Is social media marketing a puzzle to you?
Writers and authors often have these fears: fear of sharing too much information, not sharing enough content, of being too “sales-y”, or not being “sales-y” enough.
Don’t worry, we’ve taken the mystery out of it. Here are a few of our favorite social media ideas.
Before we share the goods, there are some key points to remember about social media:
- Gear your campaigns for the specific social media platform you’re on. What works on Twitter won’t work on Instagram, and what hits on Facebook will take a nosedive on LinkedIn. Even ad campaigns are far different.
- The internet is forever, so be careful what you post.
- Make sure your brand is clear and that people have a way to follow up with you (and get your books!). You can’t post a picture with a link written on it and expect people to type it in. More than 80% of social media is viewed using a mobile device. That means your fans are using apps, and they usually won’t open a new browsing window–it’s too much work.
Without further ado, here are some of our favorite social media ideas for writers and authors.
Host a Q&A Session
Hosting a Q&A is an excellent way to connect with your audience.
You could run a live Q&A (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are excellent places to go live) where your followers can ask you questions that you’ll answer while live streaming.
Another option is to start a comment thread on Facebook or Instagram where you encourage readers to ask questions, and you pop in and answer them throughout the day. Some authors will post to each social media platform, pull from those questions, and create a YouTube video of their Q&A’s. The sky’s the limit when it comes to this type of interaction.
Fan Interaction
Whether it’s a vote for the next hero in a story or a fanart contest, get your audience involved! Offer different choices for what a character might wear, for the next book cover design, or the name of a fictional town. Then announce the winner to all your fans and offer a little prize. Rinse and repeat.
Show Some Behind-the-Scenes Props and Production
Does your main character in the story drive a particular car? Do they work 
with magic or use props?
Create a Pinterest board that shows all the scenery, props, and other inspirational imagery used in your book. Some authors create individual character boards, as well, with costume inspiration ideas. If you have sketches or outlines, consider showing some of those on Instagram and Facebook to get people interested (without spoilers, of course).
Update Your Fans
Let them see what you’re working on today. Show them the beginning, middle, and end, so that they’re right there with you during the journey.
Did you write 10,000 words today? Tell them. Go on a research trip and tour of Easter Island for an upcoming book? Share photos every day of that trip and interesting tidbits you’ve learned. Fans love this stuff.
The Writer’s Life: A Glimpse
Post pictures of your writing space, your writing board, or anything else that shows your fans how you write. Don’t feel as though you need an epic desk shot.
If your cat loves to lay on your writing surface – as happens for so many writers! – take a pic and post.
Share Your Book
When you share your book, choose a quote or something easily read while on the go. Make sure it’s in an image and that your book buy links are in the description.
If you’re on Twitter or Instagram, share a link to your website where all the buy links are available. Keep in mind that you’ll need to change your bio in Instagram to reflect the new link. Keep a consistent format that reflects your brand.
When it’s all said and done, sharing our expertise and selling books and content is what we do as writers and authors. Don’t forget to share your work.
Which of these ideas will you tackle in your next social media campaign?
Melody Jones is Dispenser-in-Chief of Social Media Aspirin™ for Writers and Authors. She helps take the pain out of social media! Check out her services and learn how your can reduce your social media pain – and get back to doing what you love.