1. Establish professional profiles

If you do not have professional profiles on the major social media sites, now is the time to make them! Creating professional profiles can be intimidating, especially if you are newer to social media or you are used to the personal social media account you’ve had for years. In any event, establishing professional social media accounts as an author will help you better connect with your readers, community, and the broader world of books. This is especially true if you write under a pen name.

Create a page for yourself on Facebook that can be “liked” by anyone. Similarly, create a Twitter and Instagram account under your author name. Make sure the branding is consistent between the accounts. For example, use the same profile photo and bio across the different platforms. If you can, use the same username on Twitter and Instagram, and a similar page URL on Facebook.

Keep in mind that while these accounts are professional, they can still showcase your personality. You should highlight your passion for your book and speak in a way that is natural to you. Authenticity is a huge selling point in itself!

2. Facebook groups

In addition to having a professional page, joining Facebook groups will help you use the platform to its greatest potential. Becoming a member of Facebook groups is a great way to narrow down possible readers, instead of posting to the entire world and hoping for the best.

For example, if your book is a historical fiction novel, join a Facebook group for people who are passionate about the specific era of history your novel takes place in. If your book is a memoir about a family, join a Facebook group for genealogists – people who do research on family trees, family history, etc.

Once you become part of a community on Facebook, you can invite people in the group to like your professional author page. You can also invite them to attend any events you might have to promote your book. People are more likely to see these invitations and respond to them if you have previously made a connection and earned trust with the group.

3. Find your Twitter niche

Twitter is also a terrific way to find an audience for your book. Start by following accounts that are of interest to your book topic. From there, you will be recommended other users that you might find interesting. You can use the search bar to search for tweets containing words and hashtags related to your book topic.

Not only that, but you can use Twitter to build relationships with other writers and individuals in your specific community. What sets Twitter apart from other platforms is how interactive it is. Striking up conversations with other users is normal and integral to one’s presence there. By interacting with others in your community, you can build a following, earn trust, and ultimately increase your visibility on the platform.

Additionally, Twitter thrives off the news of the day, or real time information. While Facebook and Instagram postings can be more delayed, people on Twitter talk about what is happening in the moment across the world. This can be seen by observing the “Trending” tab. Take advantage of trends when appropriate for you and your book – if you can make a connection between a trending topic and your work, make it!

4. Use Instagram for visuals

While Twitter and Facebook are great for posts containing both text and images, Instagram is without a doubt the most visual app out of the big social media platforms. On your professional author Instagram account, you can post photo and video content that will attract people to your book. Post photos of your book, pictures that relate to your book’s setting if it is a novel, or interesting photos relating to your book’s topic. If your book is poetry, post short excerpts with accompanying graphics.

Like Twitter, on Instagram you should search for and follow accounts that relate to your book topic, or other authors and industry professionals. Search through hashtags to find content related to your book topic, and make sure to attach relevant hashtags to your posts.

Be sure to utilize the Instagram Stories, Reels, and Live features. Increasingly, these can get more engagement than a post on one’s main profile. Use Stories to post everyday updates – talk directly to your followers about your day, what you are up to in promoting your book, or what your life is like. Be open and authentic, but also be wary of oversharing.

Reels is used to post longer videos, such as a video of you unboxing copies of your book. Instagram Live allows you to interact with your audience in real time. Set a time and theme for an Instagram Live session and advertise it across your other social media channels. Events such as a Q&A session about yourself or your book are great for Instagram Live. Make sure to pay attention from comments from users while you are in the live session.

5. Get involved with Goodreads

Finally, Goodreads is the largest community for readers on the internet. Think of it as a social media site but for people who are very invested in reading, communicating with other readers, and having access to authors. As a published author, you can claim your author profile on Goodreads and use it to promote your book. Goodreads offers the unique opportunity for users to make longer posts than Twitter and Instagram. In turn, readers can leave honest reviews of your book. Goodreads is a great slower-paced addition to your social media promotion toolkit.

We hope these tips are helpful in your journey.

Be sure to follow Dorrance Publishing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok!

Look out for our posts about your book, and make sure to repost them onto your pages!

