Social Media for Authors

Beyond Shameless Self-Promotion

Social media is a great tool for authors to connect with their audience, build their brand, and promote their work.

Most of you are doing it wrong.

Many authors make the mistake of assuming social media platforms are promotional channels. They bombard followers with relentless self-promotion.

Buy my book! Buy my book! Buy my book!

While promoting your work is important, you need to strike a balance between promotion and engaging your connections. If you don’t, you risk losing them.

Here’s why you should diversify your social media content and how to do it.

Why Mix It Up?

1. Audience Engagement

Social media is all about building relationships and engaging with your audience. Bombarding followers with shameless self-promotion can come across as just plain douchey. Invite more personal interaction by incorporating a mix of entertaining and engaging posts. This will foster a sense of community and loyalty.

2. Algorithm Favorability

Content that sparks meaningful interactions and engagements is shiny to algorithms. Don’t keep asking for the sale! You can increase the chances of your posts getting shared if you switch them up. This will lead to increased visibility and drive more traffic to your books.

3. Brand Building

Showcase your personality, interests, and values beyond your work as an author. Diverse content humanizes your brand and makes you more relatable to your audience. This can help create a stronger connection with your followers and turn them into loyal fans.

Effective Strategies for Diversifying Content:

1. Share Behind-the-Scenes Insights

Take your audience behind the curtain and give them a glimpse into your writing process. Show them your research. Share what inspires you. This adds depth and fosters curiosity and intrigue among your followers.

2. Create Interactive Content

Encourage interaction by posting polls or quizzes related to your books or writing themes. This boosts engagement and provides valuable insights into your audience’s preferences and interests.

3. Curate Relevant Content

Don’t make it all about you. Share content from other authors and book recommendations in your genre. Share writing tips or industry news that your followers may find interesting. Demonstrate your expertise and passion for literature while providing value to your audience.

4. Inject Humor and Personality

Don’t be afraid to showcase your sense of humor or share personal anecdotes. Injecting personality into your posts makes them more memorable and relatable. Try to foster a genuine connection with your audience.

5. Celebrate Milestones and Achievement

Share your achievements with your audience.Share writing milestones, awards, and book release. Express gratitude for their support.

While self-promotion is an aspect of social media, it shouldn’t be the focus of your content strategy. By incorporating a diverse mix of entertaining and engaging posts, you can deepen connections with your audience, boost visibility, and build a strong, authentic brand presence that resonates with your followers. Get creative, have fun, and let your personality shine in your social media endeavors!