Part 1: Why Social Media Matters for Your Book

This post is the first installment in a series of articles designed to help you elevate your social media presence and author profile.

Over the last decade, social media has become not only a helpful tool for promoting one’s businesses and passions but also a crucial one. Today, nearly everyone spends a good amount of time each day looking at a screen of some kind, no matter where they are or what industry they’re in. And a good portion of this time is spent perusing social media platforms.

As an author, why should you care about this? Well, there are many reasons. An effective social media presence can introduce you and your book to a wider audience and help you cultivate a loyal following. It can also help you build momentum, awareness, and ultimately—sales. According to an article published in 2021 by the Digital Marketing Institute, 82% of consumers trust social networks to guide purchasing decisions.

Beyond this, here are a few more reasons why integrating social media into your book promotion is key:

1. Social media can establish and humanize your brand.

The first and biggest step is to make your presence known. Once you’ve established what kind of voice you’d like to maintain online (professional, educational, humorous, uplifting, etc.), you can then share who you are, why you’ve written your book, and where readers can find it. Establishing your tone and adhering to it provides you with an opportunity to give your audience a glimpse of the person behind the words you’ve written, adding a personal touch to your content. Humanizing yourself will allow you to relate to your readers, and social media is a great way to do that.

2. A social presence increases website traffic.

One of the most effective ways to increase views and clicks on your website is through utilizing multiple social media platforms and cross-promoting your content. By directly linking to your website from your channels and consistently posting, you are guaranteed to receive more traffic to your main site. Social media can sometimes be even more effective than Google Ads.

3. Social media provides direct communication with readers and followers.

Engaging with your followers is key to gaining a robust social media presence—no matter which platform you use. By responding to comments, direct messages, and tags, you’re able to have a direct connection with your readers and potential future readers. This can be a fun and educational way for you to see what content is gaining the most attention and how your followers are reacting to your pages, and it can open up opportunities for collaboration with other authors or content creators. The more you engage, the more the social media algorithm will work in your favor and continue to help you maintain visibility.

4. Using social media increases your overall reach and visibility.

Because of the rapid growth and popularity of social media within the last ten to fifteen years, it’s almost impossible to come across somebody who isn’t on at least one of the major platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube). Considering the number of active users on social media daily, this can benefit you in two ways. First, taking advantage of social media will make you more visible. The more active you are, the more accounts you have, and the more consistent you are with posting new content will allow you to leave a larger digital footprint that will be impossible for your readers to miss. Second, utilizing multiple platforms can expand your exposure across different audiences and demographics you may not have been able to reach through word-of-mouth or in-person promotions.

5. Social media can aid in promoting book content.

Each platform has its own sweet spot for what kind of content gets the most views (long copy, short copy, photos, graphics, video, audio, etc.). There are lots of opportunities to create content in each form and cross-promote your bank (a large grouping of your previously written and/or designed content) across multiple apps. When it comes to focusing on an upcoming book release, creating a content calendar can be extremely useful for keeping track of posts, making them consistent, and ensuring you’re staying visible on each platform. Once your book is launched, continue to post about your book regularly. This will keep you and your title top of mind for your followers and encourage them to repost, share, and help spread the word about your work.

6. Social media offers strong connections and networking opportunities.

Social media is extremely useful when it comes to connecting with others within the space you’re trying to reach. Whether they are well-known authors, thought leaders, or experts, you can use social media to communicate with other like-minded individuals. Goodreads is an excellent source for this kind of networking. Staying consistent on Goodreads can give you a direct link to both your current and future readers. Additionally, it provides access to other authors in your field, which could potentially lead to collaborations and speaking opportunities down the road. Overall, putting some effort into your social media presence can amplify the reach and value of hits. Doing things such as posting links to reviews or interviews and tagging outside outlets or hosts will help you gain visibility and deepen your relationships with your followers.

Using social media can open doors to a variety of opportunities for you and your book. If you are interested in learning more, Greenleaf Book Group offers social media strategy and coaching services. Contact us to learn more.