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7 Biggest
Mistakes Writers Make On Social Media
Whether you’re
new to writing or a seasoned author, you
should be developing a following on one or more social media
platforms. Aspiring writers need to grow their audience and
establish their online presence. Self-published authors can use
social media to boost the promotion for their book launches. And
nowadays even authors who’ve landed huge contracts with traditional
publishers are expected to do social networking with gusto.
Yet the social
media savants at Web Design Relief know that writers are not always
skilled in the finer points of social networking. Here are examples
of what NOT to do:
The Seven
Worst Mistakes Writers Make On Social Media
Relentless Selling
Social
networking is all about making connections and cultivating
relationships. Once rapport is established and maintained, your
followers will be more likely to pay attention when you post news
of your book launch.
The general
rule of thumb is to minimize promotion to one out of every ten
posts.
Posting Only Once In A Blue Moon
One of the
most important rules of good social media management is to post
regularly. If you disappear for an extended period of time, so will
your followers, since less engagement means your posts will show up
much less frequently in your followers’ news streams. And if anyone
who visits your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., sees that the
last time you posted was six months ago, they’ll assume you’ve
abandoned the platform.
Try to post at
least once daily. Don’t know what to post? Check out this cheat
sheet.
Not Offering Value
To draw people
to your social media account, you should offer them something they
want. What you offer could be something concrete, such as a monthly
giveaway, or something intangible, such as a behind-the-scenes
glimpse into your books, your future writing plans, and even what
makes you laugh, cry, and tick as a writer.
Consider:
- Posting teasers for
cut scenes from your novels
- Hosting Q&As
- Posting short,
slice-of-life video snippets
- Sharing workout
tips, recipes, pet antics, etc.
- Contests for a free
eBook or a free signed print book
- Polls to name a
secondary character in your next book
Need help with your author website and social media?
Give us a call at (866) 405-3003
Avoiding Conversation
Here’s
the bad news for introverts: Posting once a day and then
fleeing to your writing garret won’t do it. You need to Like and
Share posts/tweets, and perhaps even start actual conversations in
the comments. Authentic interactions help develop relationships.
The more connected your followers feel to you, the more likely
they’ll do whatever you ask when the time comes for the big book
launch.
Not Posting Images
Forgetting To Use Hashtags
Hashtags
help you reach a larger audience with a specific interest, and
they’re particularly powerful on Twitter and Instagram. Adding a
targeted hashtag can bring you to the attention of potential
followers interested in, say, #freeBooks, #knitting,
#financialtips, or #rescuedogs. While one or two hashtags are
sufficient for Twitter, you can add as many as you want on
Instagram.
One Caveat:
With the changes made to Facebook’s algorithms, hashtags don’t help
on Facebook and may even hurt—so don’t include hashtags in your
Facebook posts.
Using Click Farm Tactics To Increase Followers
There are a lot
of services out there that promise to increase your social media
following by thousands in just a few months. But buyer beware—many
of those followers may not be targeted to your particular
interests, or they could just be bots. Publishers looking at social
media followings focus on engagement and interaction rather than
raw numbers. Organic growth is harder but more rewarding because a
greater percentage of your followers will be interested in you and
your work.
A social media
following won’t happen overnight—but don’t be discouraged! Every
platform focuses on a different audience, and it can take some time
for you to effectively and efficiently find your followers. Growing
a platform is a process. With time and effort, you’ll have a
loyal following behind you.
Need help with your author website and social media?
Give us a call at (866) 405-3003
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