Authors
ask the same three questions when it comes to social media:
·
Is it really necessary? I hate it.
·
How do I get something to go viral? The
dumbest things seem to get millions of views.
·
Do social media posts lead to book sales?
It seems like a waste of time.
The
answers are: YES. It is possible. Yes.
But,
there is a caveat. You need to post with:
·
Intention
·
Consistency
·
Regularity
·
Creativity
·
Attitude
And,
you need to properly reach out to people beyond just those that already follow –
or are connected to -- you.
Let’s
look, first, at what an author can post on social media. Each social media
platform has unique features. The more platforms you are actively on, the
greater the chance of discoverability. Right? Being on four platforms is better
than one or two, although not all platforms are equal, Facebook, for instance,
is way bigger than X. However, X does not limit your number of connections,
making it easier to reach more people than on, say, LinkedIn.
Authors
must know why they are on social media. It could be to:
·
Sell books
·
Get clicks on a web site
·
Promote a brand
·
Market a message
·
Build up a followership to monetize as an
influencer
·
Angle for a book deal
·
Sell some other product or service
·
Download a freebie
Authors
must also know what the people on social media seek to get out of being online
and interacting with you. In other words, for the people that you hope consume
and share your content, what is it like for them?
Why
should they like what you said – or be so impressed that they feel compelled to
share it with others? What would move them to comment on it? What is it that
makes them feel inspired/touched by your posts to buy a book?
What could you post on social media?
1.
Photos/illustrations/paintings
2.
Digital imagery
3.
Satirical or distorted images
4.
Memes
5.
Give-aways/offers of discounts and deals
6.
Infographics/charts/stats
7.
Links to blogs or other content by or
about you
8.
Links to content from other
people/sources
9.
Lists
10. Slideshows
11. Videos
12. Audios
13. Quotes, with or without your commentary
14. News of the day with or without your analysis
15. Jokes
16. Contests/awards
17. Press release announcements
18. Event notices
19. Fundraiser links
20. Recruitment/sign-up links
Will your content reflect:
·
Sentimentality
·
Counterintuitive views
·
Controversy
·
Outrage
·
Fear
·
Fun
·
Pride
·
Hope
·
Philosophy
·
Pets/animals
·
Family/friends
·
Love
·
Psychology
·
Faith
·
Finances
·
Charity
·
Sex/relationships
·
Sports
·
Politics
·
Disaster/death
·
Travel
·
Nature
·
Food
·
Health
·
Wellness
·
Entertainment
·
Beauty
·
How-to tips
·
Cultural arts
·
Predictions
·
Questions
·
Pronouncements
·
Secrets revealed
·
Opinions
·
Advocacy
·
Honoring a person, events, holiday, or anniversary
·
Complaints
The
list can go on. There is no end as to:
·
Which content you share
·
How often you share it
·
The ways you choose to present your
content
·
How people respond to your shares
There
is no formula for going viral, though I suspect it involves images of cute
dogs, hot bodies, and political mockery – or all three. But authors should know they need to embrace
social media and to use it purposefully with some urgency and creativity.
Need
Book Marketing Help?
Brian Feinblum, the founder of this
award-winning blog, can be reached at [email protected] He is available
to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He
has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in
all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!
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