by Diana Urban (October 12, 2018 blog reprinted with permission)
Check out examples of how dozens of successful authors use social media.
Social media can be a useful platform for many authors, helping them connect with readers, fellow writers, and the publishing community. But deciding what content to post next can be a struggle. So how do successful authors use social media to engage with their fans? And what can authors post on social media besides links to their own books?
Below you’ll find 23 ideas. Many of these tactics can help promote a book, but in more creative and engaging ways than simply posting a link to a book’s retail page. We hope this provides you with inspiration when you’re brainstorming content to publish on social media!
Publishers and agents, this post is written for authors. We encourage you to share it with your authors to help them build a more engaging profile.
1. Run a Q&A session
Give readers the opportunity to ask questions live, and give them a set amount of time in which they’ll have your undivided attention.
2. Ask fans for their opinion
Fans are often eager to voice their opinion online, so prompting them with a specific topic can be a great way to start a discussion and get people talking about a book.
Diana Gabaldon shared a review that sparked a debate on her Facebook page, and asked her fans to chime in with their opinion.
3. Post cover reveals
Social media is a great place to show fans what your next book will look like. They’ll be excited to see the visual depiction of your next story, and it will build recognition when the book is available for sale.
Stephen King had a unique cover reveal, sharing an animated video of his newest book’s cover on Facebook.
4. Show props from a scene in a book
Bring your books to life by showing fans how you envisioned objects from specific scenes.
Maggie Stiefvater posted a picture with tarot cards that appeared in a scene from her book. The tarot cards were also part of a month-long giveaway and offered as a prize to fans.
5. Share event schedules
If you’re participating in conferences, book tours, book signings, or any other event, let fans know where they can find you.
Rainbow Rowell posted her schedule for the New York Comic Con as an image on Facebook.
6. Provide a behind-the-scenes look at your writing process
Show fans what inspires you during your writing process. This can be anything from the research you gathered, photos from location scouting trips, diagrams or sketches you drew, or even excerpts from early drafts.
Brad Thor shared photos from a researching trip on Facebook, which fans were excited to see.
7. Update fans on your writing progress
Your fans may be clamoring for your next book, so give them an update! They’ll enjoy the glimpse into your publishing process, and an update serves as a nice reminder of the upcoming release.
Marie Lu does a great job making fans feel like they’re experiencing part of her writing process live.
8. Show off your work space
If you’d rather not give specific updates on your work in progress, show your fans where you work. Writing can be an isolated task, and social media provides a great way to invite readers into your workspace (without the risk of in-person distraction).
9. Share a quote from one of your books
To drive exposure for a book, create an image of a notable, inspiring, or funny quote from the book. You can use tools like Canva or Designfeed to easily turn quotes into eye-catching images.
Susan Mallery posts a quote to Facebook every day, and uses a template to create a consistent style for each day’s quote. She ties the quote to an upcoming holiday.
10. Discuss your love of books
Readers who follow authors on social media obviously love books. Relating to them and sharing in that love of books can foster engagement. For inspiration, check out BookBub’s blog, where you’ll find posts like “21 Quotes Only True Book Lovers Will Understand” or “17 Secrets Only Book Lovers Are in On.”
11. Share good news by thanking others
Accomplishing a literary feat like topping a bestseller list, winning an award, or landing a new book deal is something authors want to shout from the rooftops. Thanking readers for their role in your accomplishments is a humble way to share good news, recognizing readers for their involvement in that success.
12. Share fans’ photos or art
You can also show fan appreciation by sharing art they’ve created based on your books, or reposting photos they’ve shared with you.
13. Show support for other authors
Use your social media presence to promote other authors you admire. You can coordinate efforts —cross-promoting each other’s work gets you exposure to new fans—or share the love unprompted! Maybe they’ll return the favor later. Either way, fans love to see recommendations from their favorite authors. A book or author you like is likely one they’ll enjoy, too.
14. Share your reading list
If you don’t want to post detailed reviews, simply share what you’re reading now or your to-be-read (TBR) list.
15. Create little games for fans
Encourage interaction by creating fun games: quote fill-in-the-blanks, trivia, scavenger hunts, mad-libs, guessing games—the possibilities are endless.
16. Share playlists for a book or character
Music can be inspirational, and fans often want to know what authors listen to while crafting specific scenes, or what songs influenced the creation of their characters.
Sarah J. Maas tweeted a link to a Spotify playlist for one of her books.
17. Answer fans’ frequently asked questions
If fans ask questions in your Facebook posts, your answers can get buried in the comment threads. Compile your answers in their own post.
18. Promote charities and other good causes
As someone with a platform, you have the opportunity to advocate for charities and other good causes you feel strongly about, and actually be heard. Share how you participate and gently encourage fans to play a role.
Elizabeth Gilbert, along with a few of her author friends, created a series of posts to promote a great charity event.
19. Celebrate characters’ major life events
Your characters might not be real people, but you can add a fun layer of realism by celebrating their major life events—birthdays, anniversaries, or post-novel updates—on social media.
Janet Evanovich wished one of her characters a happy birthday on Twitter.
20. Share interesting links and media
Your fans are clearly interested in the topics you write about in your books, so chances are you share other interests as well. If you find a photo, article, or video particularly interesting, share it with your fans. They might enjoy the content, too! Bonus points if you ask for their opinion to foster a conversation.
Science fiction author Neal Stephenson often shares articles on science and technology.
21. Show off your pets
When in doubt, post pictures of animals. It’s a sure win—everyone loves animals.
22. Let fans see your personal side
Not all of your content has to be about books. Lots of authors share random photos they’ve taken, adventures from their latest trip, favorite recipes, opinions on pop culture and current events—you name it. Don’t assume fans won’t care about what you have to say. Those personal posts can be the ones that get the most engagement.
23. Check in when you take a break
It’s perfectly fine to take a break from social media to focus on writing. Your fans will understand, and they’ll be happy to know you’re making progress on your next book. If you take a hiatus, check in once in a while to let fans know what you’re up to.
Sarah Dessen checked in with her fans on Facebook to 1.3K likes and nearly 100 comments of encouragement. Not a bad way to get some inspiration to keep on writing.