The post 5 Tips for Promoting Your Book On Social Media appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

1) Why it’s important

This may be fairly obvious, but social media has become one of the best forms of self-promotion. As we’ve said before, even traditional publishing companies have become less willing to invest a big advertising budget into every single book they work with. Therefore, an author who already has a large following is a really big draw for a publisher or literary agent. This way, they already have the assurance that you’ll likely sell a decent number of book copies if they take you on as a client.

2) What platforms should I use?

If you have the time to do so, using as many different social media platforms as possible is best. They each have their own merits and will help draw in specific crowds of varying age groups. If you only have time to keep up with one type of account, however, likely the best way to connect and bond with potential fans and readers is through Instagram. Instagram users who enjoy reading (authors, readers, reviewers, literary agents, etc.) all work within a community called ‘bookstagram’ (#bookstagram). The participants in the movement are quick to help one another, give out tips, make friends with one another, and lift each other up. If you participate properly in this community, you’ll likely gain a decent following. For a breakdown of the social media platforms and their benefits for authors, check out the video below:

3) Share content and news from other authors

Once you’ve decided what social media platforms to focus on, you’ll need to come up with content ideas. One form of content common across the board for authors on social media is sharing news and content from other authors (or even bookstagram users). Share a cover reveal that excited you or a book box from a startup company that could use the support. Not only will this draw in followers who want to keep up with book-related news, but if you share content from people who are also building a following they’ll likely reciprocate.

4) Like, comment, interact, and make friends

Possibly the most important aspect of building a social media following (regardless of the platform) is interaction. You should try to post as frequently as possible (try for once a day) and update your stories with what you’re doing. When people comment on your photos or posts, try to comment back quickly and attempt to get a conversation going. This will push you up higher in other people’s feeds. In addition, spend some time each day following book-related accounts and commenting on their posts. You likely want to reach the same audience so you might pick up a few followers from the comments alone and commenting frequently and supporting other authors is how you’ll end up forming relationships/partnerships that you could use later to do a giveaway or host a Q&A together.

5) Share the books you’re reading & what you think of them

Another form of content that readers will be interested in is your current read. Keep your followers up-to-date on what you’re reading and what you think. You likely read similar content to what your book consists of, so by posting this content, you’ll attract readers who will be specifically interested in your book. Plus it’s a great way to get some good interactions going in the comments–there’s nothing readers love more than gushing about their favorite books.

6) Share sources of inspiration from your book & writing tips

Since you’re an author specifically and not your average bookstagrammer or book lover, you can provide some unique insight into the writing process as part of the content you produce. Show your readers your writing space, things that inspired certain parts of your book, and tips on writing like what you do when you have writer’s block. This sort of content will more directly relate to your book and it will both intrigue readers about your material as well as provide helpful tips that they’ll appreciate.

7) Take pretty photos of books using props

This one is more specifically geared toward bookstagram users, but could be content used across several platforms (because who doesn’t like pretty pictures of books, right?). The majority of the content across the board on bookstagram is book photography where users will set up a favorite book with a few props or book-related merchandise and take a photo. As an author, this may seem outside of your comfort zone, but luckily with advanced phone camera technology, you won’t even have to go out and buy a nice camera to make this work. Other bookstagrammers are kind enough to share tips and tricks of how they edit their photos and looking at theirs for examples will help you start to figure out what style you’d like to do on your own page(s).

The post Social Media for Authors appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

From building credibility to expanding your reach, LinkedIn is a playground of opportunity. In today’s post, we want to maximize your profile to help you get noticed by the people who matter the most: your target audience. These are the people who are interested in your genre of writing, who find a commonality between your work and what sparks their curiosity.

So, what exactly makes up a good LinkedIn profile? Well, we’re happy you asked because we’re going to offer you some food for thought to help you ramp up your efforts.

Picture

LinkedIn is a professional networking site that’s designed for the business community. To that point, a professional picture is imperative. If you don’t have a professional head shot, do your best to find the neatest, most professional picture that you have of yourself. The old adage was correct when it said, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Because your LinkedIn profile picture serves as a first impression to a future reader, smile!

