Authors and Social Media: Our Top Don’ts

Okay, by now you, the author, know that social media can be a major marketing tool. (Not as vital a tool as your website, though. For more info on that, check out our previous blog post.) But how do you effectively engage on social media platforms? Or, maybe even more importantly, how should you not engage? Here are some of our most basic (but important) tips on what not to do on social media:

1. Don’t do it if you hate it. Not everyone loves social media. If you are one of those people, don’t sweat it. There are other ways to find readers and reveal yourself as an author. Or, if you fear missing out, then select one platform, and make sure it is the one that feels right for you.

2. Don’t use a bad selfie as your profile pic. Make sure your picture is relevant and looks good.

3. Don’t neglect graphics: For Facebook, for example, take the time to get a nice banner designed for your Facebook page. Make sure it is eye-catching and that it features your book cover(s).

4. Don’t only post about your book: Nothing is more irritating than someone who is only active on social media for self-promotion purposes. People can spot that real quick and they will write you off.

5. Don’t DM people about your book: Unless there is a very valid reason for sending someone a direct message about your book, do not do it. This feels oodles more intrusive and irritating than general self-promotion.

6. Don’t lose momentum after two weeks: Social media is all about consistency. Is it time-consuming? Definitely, which is why you want to be selective about the scope of your social media activity. But you do not want to start out of the gate posting twenty times a week only to lose steam shortly thereafter. Better to space out your activity, and to post once or twice a week but do it consistently.

7. Don’t expect more book sales: Unless you’re doing paid advertising, a social media presence will not immediately translate into more book sales. Social media is primarily about building relationships with potential (and existing) readers.

8. Don’t choose to be ignorant about social media: It is tempting to write off social media if you are experiencing technical problems or if you are simply overwhelmed by how everything works. Take some time to understand how each platform works.

There you have it. Our top things to avoid when it comes to social media. The key takeaway? Like pretty much anything else, social media can be an effective marketing tool if you use it correctly and with the appropriate expectations.
Have questions about social media or anything else indie author-related? Contact us!