Navigating Social Media as an Author: 3 Tips for Building Your Author Platform and Thriving Online

As an author, social media can be a powerful tool to connect with readers, promote your work, and build a thriving online presence. However, navigating social media can feel overwhelming and frustrating, with its ever-changing landscape and potential pitfalls. Even though social media can feel too big to navigate and understand, you can do this! With the right mindset and approach, you can build a successful author platform on social media. Here are three tips to help you thrive online.

Be Authentic and Engage with Your Audience

BIG FACT: Authenticity creates more opportunities for organic engagement. 

In the world of social media, authenticity is key. Followers want to connect with people (authors) who are genuine and relatable. Don’t be afraid to show your true self and share your personal stories, successes, and challenges. Be authentic in your interactions with your audience, and respond to comments and messages in a genuine and timely manner. This will help you build a loyal tribe of followers who might be interested in you and your published work.

Engagement is also crucial in building your author platform. Take the time to engage with your audience by asking questions, conducting polls, and encouraging discussions about your books or writing process. Respond to comments on your posts and show appreciation for your readers’ support. This will create a sense of community and connection with your audience, and they will be more likely to support and promote your work.

Share Valuable and Relevant Content

BIG FACT: Anything valuable will grow. 

Social media is not just about self-promotion. To build a successful author platform, it’s important to share valuable and relevant content that resonates with your target audience. This could include snippets from your writing, behind-the-scenes glimpses into your writing process, book recommendations, writing tips, or inspirational quotes. You can also share updates on your upcoming events, book releases, or awards.

Research the latest trends in your genre and use relevant hashtags to increase the visibility of your posts. Share content that reflects your brand and writing style, and that your audience will find interesting and shareable. By providing value to your audience, you will establish yourself as an authority in your field and build a loyal following of readers who are interested in your work.

Create a Consistent and Positive Online Presence

BIG FACT: Consistency builds trust. 

Consistency is key in building your author platform on social media. Create a posting schedule that works for you and stick to it. Regularly update your social media profiles and share new content to keep your audience engaged. Use a mix of different types of posts, such as text, images, videos, and stories, to keep your content fresh and diverse.

In addition to consistency, maintaining a positive online presence is crucial. Social media can be a breeding ground for negativity, criticism, and trolls. However, it’s important to stay positive and professional in your interactions online. Avoid engaging in online arguments or responding to negative comments in a defensive manner. Instead, focus on building a positive and supportive community around your work.

Social media can be a powerful tool for authors to build their author platform and thrive online. By being authentic, engaging with your audience, sharing valuable content, and maintaining a consistent and positive online presence, you can create a loyal following of readers who are interested in your work. Remember to stay true to yourself, be mindful of your audience’s needs, and approach social media with a positive mindset. With the right strategies and mindset, you can navigate social media successfully as an author and achieve your goals. Happy posting!

About Dream That Big Publishing: 

At Dream That Big Publishing, we offer a variety of writing and publishing services that will help you every step of the way on your self-publishing journey. Enroll in Write that Book Masterclasses, sign up to work one-on-one with a writing coach, read our blog, and listen to our podcasts. We want to empower you to write the book you’ve always dreamed of sharing with the world. Join us for networking and empowerment events that are designed to help you prosper as an author and entrepreneur, AKA “authorpreneur.” We also have publishing packages that offer everything you will need from editing to formatting to marketing your book, so you don’t have to do it all yourself!

Dream That Big published authors keep 100% of their royalties, have a book they are proud of, and have joined a nurturing community that is invested in their success. If you feel that our complete nurturing system is the right fit for your authorpreneur journey, please click here to get started!

References:

1. Fisher, C. (2020). The Author’s Guide to Social Media: How to Build Your Author Platform and Sell More Books with Social Media Marketing. Kindle Direct Publishing.

2. Rutherfurd, L. (2020). Social Media for Writers: Marketing Strategies for Building Your Audience and Selling Books. Hurn Publications.