As a business owner and entrepreneur you may have noticed that there are many social media platforms out there and you may feel overwhelmed.
In this blog post I will cover the 5 Social Media sites that are best fitted for authors. Social media marketing is effective because that is where the consumers are. You do not have to be everywhere but I want you to pick a social network that you want to master then move on from there. Below are the top social media sites and what they offer. You must enter any social media site with a goal of self promoting to get your book in as many hands as possible.
1. Facebook – Nearly everyone is already on this website, and that includes companies and other entities more concerned with business than “pure” personal socialization. Authors can get a lot out of Facebook since it allows for a variety of media on its pages. Facebook have very powerful targeting capabilities too. Once you narrow down on your target market and what they like you can directly target these people with Facebook ads and status boost options.
Facebook is great for visual updates on your book, for instance: photos of key events, characters, locations in your book can help your readers get a full understanding of your book and behind the scenes.
2. LinkedIn – This is a great resource for those with books that deal specifically with something of interest to the business world. LinkedIn’s demographic has a higher average household income per user than most other sites—Facebook and Twitter included—and most people logging into it do so for rather more serious business than your average social networking site. LinkedIn is considered the 'serious' site there is no direct sales here. LinkedIn is used to target any businesses or organizations that would be interested in your book.
To get the most out of LinkedIn, follow these quick tips:
Quick Tips for LinedIn
1. Optimize and complete your profile for your industry. Make sure you are using keywords that will help your ideal customer find you.
1. Optimize and complete your profile for your industry. Make sure you are using keywords that will help your ideal customer find you.
2. Join groups and be social! LinkedIn allows you to join up to 50 groups. You want to join groups that your target market would frequent. Think outside the box here you will be surprise in the many different ways you can connect with consumers.
3. Make sure you have a great profile picture. A professional headshot with you smiling and showing your pearly whites is perfect. No videos with friends, family, or pets. Stay Professional.
3. YouTube – This is one of the best social media marketing resources online: Youtube. People love quick videos. Videos also help your audience connect with you and the human behind the brand. If you know people who review or talk about stuff related to your topic or book on their channels, you can simply send them a message and invite them to talk about your book in exchange for something like a free copy. This way, you get videos talking about you out to your target audience.
4. Twitter – Twitter is full of live conversation from people all around the world. Twitter moves fast it allows you to update short tweets throughout the day. Be sure to tease the reader into wanting more info so they will buy your book. When you use Twitter to market your book, steer clear of direct sales pitches (or, at least, of using them alone). You should try to intrigue people before even directing them to a sales page, and the best way to do that is to tweet information or useful ideas from the book—as opposed to ones that are simply about it.
5. Google+ - Google+ can function much like Facebook— with even wider integration in your other web activities—and you can promote your books with it by joining relevant communities and circles as well as participating in events that may be popular with your target market.
Remember to focus on sharing great content then find away to work your sales into your activity.
