Author Marketing Blunders …
Not Using Ninja Strategies to Push Your Social Media Out
SOMETIMES, AUTHORS MIX UP their priorities. Maybe they think they can “do it all” … you can’t. Stop it. It’s time to morph your thinking and your actions when it comes to social media posting.
When it comes to social media, you need a management system in place to maintain your social media sanity.
- To schedule your posts.
- To follow comments.
- To make comments.
- To access what is happening in your “feeds.”
You cannot do it all. If you want the Author Fatigue Syndrome to hit, this is the perfect route to take. You are entering a chess board of options. Get help. Social media tool options—you’ll have many decisions to make:
- Which tool should you start with?
- Should you use specialized or multipurpose tools?
- What features distinguish basic from intermediate to advanced and when should you upgrade from “free” to “fee” in a monthly cost?
If you can’t define who your book is for, it’s really for nobody. That’s an ouch.
Too often, authors make the mistake of thinking their books will appeal to almost anyone or everyone. They’re in for a rude awakening. Now, more than ever, the target market is essential to know from your get-go. Exactly WHO are you writing for and to?
Social media is your Town Hall … it targets “who” your buyers are; vast amount of self-published books in the marketplace makes it ESSENTIAL that you define yours from the get-go. If there is a change … a shift, then you tweak what you are doing. From posts to hashtag usage, to images to support any posts. Social media is a portal where potential SuperFans can find you…
Smart uses of social media are the best way to find your niche. It makes it easy for buyers to find you; to get them to notice your book, and encourages present buyers to recommend you and your book to others. Your social media channels ease the way.
Social media tools enable marketing goals possible—in fact, stunningly successful. Whether you’re an author with one book or with many, it’s nearly impossible to manage a social media marketing program without using third-party tools.
Where to start?
- The first step is to know your market and what platforms it contains.
- Next, embrace one of the social media management systems to funnel all your postings through.
You will discover that you will whack off hours of time each day. And that’s a happy dance for authors. Find a system that works for you. Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social, Meet Edgar, and Zoho are some of the top tools to use. Tailwind is a choice for Pinterest users. Reach out to others who use a system. what do they like; what do they dislike? Pick ONE … you aren’t going to use them all.
Some of my clients love Meet Edgar and Buffer. Others like Sprout Social. For me, I started with Hootsuite. It’s what I know and it works for my postings. Explore them and then hone in on the one that “feels right” for you. Many have free 30 day trials; many have a free usage provision if you limit the number of social media channels you are posting to. For the fee ones, you will pay anywhere from $10 to $300 a month, depending on what features you have and how many administrative users you have.
If you want to avoid social media overwhelm, you need tools to create the bridge.
Dr. Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. Often, she must roll up her writing sleeves and become a Book Doctor, juicing up storylines and author words. She empowers authors and works directly with authors who want to be seriously successful and has been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the ’80s. Judith is the author of 37 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers, and How to Create a $1,000,000 Speech. Her personal memoir When God Says NO-Revealing the YES When Adversity and Loss Are Present is a #1 bestseller on Amazon. Collectively, her books have earned over 45 book awards. Judith speaks throughout the year at publishing conferences.
Throughout the year, she holds Judith Briles Book Unplugged in-person and online experiences: Publishing, Speaking, Marketing, and Social Media. All are two-day intensives limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. Join Judith live for the “AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing” podcast on the Toginet Radio Network HERE.
Follow @AuthorUYOUBooks and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorYOU, and join the Facebook group Book Publishing with The Book Shepherd. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her.
©2022 Judith Briles – The Book Shepherd™ All Rights Reserved.