Complete Profile

There’s plenty of information to enter when it comes to a LinkedIn profile, but a profile that’s complete helps build your credibility. Skills, volunteer associations, education and much more are the fields that you should complete without question. LinkedIn is essentially an extension of your resume. While resumes are meant to be short, this social media platform is where you can expound on your experiences.

Summarize

A LinkedIn summary is much like an elevator pitch. This is the portion of your profile where you really focus on your accomplishments. When crafting this section, you want to keep your target audience in mind. Outline a handful of achievements that would interest the people that you are trying to reach. Bullet points make this section much easier to understand and digest. Remember, this is where you can really sell yourself as an author.

Updates

As with other social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn gives its users the chance to publish updates on their profile. Status updates give you the opportunity to voice your opinions and share industry-relevant content. Always keep in mind that LinkedIn is a professional networking site, so keep your more light-hearted content reserved for platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

The goal of your LinkedIn profile is to show your network that you’re a professional who’s well-versed in your genre and can add value to their lives.

Check back in the coming weeks when we provide you with more tips to help maximize your LinkedIn profile.

The post Tips to Maximize your LinkedIn Profile appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

If you’re unfamiliar with LinkedIn, it’s a social networking site that’s designed for the business community. The main focus of LinkedIn is to allow users the chance to network with people they know professionally. Users are able to share content from others, publish their own content and provide relevant, informative updates.

If you’re new to the platform, we’re here to offer you six reasons why you should create a LinkedIn profile of your own.

Credibility

In this day and age, social media is the axis on which most businesses turn. As an author, it’s almost as if you’re running your own business – the promotion and marketing of your book. Creating a LinkedIn profile can help you position yourself as an established and esteemed author, and can bolster your credibility to those doing their research on you and your work.

Publicity

Given the sheer volume of users to the site, it makes sense as a professional author to create a LinkedIn profile. By doing so, you’re opening yourself up to a lot of promotional opportunities to spread the word about your book.

Reach

To this point, there are active users in more than 200 countries around the world. It’s this immense number that proves the power that LinkedIn has to connect people from all corners of the world who might be interested in your book and its genre. LinkedIn has untapped potential for you to discover. It simply takes effort and the wherewithal to connect with the right people.

Research

While LinkedIn opens you up to a wider audience, it’s also a great tool for doing research of your own. The search functionality on the site gives you the opportunity to look for people with shared interests and other commonalities. This will help you break the ice with future contacts and craft an introductory message that will set you apart from the others in their inbox. Not to mention, there are myriad professional groups on this site that you can join to further immerse yourself in the industry.

Opportunity

There are a plethora of events, contests and other avenues available on LinkedIn that are perfect for an author. Not only will you be able to join in a larger discussion, you’ll also uncover new and innovative ways to promote your book, such as using the “Update” feature on the site to provide relevant news about your work. This update will then appear on the newsfeeds of all of your connections.

Networking

The foundational core of LinkedIn is networking. This social site opens doors and gives you access to hundreds of thousands of authors and potential readers. Find them and connect with them. This tactic opens up a larger conversation that you can be part of, which can help expand your reach to others in your niche.

Check back in the coming weeks, when we’ll offer helpful tips and tactics to maximize your LinkedIn profile.

The post DIY Social Media: LinkedIn appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

From building credibility to increasing your visibility, Pinterest is a viable tool for authors to use to spread the word about themselves as an author, and for their work as well.

In this blog, we’re taking this topic a step further and giving you some helpful tips on how to make your Pinterest page pop!

The idea of Pinterest is to share visually appealing content via images and video with other users on the site. Because of the site’s social nature, it’s not just about pinning pictures and linking back to your book or your website. It’s also important to curate boards of pins from other users – pins that speak to your personality, and will help you connect with potential readers. The more you connect and increase your exposure, the more likely you will be to grow your following, eventually giving you a larger potential audience for pins that are about you and your book.

To help you grow your Pinterest audience, below are three ideas you can implement immediately!

Offer value.

