Authors all over the world are using social media sites to publicize their books. Social media can help you achieve you book marketing goals. There are three stand-out platforms: Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Each one has features that will help you reach the bulk of your readership. Here is a quick starter’s guide for each for newbie social networkers.
Facebook – Facebook brings together participants called “friends.” Each friend has social connections – their own friends, co-workers, school chums, birdwatchers, or any other social group. An author who wants to leverage this network of friends begins by creating a page on Facebook that is based, not on you, but on your book. Basically this kind of page informs your contacts that you have something to sell. This is a page that friends will have the option to “Like” your page. After creating your page, consider forming a group. Your group should not be based on your book, but on a broader topic category that encompasses themes of your book. This group is designed to bring people into a “conversation,” so more will learn about your book. Next, join some groups that have already been formed, and join in their conversations. This is another way of making even more people aware of your book. Finally, blogging authors will want to forward their blogs to the notes section on Facebook. Ultimately, connect all your networks – blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and Linked-in to make sure your network can expand to its full potential.
Twitter – Twitter is used as a social networking and microblogging site. Participants are called “followers.” This form of networking is not based on who you know, but on what you know and what you want to know. Twitter is about connecting social groups with content, through short 280 character bursts of information, known as tweets. Another way to share information on Twitter is a “DM” or a direct message sent to a specific Twitter user. Many like to also retweet or “RT” messages on Twitter. A “RT” passes along information that you received from someone else. For more information about the “ins and outs” of Twitter and how to get involved immediately, check out InkyGirl’s Guide to Twitter for Writers. This simple guide clearly explains every aspect of Twitter and how to use it effectively.
LinkedIn – LinkedIn is a social network with a strong slant towards business networking. Its participants are called “Contacts.” Contacts are professionals within your business network. LinkedIn also brings together groups and professional organizations. This form of networking is of special value for those authors whose publications contain expert content. If you are a business owner, this site will prove particularly robust for you as a place to leverage your business network. Many professional groups also gather together here to share information. There is, for instance, a non-fiction author’s professional group on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a powerful tool to reach a business network with the expertise in a non-fiction book. Even if you don’t write non-fiction you can find value in using LinkedIn to network with other authors. Groups exist for non fiction writers, including the “Fiction Writer’s Guild”, and for all writers, such as the group “Ebooks, Ebook Readers, Digital Books, and Digital Content Publishing”. Search in LinkedIn Groups on these names or on topics that interest you and you’ll find groups that are great resources.