.png)
I've recently been getting a lot of questions about things that authors can do on social media to increase interest and reader engagement before their book is officially released. So, I thought this might be a great blog opportunity for sharing some ideas.
Social media is a powerful tool for authors to connect with their readers and promote their upcoming books. By creating engaging content and running targeted campaigns, authors can generate buzz and excitement for their new releases, even months in advance.
When you work with us at Authors' Allies, we really work to ensure that you put this pre-publishing promotional time into practice. Establishing yourself as an emerging author (or your book as a new read) is imperative to a great launch.
Here are a few tips for using social media to increase interest and reader engagement before your book launch:
1. Create a social media calendar. This will help you plan and schedule your posts in advance, so you can stay consistent and engaged with your audience. When creating your calendar, be sure to include a mix of different types of content, such as sneak peeks of your book, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, writing tips, and Q&A sessions.
2. Share exclusive content with your followers. This could include things like excerpts from your book, character interviews, or bonus scenes. You can also offer exclusive discounts and promotions to your social media followers.
3. Run contests and giveaways. This is a great way to generate excitement and engagement around your new release. You can give away signed copies of your book, gift cards to bookstores, or other reader-related prizes. Goodreads has a great giveaway you can do that really helps increase your reviews once your book is published.
4. Collaborate with other authors and bloggers. Cross-promotion is a great way to reach a new audience and introduce your book to potential readers. Reach out to other authors and bloggers in your genre and see if they would be interested in collaborating on a social media campaign.
5. Use relevant hashtags. Hashtags are a great way to get your content seen by more people. When posting about your new book, be sure to use relevant hashtags, such as #newrelease, #bookstagram, and #amwriting. No more than 30 hashtags on Instagram and just a few on the other platforms. Keep an eye on trends here though as there's talk that hashtags are becoming less relevant than the proper keywords for your books.
6. Engage with your audience. Social media is a two-way street, so it's important to engage with your followers. Respond to comments and questions, and participate in conversations. The more you interact with your audience, the more likely they are to be interested in your book.
While we encourage you to be on multiple platforms to reach your demographic, the most important thing is to have one main platform you are active and comfortable with. It's not necessary to be on all platforms to do well and whether or not you are on multiple platforms will really depend on your overall strategy.
Here are some tips for specific social media platforms:
Facebook:
Create a Facebook author page and use it to promote your book.
Join relevant Facebook groups and participate in discussions.
Run Facebook Live videos to connect with your readers and answer their questions.
Twitter:
Use Twitter to share short snippets of your book, writing tips, and other relevant content.
Join Twitter chats and hashtags to connect with other authors and readers.
Run Twitter contests and giveaways.
Instagram:
Use Instagram to share visually appealing content, such as book covers, character photos, and behind-the-scenes photos and videos.
Use Instagram Stories and Reels to give your followers a behind-the-scenes look at your writing process and upcoming book launch.
Run Instagram contests and giveaways.
TikTok:
Create TikTok videos that are creative, engaging, and relevant to your book.
Use TikTok hashtags to reach a wider audience.
Run TikTok contests and giveaways.
By following these tips, you can use social media to generate interest and reader engagement for your new book launch. Just be sure to be consistent with your posting and to engage with your audience regularly.
Do you need more tips on exactly what to post on your social media for content? Then request our Free List of 30 things An Author Can Post on Social Media here. And, if you want to just hire someone else to post for you, let's chat about it. Schedule a FREE discovery call.
Rebecca Paciorek is an Online Business Manager specializing in assisting in the growth of your business through traditional and digital means.
Comments