Though it’s great to create a compilation of aesthetically pleasing content, if you begin to repin every single pin that you find to be interesting, you’ll have a board of images that don’t offer a lot of value to your users. So, rather than going on a pinning spree, do your research and look for popular pins that have a lot of engagement and curate those pins to add to your boards.

Tip: Before you share, be aware of the popularity of the pin. This will help keep your boards interesting and provide value to your followers.

Spruce up your boards.

Social media sites are constantly being revamped and adding new algorithms into the mix. So, what worked at one point, might not work anymore. Though this might sound scary, there’s a simple solution for this problem. At the end of each month, go through your Pinterest boards and identify pins with less than five repins. From there, you can delete this content. This is done so that you can increase the likelihood of Pinterest recommending your pins to other users – thus potentially expanding the reach of your content!

Tip: Here’s how to delete a pin: Click on the image – Edit – Delete Pin – “Are you sure you want to delete pin?” – Delete Pin. Voila! Say goodbye to that content!

Put yourself out there.

One way to gain more traction with your boards is to adjust the visibility settings. If you think that a particular board could be performing better, one way to increase the views on your boards is to change the title. When changing the title of your Pinterest board, you’ll want to make it something that will resonate with people. Use words and phrases that people use in everyday life, and keep it simple!

Tip: Here’s how to change the title of your board.  Click on the board you want to change – Click Edit Board button – An edit screen will appear where you can change the name (title) and other variables – Rename your board – Scroll down and click the red “Save” button.

Be sure to monitor the newly named board and adjust if necessary.

Remember that social media as a whole, Pinterest included, is a game of trial and error where you’re constantly testing new ideas to see what works and what doesn’t. So, take these three ideas in stride and use them to promote your content and make your page pop!

The post How to Make Your Pinterest Page Pop appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Today, we’re delving into an additional social property, Pinterest, and giving you three reasons why this social media platform can help bolster your promotional efforts.

But before we dive into today’s topic, let’s take a step back and give a brief overview of this social network. In short, Pinterest allows users to share content such as images and videos with others. When people see something that they like, they “Pin It” to their board. These boards are essentially a collection of “pins” – videos/images that fit into a common theme. For example, a Pinterest board could be named Favorite Books, and your book could find its way onto that board!

Now that you have a general idea of what this social site’s all about, let’s move on to our three reasons why you should start a Pinterest page!

Builds Credibility

As an author, Pinterest will give you an outlet to show your personality, as well as your knowledge and expertise in your specific genre. Let’s say that you’re a mystery novel writer and you create a Pinterest board titled,Whodunnit? that features your favorite mystery novels and mystery-writing tips. Not only will this type of board attract other people who are interested in this genre, it has the potential to reach people who might be interested in buying your book, too. This tactic helps increase your credibility as an author and your value to readers as well.

More Visibility

Pinterest is a very visually inspiring site, and each category, whether it’s books, favorite quotes or even writing tips, offers the user what seems to be an endless scrolling experience of engaging content. There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to this content, because through the images and videos that you upload to Pinterest, you can actually add hyperlinks –clickable links that will take the user to another page. For instance these links could lead users back to your website, blog or social media profile. Adding hyperlinks to your pins will help you introduce users to more of your content and to help expand your reach.

Adds Regularity

When building a following on Pinterest, one of the most important aspects is to consistently update your boards. One way of doing this is by creating a pinning schedule that will keep you on track when it comes to updating your profile. Regularity keeps your presence on Pinterest known. If you’re unsure about what to post, take some time and do your research. Scour the site to see what other authors are doing. (Maybe even pin some of their posts that inspire you to your boards!) From there, you can get a better understanding of what sort of content resonates with your target audience.

Always remember to create and consistently update boards with visually engaging, relevant content, and odds are Pinterest will become a great promotional tool for you and your work!

Stay tuned in the coming weeks when we give you tips on how to make your Pinterest page pop!

The post DIY Social Media: Pinterest appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

In blogs past, we’ve focused on promoting your book via Facebook, Google+, and Twitter. But there are some common best practices that apply across all of these. So today, we’re going to offer you five tips on how to promote your book on social media, no matter what the platform!

