Start Early and Often for Author Social Media Marketing

Start Early and Often for Author Social Media Marketing

When it comes to social media, too many authors engage in One for the Money … Two for the Show … Three to Get Ready (maybe) … and rarely GO.

This is not your option. The wise author … the savvy author … the author whose objective is to be seriously successful gets started early and engages often moving forward.

Why?

To get your feet wet.
To learn shortcuts for creating posts and posters.
To start building influence.
To grow your confidence.

YES, you will most likely do some publicity and PR. But both have taken a back seat in the book buzz world to social media—primarily, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. If your book is for the YA or Juvenile crowd, TikTok and Instagram are in your future. It’s where the Teens and Tweens hang out.

Most likely you will need to create a Facebook page along with a Business page, and do all your posting about your book, its ahas and tips—anything—on the “book” or your “expertise” page. Keep your personal page personal. Start a Twitter account and Tweet—if you are interested in getting the media’s attention, Twitter is essential. Facebook is a never-ending evolution. If your crowd is on Facebook, and most likely it is—get there too.

One of the big mistakes authors make is that they mix up their “personal” page with their “author/book” news. Don’t. Separate your political and any other views that could generate a negative opinion about you to potential Fans. And start a Facebook Group around your expertise in nonfiction. For fiction, it could be around a series, a genre, a location, and how about you? If you are creating SuperFans, they will be looking for you. Join my Facebook group, Publishing with The Book Shepherd at: http://facebook.com/groups/BookPublishingHelp

Get involved with groups on LinkedIn. In fact, for nonfiction authors, creating your own LinkedIn Group roots you in as a “go-to” authority and expert. Start discussions. You will have to moderate, but over time, the group starts building on its own. For authors and anyone interested in publishing, I would encourage all of you to join the AuthorYOU group.

Pinterest is huge for the visual crowd. For cookbooks, it’s a must-have. If your book solves problems, you can easily create “Boards” with aha tips—I use Canva and BookBrush to make mine. Quotes by you or others can be generated on a Board; Cheat Sheets; Favorite Books; Awesome Beaches; Amazing Road Trips … you get the idea. Have fun with this one.

Videos are hot and so is YouTube, the #2 search engine behind Google–Google owns YouTube, and the combo is huge. Create your own channel. Then repost your videos to your other platforms.

One of the huge mistakes authors repeatedly make is to delay their social media strategies. The sooner you get this started, the better. If you are planning on doing any type of media with your book, don’t be surprised when you are asked by a producer of a show, “How many Twitter followers or Facebook friends do you have?” You see, they expect you to do shout-outs about your appearance to promote it and the show. If you are a minor “player,” you may not get a role. It’s that simple.

Social media is all about finding your crowd, community, or “tribe” and communicating with it on an ongoing basis. Don’t ignore the powerbase it can create. Get started now. It’s time to put your GO into gear.

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.