your book.
• Behind-the-scenes glimpses into your writing process.
• Interesting facts or historical tidbits relevant to your story.
• Bookish quotes or memes to connect with fellow readers.

2. Use Hashtags:

Hashtags are like keywords for social media, helping readers discover your content. Use a mix of popular hashtags related to your genre and niche hashtags specific to your book’s themes. 

Research relevant hashtags and don’t go overboard though. For example, in the screenshot below, you can see that on Instagram it shows the number of posts that include this hashtag keyword. This is also how you can search for ideas from other creators.