You’ve been told you need a social media presence as a nonfiction author. Without one you won’t get noticed and you won’t sell many books. They tell you to get on social media and build a following.
- How do you get started using social media?
- What should you do on social media?
- What should you avoid?
- What are the best ways to get noticed as an author on social media?
Remember, social media is just that – social. That means you need to authentically engage with your audience. Be creative, have fun, be social, and you will get noticed.
If you’re just getting started, Twitter is a great place to start. It’s like a huge cocktail party and you want to jump in and join a conversation. Start by following people who tweet about the same topic you do. Retweet their tweets, comment on them, ask questions. Take time to get to know what they are interested in, what they want and need. Focus on individuals instead of trying to reach everyone at once.
If you’ve been using social media for a while, be sure to do an annual audit of your accounts. Review and update your profiles as need with a current photo, bio, and descriptions.
Don’t immediately jump in with tweets that are just about how to purchase your book. If that’s all you do, you’ll soon find no one’s interested and they’ve stopped following you. Instead, share short messages that share valuable tips and information from your book. Be sure to respond to any comments or questions. Build relationships by retweeting relevant tweets posted by other people and commenting on their tweets.
One of my favorite ways to use Twitter is to create lists and use them to find great content to share with my audience. Is your book about healthy living tips? Find other Twitter accounts that also post about healthy living, follow them, and add them to a list you create. Then when you’re looking for great content to share related to your topic, go to that list and retweet one of those. You can add a comment mentioning a related tip from your book and perhaps a link to where your book can be purchased.
It’s especially important to remember to be social on Facebook if you want your posts to get noticed. Write more entertaining and engaging posts that create lively discussions. Try using live videos as videos tend to get more engagement. It’s easy and fun. Here too you want to share valuable information and links to other sources of information that relate to your book’s topic.
The best ways to get noticed on social media is to be social and have an authentic, giving presence. Once people learn that you share your expertise freely, they’ll want to check out your book. So get to know your audience, find out what they need and want, then really converse with them and offer valuable information. View social media marketing as a long-term investment. Be in it for the long haul. Be creative. Be Social. Get Noticed.
Author Bio:
Sue Canfield will be presenting more details about social media book marketing on our weekly teleseminar series February 28, 2018. The topic: 6 Ways to Market Your Nonfiction Book on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn . Learn more here.
Sue specializes in social media book marketing and consultation for nonfiction authors. Since 2006 she has helped dozens of authors create and maintain their social media presence. She writes about using social media to help promote your book at her blog. You can connect with Sue on Twitter and Facebook. She’s also a published nonfiction author since 2009 and understands what it takes to market and promote a nonfiction book.
