SOCIAL MEDIA IDEAS FOR AUTHORS: YOUR BOOK
1. Cover Reveal
Reveal your new book cover. You can do this on your website, social media platforms or get a blogger involved to reveal it on their website. Children’s book blogger Book Lover Jo regularly hosts cover reveals on her website which introduces the book to her audience as well as the author’s own.
2. Quotables
Create quotables to share on social media. Programs such as Canva make it easy to create an eye-catching graphic with a quote from your book to share.
3. Milestones
Share any milestones for your book. Amazon bestseller status, one year anniversary etc. Thank your readers or anyone else who helped you achieve the milestones.
4. Reviews
Share favourable reviews of your book.
5. Audio Book
If you have an audio version of your book share excerpts of the recording.
6. Promos
You can absolutely share promotions for your books just remember the 80/20 rule when doing so.
7. Giveaways
Host giveaways. Readers love the chance to win a copy of your book or any marketing collateral like bookmarks and signed postcards.
8. Book Trailer
Create a video trailer for your book and share it.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Readers love to get a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes. There’s plenty you can show them:
9. Inspiration
Share the inspiration for different aspects of your book. How did you imagine the elements of your book looking? If you made a Pinterest Board to collect ideas for your book, share it.
10. Backstory
Have you written any back stories for your characters which you can release? JK Rowling has done this for many of her Harry Potter characters. Readers love to read insights into characters’ worlds
11. Writing Process
Share what your day looks like, what you’re working on, how many words you’ve written? Take a picture of your writing space.
12. Interviews
Did you carry out any interviews for your book? Perhaps only snatches made it into the book but you could share the full interview with your readers.
13. Playlist
Did you create a playlist when you were writing your book? Were there certain tracks you listened to when writing important scenes or characters? If so, share this with your readers. Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight series, spoke to her fans a lot about the music she listened to when writing her books. She’s put together soundtracks for the books which fans can view on her website.
14. Unboxing
Unboxing is hugely popular, especially with children. Case in point, my youngest asked, if Boxing Day follows Christmas Day why isn’t Christmas Day called Unboxing Day? When you receive your books from your publisher make a video of yourself unboxing them.
SOCIAL MEDIA IDEAS FOR AUTHORS: ENGAGE
15. Q&A
Hold an ask the author Q & A on Instagram stories. Debut author Kathryn Kettle recently carried out a Q&A to raise awareness of her upcoming book. She asked followers to ask her anything in her stories and then she shared the answers. Her Instagram account is very creative and worth looking at for ideas.
16. Events
Are you taking part in any events? Share these with your followers and how they can attend.
17. Funny Quotes
Share funny quotes about being an author and writing. Just search the internet. There are plenty out there and they usually get a good response.
18. Quiz
Quizzes and games based on your books which your fans can play are always popular and are a great way to engage with your followers.
19. FAQs
Are there questions you’re often asked about your books and writing? Keep a list and share the questions and answers on your social media channels.
20. Ask Questions
Create posts where you ask questions of your followers. They can be about anything but make sure you engage with their answers.
21. Connect
Use social media to connect with fellow authors and librarians. Get involved with Twitter chats. A Twitter chat is a conversation based around one hashtag. They are a great place to get to know other authors and readers.
22. Fan Art
Share fan art. This works particularly well on Instagram. New York Times Bestselling author Cassandra Clare shares pictures fans have created of her characters and books on her Instagram account.
THE AUTHOR
23. Shelfie
Share a picture of your book shelf. Let your followers know what you’re reading, what you’ve read and what’s on your to be read pile.
24. Out in the Wild
When you or your readers spot your book in shops or in online stores share pictures or screenshots
25. Other Authors
Show support for other authors. Share news of their upcoming books.
26. Charity
Are you involved with any charities? These may or may not be related to your writing. For example, children’s author Jennifer Killick has a character who is a hedgehog called Mr Pickles. She supports the charity Poppy’s Hedgehogs, posting about their work and how readers can help.
27. Your Life
Introduce the reader to your world. It’s up to you to decide how much of your life you want to share but it’s a great way to connect with followers by sharing aspects of your life such as pictures of your pets, places you’ve visited, your hopes for the year ahead.
28. Updates
What’s going on in your writing world? Give updates on your writing, meetings with your agent or publisher.
29. Teasers
Share teasers about what’s coming up next from you with the hashtag #TeaserTuesday
Perhaps your book is about to be released abroad, maybe you’re working on a top secret project, or your book’s being made into a TV series or a film. Maybe you’re collaborating with another author or have been invited on a podcast. Share a tidbit.
30. Awards
If you’re shortlisted for or win any awards share this news.
31. Interviews
Have you been interviewed for the media? Are you being featured on a blook blog? Are you guesting on a podcast? Share it.
