Social Media for Authors

With all the social media outlets, it can sometimes feel as though we’re throwing spaghetti against the wall and seeing what sticks. Understanding the purpose of each platform can help authors know why they’re posting so their posts travel further and provide the support the author is looking for when it comes to book promotion. So let’s dig into the platforms, viewing them through a different lens.

Some platforms are more interactive than others. Social Media channels like Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and X facilitate conversation. The focus is building readership and sales. On these sites, authors can ask questions, have conversations with others, and respond to comments. Authors can also include direct buy-links to their books, giving their readers direct access to purchasing options. As an author posts on these platforms, responding to others is as important as posting their own content. Also, posting should include a mixture of promotional posts and non-promotional posts, so as not to be too spammy. People follow an author on these sites to see what that author is up to. It’s a good rule of thumb to keep that in mind as an author is posting. What would you want to see from your favorite author?

There are also more visual platforms like Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. While some of these platforms may offer the ability to post links, the main purpose of these isn’t necessarily building readership and sales. The focus is more on brand building. Conversation is a bit more limited or takes a backseat to the visual, so on these sites, the author will want to focus on providing a visual representation of the author’s brand. Do you write heartwarming, sweet stories? If so, your pages on these platforms should be heartwarming and sweet. The reader should get a sense of an author’s brand just by what is posted.

By keeping these purposes in mind, the author can slay their social media. Happy posting!

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