Social Media Best Practices for Authors and Self-publishers
Social media best practices starts with brand building for your book. A professionally designed cover can go a long way in attracting readers, and is the basis for promotion, along with your synopsis, excerpt, reviews, or any other promotional text to build your brand. Authors want to start promoting their book as soon as possible to reach their target market, using social media best practices.
What Social Media sites should you use?
First, you need to drive potential book buyers somewhere. That somewhere is to a website which is the foundation of your self-publishing business and your social media best practices. The website can be for your book, or for you as the author or publisher. Direct readers to wherever the book is being sold, in addition to your own site.
Most authors have a website or blog, and also sell on Amazon. This makes perfect sense since Amazon drives the most traffic. It is not a problem if your book doesn’t sell your website, as long as you have sales at Amazon. Potential readers may read about the book on your site, but then go to Amazon for a discounted price. Your site is working to sell your books!
Be sure to get the best quality books as well as a low unit cost. Print with Star Print Brokers.
The most common social media sites are Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, Google +, but there are plenty more. Narrow the field to start, but be open to other sites. If you are wondering about how much traffic a social media site has, check it out at Alexa.com. You want to find a few sites where you can build traffic for your book.
Get information, not necessarily sales at LinkedIn. Seek out groups that match your interests, book marketing, book genre, etc. You may be able to find out if similar books get traffic to the website, or not. This tip might save money on sites that won’t perform well for your book.
We’ve found that Twitter works well for Star Print Brokers. We have not paid for promotion. Another popular site does nothing for us despite paid advertising, but it may for your book. Keep an open mind. Talk to others.
4 Social Media Best Practices Tips
1. Your time is your best investment.
Be prepared to spend at least an hour a day and work on social media best practices every day. Post several times a day. Don’t post too many posts at a time. Some say that book marketing and social media will take up to 30 percent of your day.
2. Network with others.
Communicate with other authors on different social media sites. Shortcut your process by finding out what works for others. Perhaps they will share their social media best practices too.
3. Have a blog or website.
Don’t underestimate the importance of a blog or website for a self-publishing author. Choose certain keywords or phrases for your site. Be sure to tie these in with your Amazon author page. First, do your research in each category where you choose your book will appear on Amazon. The goal is high category ranking.
4. A social media best practices shortcut.
Blog posts and website pages need photos. They attract more attention and are better for SEO. Write your post and select your photo. Use that photo and a link to your post on all social media sites you use. Why create something different for each social media site?
Use these social media best practices to drive sales. Best of luck with the marketing of your book! Be sure to return to Star Print Brokers for second and third printings, or more. Many self-publishers return to Star Print Brokers, or move their book printing to us. We provide top-quality custom book printing at a reasonable cost.
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