Being a published author is great.
Being on social media is great.
When an author can do both, he/she becomes a digital savvy writer.
In short, he/she is attuned to the times.
Social media, when used properly for marketing and promotion, can work wonders for authors, whether they’re working on sequel or series or just starting to write their debut novel.
Look:
In an increasingly digital age, every author should at least know a thing or two about social media.
Jot that down:
Adapt or perish… such is the imperative of an era where information is plentiful, the competition is fierce (on the business side), content creators (including authors) are in under intense pressure to create, and above all, the attention span of content consumers (including readers) is short.
Social media provides authors the means to get their message across a wider, more diverse audience and find new inspiration for their writing.
Where else could they find original, fresh ideas without having to put their pen down than on social media?
Imagine what an author could do once he/she becomes well-versed in the use of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and the like:
- Connect with readers
To connect with their readers is what writers using social media want to – and should – do in the digital age. They should be able to tap its full marketing potential, given that 81% of U.S. Americans had a social media profile in 2017, according to Statista. The number of social media users worldwide is expected to reach 2.5 billion in 2018. Think how many social media users love books.
- Publish
Authors are free to publish a lengthy piece, may it be an excerpt from their next book, a review of a fellow author’s work, literary musings, their approaches to literature, or perhaps a rant on Facebook, Tumblr, and even LinkedIn. For authors who are more into visual content, it is best to upload content on Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube. Social media serves as an innovative platform for writers to publish and gain feedback for their writing. Different strokes for different folks!
- Keep tracks with current events and trends
Authors can use social media to keep up with the latest news and trends, many of which may appear in their next book. They look up social media to browse a treasure trove of untapped marketing and literary potential in user-generated content in social media. As a research tool, social media provides authors a quick and easy way to spot material to use as inspiration for their next book.
- Build reputation and visibility
One way for authors to build their author brand and exercise thought leadership is to be on social media. Even Neil Gaiman, Paulo Coelho, Salman Rushdie, Haruki Murakami, and J.K. Rowling excel on social media – and they are popular and widely read even before the advent of social media a decade ago. To build brand awareness and visibility in the digital age is to connect with readers from almost anywhere and in real time. To keep your brand – and your book – extensively on social media, an author needs to create a constant stream of content to keep their fans and their followers hooked.
- Share their passion
Authors’ passions do not only seep through into their books but also on social media. Just like their readers, they are also passionate about many things, other than just writing and literature. Their passions range from cats to outdoor recreation and baking to human rights – things you may have recognized in some of their books. Where else would they share their passion other than social media?
Social media is one of the components of your author platform and is equally important as your author website, both of which complement the other. Maximize its marketing potential to network, advertise, and get your work out there. Make sure to use it properly or else it takes you away from your writing.
To know more about the most effective book marketing strategies, follow ReadersMagnet on social media. You could also talk with a marketing specialist today. Call 1 (800) 805 0762 or email us at info@beta.readersmagnet.com
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As a writer, it always feels good to be recognize by your readers. Social Media helps authors get their stories heard by a greater number of audiences.
I agree with you, that’s why it’s important to maximize social media and use it the right way to be heard and to inspire other writers as well.