Sell Books with Social Media

Whether you’re a new author or experienced one, whether you understand about book marketing or not, you do need to know about social media marketing.

Wikipedia puts it pretty simple:

“Social media marketing is the process of gaining website traffic or attention through social media sites. Social media marketing programs usually center on efforts to create content that attracts attention and encourages readers to share it with their social networks.”

If you don’t have an author website, the very least you should have a couple of social media accounts. 

And you should post promotional blurbs about your books to those accounts.

Social media helps broaden your reach and sell books. And as authors, it’s necessary to be involved with it.

While you may not want to get knee deep in social media marketing, you do need to get your feet wet… that is if you want to get you and your books visible.

STEPS TO START A SOCIAL MEDIA BOOK MARKETING CAMPAIGN 

1. Open two or three social media accounts.

If you don’t already have social media accounts, it’d be a good idea to open two or three now.

Some worthwhile networks are Facebook, Twitter, TicTok, Pinterest, and Instagram.

2. The profile

Each network allows you to create a profile for your account. And these profiles matter. 

Your profile gives other users a quick look at what you're about and what you're offering. I've gotten a couple of queries based on my profile on Instagram and LinkedIn. Again, they matter.

So, what should you put in your social media profile?

Think marketing. You want to primarily convey what you're offering. 

You don’t have much content real estate in the profile description so make it count.

It’s also important to include keywords for your niche/industry. This helps  other users know what you can do for them.

And in everything you do online, be professional.

To get an idea of profiles, check out other users in your niche or industry. 

3. The profile banner area. 

Definitely take advantage of this. If you don't know how to create your own banner, hire someone on Fiverr to do it for you for around $10. It'll be worth every penny.

As an example, my primary business is children's ghostwriting. So, with branding in mind, I created a banner in line with my brand:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karencioffiventrice

I have the same banner on all my social networks. You might want to do the same with your brand. I use LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Although, I focus on LinkedIn as I get work from the network. I also got work from Instagram, but I think that was a fluke.

TikTok is another possibility. I read (I forgot where) that TikTok is an effective social network for authors. The only drawback (for me) is it’s primarily video.

This is another reason I have to get into video (and so should you, if you’re not already).

4. Social Media Blurbs and Memes and Posting

An example of this is my book, How to Write a Children’s Fiction Book. I created blurbs for it that I post to my social networks.

You can create around five or more blurbs to post to your networks.s

If you don’t have the skills, or tools, or inclination, you can hire someone to do them for you.

Then simply post them daily to your networks.

Social media can be powerful. You should take advantage of every free feature the networks offer.

WORD OF ADVICE

While social media marketing is an essential part of book marketing, you don’t want to spend too much time on it. 

You should be working on a second, third, or tenth book, or more.

BRANDING

Keeping your branding consistent is important; you’ll eventually be recognized by your colors and logo.

You can also check out my website here to see how I have color as part of my branding:

Note: As an author it’s important for you to have an author website.

I’m a working children’s ghostwriter, rewriter, editor, and coach. I can help turn your story into a book you’ll be proud to be author of, one that’s publishable and marketable.

Or, maybe you’d rather do-it-yourself. Check out my book, How to Write a Children’s Fiction Book. 

If your children’s manuscript is already done, check out Writers on the Move Publishing.

You can contact me at: kcioffiventrice@gmail.com. Or, you can give me a call at 834---347---6700. (Please leave a message - I'll get back to you as soon as I can.)