If you’re new to social media as a writer or just looking to close a few knowledge gaps, I’m glad you’re here.
Like you, I’ve struggled through the day and wondered about social media. Where should I start? Where does it fit in my day?
Should I even bother with it? I mean, I haven’t finished my book yet. What do I have to contribute?
Building a social media presence on sites like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and X/Twitter are ideal for writers. They allow you to share content and interact with likely readers of your work, editors, agents, and other writers later.
If you wait to use social media, only when you have a book to promote an audience will rightly see through this. You don’t want to be that writer saying, “Hey, Look At Me, Book-Book-Book.”
Instead, you want to be the writer whose motivation to use social media is for the relationships. Finding like-minded people that you can engage with. This is quiet, organic, and very effective.
We’ve all heard how valuable, even essential social media can be. But, jumping in without a plan can be overwhelming. I’m here to help you improve your social presence with a small investment of your time.
Social media has had an explosion of growth in our culture. Billions of people use social media. Platforms like Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, and many others. It’s safe to say that the time of social media is just getting started
Social Media is About Relationships
You will find social media rewarding if you build relationships. Make that your end goal. We call it social media because, well, it’s social. You engage with others in a social context on a social platform.
Don’t have the total number of followers be your only goal. You want people who have a shared interest. These people will consume what you contribute. They will also share it with their followers on social media. This is how your influence and name recognition will grow over time.
It’s not a numbers game. You’re a writer, and you want to attract the number of followers within your genre.
Interact with people and share on social media, more people will see your content in this way. People who view your content will start to build. You’ll have more traffic and make more connections with people. This sharing, back and forth, is how your relationships, reputation, and name take hold.
Share conversations, commentary, sharing someone’s post, engagements, other selected content, and self-created content.
Many writers think they need to be on all the social media platforms, but this isn’t true. Focus your efforts on platforms where they will do the most good.
Think where your future readers might hang out. All social media has identified groups and communities of like-minded people. Check on your genre or book topic.
Consider authors in your genre. Where do they gather? Many authors are generous and list their social media links on their website.
Bottom line, not all social media platforms are suited to all writers. Be selective.
Focus on One Platform
If you’re strapped for time, and what writer isn’t, focus on the platform that you can get the most advantage.
Take the time to get an idea of who your audience is and which social media platforms they are using.
Does the social media platform they use make sense for your work? Will it be a good fit? Can you share that content?
Take it One Step at a Time
Building a social media presence requires consistent and ongoing effort. Over small amounts of time. By making incremental progress, your efforts add up.
- There are a lot of social media platforms. Some may not be suitable for you.
- Get to know your future customers and the places they hang out.
- Check the social media of authors in your genre.
- Search social media for shared interest groups.
- Pick a social media platform and grow roots. Become part of its lifeblood.
Make It Fit Your Day
You’re a writer, and your book takes precedent. Believe me, I know that.
Unfortunately, some writers quit using social media after a few months. Maybe it wasn’t working for them right away, or they felt it took too much time from their writing.
Maybe they didn’t have a strategy.
Remember, building relationships, even on social media, will take time.
But social media doesn’t need to be a time suck. Decide when you will take it on.
Social media is a tool for reaching out to and connecting with your audience.
Give it some time each day. Will it be a set time before or after you write? Does it work better if you devote one or a few days each week? Build on this each day, each week, and over months, you will have a solid social media presence. A small amount of work over time will add up.
The good news is that it does take time to build a relationship with your audience. Your book need not be a barrier to you. It’s an asset. It allows time to foster great relationships. Create engaging content that leads to a large following.
This also allows your audience time to know you. Become part of your social media platform.
- Don’t quit social media after a few months just because it’s not working right away.
- Keep at it in small, steady steps. This allows time to develop a solid following.
- Nurture connections and build relationships over time through social media.
What You Have to Contribute
There are tons of opportunities to add valuable content. You’re a creative. You have lots to contribute. Just the way you see things will be different than other people and worth sharing with the world.
Content is the lifeblood of social media. Your personality and your take on things is its beating heart.
This doesn’t mean that every piece of content you put out there needs to be solely your work. Save that for your book.
Content, there’s no lack of content to post, and publishing content is straightforward. There are five types to use. So, use what resonates and reflects your view.
- Share posts you like. This will build relationships, as well.
- Inspirational content, be it a slice of life or a quote that lifts people.
- Curated, provide links to other relevant news sources or fellow writers that you like.
- Personal content humanizes you with your audience and resonates with them.
- Respond: Social media relies on conversations.
Work Towards Trust and Credibility
There is no quick way to build a relationship with your audience and other creatives. We’re all human. It takes time and consistency to represent your take on things. To personalize your social media. To become part of people’s social media world.
By just showing up, again and again, you’ve won most of the battle.
Let your personality infuse your content. You have ultimate control in what you put in your social media. Don’t build it randomly. You know what you like and want to say.
Be accountable to your vision. The audience you attract will love you for it, and you will have fostered loyalty.
There’s real magic in the opportunity to grow lasting relationships with your audience base through social media. It’s beautiful when you think about it. This is the kind of influence money can’t buy.
Those relationships create the foundation of a solid partnership. It becomes one of your greatest assets, a following.
- Always deliver content that fits your vision.
- Be authentic and accountable to your vision.
- No matter the source of content, pick that which is part of your image.
Your Springboard
How can social media be a springboard for your success? Keep in mind that you’re using social media to connect with your audience.
Your audience’s experience is not a social platform, it’s you. These platforms are merely the vehicle. Remember, you’re the message. Ask yourself, what’s the message you’re delivering?
Your social media platform serves to let your audience know about you. That “you” is your public, professional persona. This doesn’t mean to be different than who you are. This is about the one side of your persona that is the writer. Focus on that, and your audience will connect with you.
Your social media should be an extension of your public personality. It should carry your vision and voice so that it galvanizes itself to your audience.
Your audience will want to know that you’re a human, like them. Through your post, comments, and shares, they will form an opinion of who you are as a writer. You won’t be a faceless being that only shows up to sale books. They’ll know you as a personality they’ve grown accustomed to overtime.
Creating a social media platform and posting can get you in front of people who may not have found you any other way. You’ll build a community of likely readers for your finished book.
Pep Talk
I hope I have persuaded you as a writer, a fellow creative, of the value of starting your social media platform. You do have something to contribute right now.
When built organically, these relationships will represent a meaningful investment. An investment of time in your writing career.
I think a social media presence is critical to the success of your career as a writer.
When you’re out there pitching your book, both publishers and agents will want to know your social media footprint.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have an answer?
Your audience is out there. It’s waiting for someone like you. Give “you” to your following, even if you don’t have your book finished yet. You have lots to share. You’re a creative, a writer, so take the opportunity to get in front of your audience.
You can reach more people genuinely and authentically. Let your personality and values peak through in all you share and create.
You will increase the authority of your writer-self by engaging with others who are of influence on your audience base.
Remember that your social media isn’t just about selling your book right now. It’s about creating a community, an engaged audience, and likely readers.
To put it simply, creating a social media presence might just be the thing that helps your first book breakthrough. I know, a big dream, right? Well, why not dream as if you couldn’t fail. Success will be inevitable. In a way, it’s already yours.
As your content gains attention, is viewed, and shared, your reputation grows.
The relationships built through social media are the foundations upon which other aspects of your writing career can flourish. You can create a waiting audience for when you finish your book.
Maintaining your presence on social media is necessary for any writer these days.