7 Effective Social Media Strategies for Authors
Social media platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn are valuable marketing resources for authors. When an author establishes a network of potential readers on these platforms, they have an audience to whom they can promote their work. Regardless of the type of book you’ve written, learning effective strategies for using social media is beneficial. In this post, I share seven effective social media strategies for authors you can use to build your audience and increase your chances of having a successful book launch.

7 effective social media strategies for authors
Here are seven effective social media strategies for authors that you can implement before or during your book launch:
1. Be authentic
First and foremost, what you share on social media should be authentic and true to you. As you’re likely passionate about the contents of your book, posting about related topics often appears genuine. For example, if you’ve written a book about growing cacti, you might share personal photos of the cacti you grow and explain how you take care of them.
You can also share content that allows your readers to get to know the person behind the author. For example, you might post a recipe for a meal you prepared, instructions for a craft you made, or a photo of you and your friends. It’s helpful to include a caption that provides more information, so others can learn more about you from the post. For example, if you share a recipe, you might explain that your grandmother taught you how to make the dish when you were a child. When you let others know more about your life, it makes you seem more human–less distant author–and helps them relate to you.
Learn more: How to Identify the Right Target Audience for Your Book
2. Share and interact consistently
As an author, it’s essential to post and interact consistently with your audience on the social media platform where they spend their time. If you’re trying to establish an audience, my general recommendation is to share three to four posts weekly. These posts may range from book progress to life updates. Once you’ve established an audience size that you’re content with, you can post less frequently, but still aim to post consistently. For example, you might share one or two quality posts each week.
You may begin posting more frequently in the months leading up to your book launch and continue during the months that follow. You can share book-related content, such as a cover reveal, your media appearances, or information related to your book topics or writing process. Continuing to share life updates with your audience during this time is also beneficial. In my blog post, Best Marketing Practices for Authors Using Social Media, I share how frequently I recommend posting on various platforms like Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
3. Own your expertise
When you post on social media, it’s vital to communicate your expertise on your book’s subject. For example, if you write a book about a specific diet, you can share posts that highlight your extensive knowledge regarding the foods and their macronutrients. Regardless of your subject, aim to convince your audience that you’re a guide who’s there to help them get from point A to point B with the tools and advice you share. You wrote an entire book on the topic, so feel self-assured in your ability to discuss the book’s message. Note that this strategy pertains mostly to non-fiction authors.
Learn more: 7 Marketing Tips for Nonfiction Authors