Don’t Let Social Media Intimidate You

NOTE:  In January 2018, an updated and expanded edition of The Smashwords Book Marketing Guide was released, offering 65 book marketing ideas and new "Deep Dives" sections exploring social media strategy, how to work with beta readers, and how to earn free press coverage. 

To download the new Smashwords Book Marketing Guide for free, here are the coordinates:

Amazon
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The new 2018 edition of The Smashwords Book Marketing Guide is also available as a serialized podcast on the SMART AUTHOR podcast, starting with Episode 10.

Click here to access all SMART AUTHOR podcast episodes.






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The information that follows on this page is from the 2013 edition of the Smashwords Book Marketing Guide, which will remain here for historical purposes only.



Social media and online marketing intimidates a lot of authors.  Many of us writers (and I include myself here!) are naturally introverted.  For us introverts, social media is easier than meeting strangers at a party, but it still takes some getting used to.

Good social media practices, like good marketing, are catalysts for book marketing success.  If you don’t engage in social media, and you don’t market, you can still become a successful author by writing such great books that readers market you books for you though their word of mouth.  So, don’t feel you’re going to fail as an author if you don’t do marketing or social media.

As a catalyst, though, good marketing, for which good social media is a tool, can make your book more successful.  If you’re new to social media, ease into it slowly.  Don’t feel pressured to spend hours every day (your time is better spent writing and editing).

Here are three social media tips to get your started:  

1. Make it easy for readers to connect. Promote your social media addresses (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) in your book and on your blog or website so fans can connect with you.  If you only start with two, start with Facebook and Twitter.  These social media connections allow readers to start forming a passive relationship with you.  They’re connecting with you because they love your books and want to hear your news.

2.  Use social media as a tool for sharing your news, or to prompt further engagement with you (if you wish) such as in online discussions via Facebook.

3.  Use the social media sites as a tool to further your professional development.  By accessing social media, you can receive direct feedback and ideas from your readers.  You can also tap into these social media tools to learn.  This is my favorite use of social media.