Have Fun –The moment you think of social media as a chore is the moment you should reconsider your approach. Social media is a fun way to interact with other authors and potential readers alike. Don’t force yourself to engage in social media, or your efforts will feel contrived and likely go unnoticed. Rather, find a social network that you like and enjoy posting to, and work to develop your content to serve your audience!

Be Authentic – When it comes to networking on social media, it’s up to you to choose the platforms that you feel best fit your message. It’s in these cases where you should listen to your gut and don’t let the fear of failure ruin your efforts. Take social media in small doses. Doing too much too soon can quickly lead to burnout and frustration. Focus on one platform at a time; master that platform and then move on to the next!

Blog About it – Don’t forget that blogs are also considered part of the social media puzzle. As an author, writing is obviously something that you enjoy. That’s what makes blogging the perfect platform for authors who want to continue to write long after their book(s) have been published. Think of your blog as a collection of short stories. You can write and share short essays, promotional announcements or even provide your take on new books and other industry news! From there, you can cross-promote these blog posts on your other social media profiles. Just pay attention to how your audience receives certain posts. If one post is more popular than another, try your best to recreate what you did with that post again and again (without being repetitive, of course).

Be an Expert – As an author, you know a thing or two about the genre in which you’ve written your book. After reading countless books, and referring to our informative blog posts for inspiration and help, you’ve become a sponge of sorts, soaking up as much information as possible. This knowledge can be translated to your social media posting schedule. It’s only natural to feel shy when crafting a post.

After all, you don’t want to seem like a know-it-all. Just craft posts that are informative and offer your audience the benefit of your insight, or an angle that may not have occurred to them previously. Putting yourself out there can be intimidating, but if you share insight on the topics that you know and invite others to join in on the conversation, over time, you’ll become more and more comfortable in the world of social media.

Ask for Help – Getting started on social media can feel intimidating. Don’t be overwhelmed! If you’re not sure where to turn, don’t forget about the Social Media Services package available from Dorrance Book Promotion Products. We’ll help you get started and coach you on how to use leading social media platforms.

So, as we embark on a new year, keep these four social media tips in mind when working to promote not only your book but you as an author in 2016 and beyond!

The post How to Promote your Book on Social Media appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

So without further ado let’s dive in to see how Twitter can help you!

Build a strong profile­ – A complete profile is important to boost your credibility on Twitter. Your profile is essentially like an online elevator pitch, so it has to be short, sweet and to the point. In your profile, you’ll be able to showcase:

• Your location – Where are you from? This includes the city, state and country.
• Website URL – Share your website address with your followers. This can be a link to your website or your blog. It can help drive traffic to your site, and provides additional information of interest that your followers are looking for about you and your work.
• Bio – Your bio is the perfect opportunity to concisely promote yourself in 160 characters or less. In this section, you’ll be able to tell people who you are and what you do. But as with virtually all things Twitter, your character count is limited, so skip the wordiness and go for straight talk about you and your work.
• Profile picture – A solid profile picture is extremely important for promotional purposes. In this space, you can showcase your book’s cover or include a professional picture of yourself (perhaps the one from the book jacket!), so it’s easily recognizable for those followers who know you and for those who are learning more about your work.

Pictures – You know how the old saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Though it’s true, in Twitter’s case, a picture is worth 140 characters. When tweeting, you want to select compelling images of your book, a promotional event, your business card or simply a picture that is relevant to your audience’s interests. Composing tweets with images included is a great way to get your audience to engage with you. As a note, if a picture is grainy or fuzzy, it’s best to avoid using it; instead use only high-quality images.

Observe – The world of social media is constantly changing, day in and day out. That’s why it’s important to stay on top of those changes to better promote you and your book. With that being said, it’s a useful practice to observe what your favorite authors are doing on Twitter. Learn from them and try to recreate their social ideas – with your own personal touch, of course!

