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In a perfect world, authors could spend 100 percent of their time writing and polishing their works. But that’s just not the case in today’s digital world. To be successful, authors must take an active role in selling their books.
That’s true of authors who have publishers or those who are self-publishing on their own. While publishers often provide marketing services on behalf of authors, authors must promote their own brands instead of relying on their publisher’s brand to increase book sales.
Think about it like this: Simon & Schuster doesn’t sell Simon & Schuster. It sells Stephen King and Jodi Picoult and Mary Higgins Clark. Readers want to connect with authors directly, not with someone in the publisher’s marketing department.
These authors unique voices are just as important to sales efforts as an attractive book cover or well-written excerpt on a book jacket. That’s why social media offers authors a such an effective way to promote themselves that’s genuine and engaging to readers. Authors can use their words to convey thoughts and ideas instead of relying on generic sales copy to drive book sales. Plus, Facebook, Google+, Twitter and LinkedIn take only your time, not your money.
So how can authors utilize social media to their advantage?
1. Make yourself stand out. Create a profile page that captures attention and draws people’s interest. Use a professional headshot of yourself – not a snapshot of your kids, dog, favorite vacation spot or sports team. Tell your personal story, but keep it brief. Convince readers that you’re likeable and have something to say. Here’s a good example.
2. It’s a two-way street, not a soapbox. Social media users expect to connect with those they follow. Authors must respond to all comments and questions in a timely manner to ensure followers stay interested. Don’t let weeks pass before you react to a comment.
3. Keep it positive. Even if you want to take a stand on social, political or religious issues, refrain from doing so. Offering strong opinions will only isolate readers and possibly impact sales.
4. Use images and videos. To engage readers, you must give them something to look at other than words. Use photos, videos, surveys and other interactive media to capture readers’ attention. Post a favorite song from YouTube or Vimeo so readers can get to know you better.
5. Don’t reinvent the wheel. As an author, most of your time should be spent writing, not advertising. With so much information on the Internet, don’t write all social media content from scratch. Instead, link to others’ articles and posts that are relevant to your genre. Sites like www.alltop.com make it easy to find appropriate content on 1,000 topics.
Social media gives readers the chance to get to know authors on a more personal level. Using these platforms to your advantage will help drive sales and increase your fan base.