Take these three Twitter tips in stride and let those 140-character tweets fly

The post Three Twitter Tricks to Promote your Book: Part Two appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Whether you’re just beginning to use Twitter, or have been using this social site for quite some time, it’s always helpful to explore some new promotional avenues. With that being said, let’s delve into some Twitter tricks to help you promote your book:

Keep your cool – One rule of thumb is to not be overly sales-y with your tweets. If you’ve seen it once you’ve seen it a hundred times: people outwardly posting tweets that say, “BUY MY BOOK!!” or something of that nature. More often than not, when you see a tweet like that, you’ll keep scrolling.  In short, write tweets that are more eloquent. This leads us to our next tip:

Be interesting – You want your tweets to amuse, help, inform and entertain your followers. As an author, you have the innate ability to write, so use your skill to craft great tweets that are informative and will grab your followers’ attention.

Bullseye – It’s extremely beneficial to know your audience and to determine what type of person will most likely buy your book. Once you’ve nailed down your target audience and their interests, you’ll be better equipped to aim for the bullseye. If you’ve written a children’s book, it’s the parents that you’ll want to reach. Send out tweets that offer tips, advice or even activities that parents can do with their children – bonus points if they’re loosely related to your book topic. These sorts of tweets will attract the type of followers that you are looking for, and can potentially lead to book sales.

Reciprocity – Ultimately, you want people to read and respond to your tweets. That’s exactly what others are aiming for as well. Open the lines of communication between you and your followers. Comment on something that they’ve shared, especially if it relates to your topic. Engage with your followers to show that you’ve noticed them and in return, they’ll notice you.

Short and sweet – As you may already know, you only get 140 characters to articulate your message in a tweet. So, when you want to promote your book via Twitter, don’t waste characters on a long URL. Rather, use a site that shortens links such as Ow.ly. This will enable you to include more valuable content within your tweet, all the while directing your followers to your website or other online promotional material.

Check back in the coming weeks for even more Twitter tips and tricks to help promote your book!

The post Five Twitter Tricks to Promote your Book appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Social media shows no signs of slowing down. So, whether you are a social media enthusiast or are just getting your feet wet, we want to offer you three quick and easy tips to keep in your back pocket the next time you add a post to your social sites.

Keep your cool – If you have a personal Facebook or Twitter account, you probably know that one friend who frequently overshares: It seems that every hour on the hour they will post an update about what they are doing, and more times than not, it’s too much information.

The lesson of this tip is to not be that person when posting on your author social profiles.

When promoting your book on your fan page, try not to be overbearing with your posts by constantly adding updates about the same piece of work. Some people will find it obnoxious and some might even block you from their news feed, thereby eliminating your ability to reach them with any of your messages, regardless of topic

Think of posting to your page as a healthy diet: Everything in moderation. So, as a rule of thumb, consider predominately posting non-book promotional content that your target audience will enjoy and every once in a while pepper in posts to promote your work. This will keep your audience intrigued and not annoyed with overbearing promotion of your book!

Picture this –– As the old saying goes, “A picture’s worth a thousand words.” In this day and age, some of the most popular social sites are centered on pictures and videos to articulate a message to other users. So, if you want to change it up from text-based status updates, consider using visuals to spread your message. However, as we all know, content is king and now, pictures and videos are the queen. Since the king and queen go hand in hand, consider uploading an image or a video and pair it with a short, keyword rich description to really have your message hit home with your followers.

But, as we said in the previous tip, moderation is important, so consider uploading a wide range of posts to your page. From a status update to a post with a picture or video, varying your posts will keep your page interesting!

Learn from the past – Take a look at your past content and see what worked and what didn’t. Social media is a numbers game, and finding out what interests the largest number of your followers is beneficial when promoting your work. Doing so will help you gauge the effectiveness of your posts. If you’ve created a fan page for yourself on Facebook, you can utilize the “Insights” option, which will show you how your page is performing. This feature is available once you have at least 30 people like your page.

Just as Facebook has the “Insights” tool, Twitter has the same capability in their “Analytics” option. Twitter Analytics gives users an inside look at their timeline activity, followers and Twitter cards –tweets to which users can attach photos, videos or a media experience  in order to gain traction.

All in all, social media is a great tool for authors to use for their marketing efforts. Not only does it establish an online presence, it also provides you with an easy, cost-effective tool to reach your target audience.

Stay tuned for more social media quick tips in the weeks to come!

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