As a self-published author social media is very important. As a blogger social media is important. It's not just a fun way to share what you've been up to and stay in contact with friends and family but its also a very important marketing tool. Even if you aren't published, traditionally or self, or even a blogger, if you share your art then you are marketing. If you share that your writing today or share a little of your latest project, or share a piece of a painting or doodle your working on then you are marketing. It might be unintentional but your still marketing yourself and your writing by sharing on social media that you are writing or revising or that you just finished draft 1 or draft 30 of your book. Especially if you use hashtags like #writerlife #amwriting and so on. I've come to realize how important it is to post about my writing and projects often and consistently. My goal is keep up a good following on my networks and get interest and likes. I want to share some of my favorite social media networks and some hacks to make your life as a marketing writer or blogger easier.
Instagram Hacks:
If you follow me on Facebook or Tumblr or any other social media network you have to have noticed how much I love Instagram. Instagram is my all time favorite network. It's easy and simple and by far the best way to get a large following and become noticed. All you need is good photos and a good description underneath and lots of strategic hashtags. I have two separate accounts. One is private and I just post more personal stuff on there for friends and family to see. I don't post a lot on there but when I do it's usually personal. And then I have the private account. What I love about Instagram is that on Settings you can go to Add Account and then you create or sign into your other account and then at the top of your Home page on your username you tap it and you can switch easily between accounts and get notices from both accounts.
For my author account I post a lot about my writing or reading or TV show watching... pretty much anything that I'm up to throughout the day that I feel like sharing. I post about Weapon Icean a lot to keep the book relevant and circulating to gain some attention from potential readers. As a writer or blogger don't just post about your blog or writing. Post about your normal life outside of writing too. Followers and readers want to get to know you. I post about my latest read, my newest binge-worthy TV show I'm watching, music I've been listening to, what I ate for lunch, what I was up to that day in general and a few selfies and pictures here and there. Another hack is hashtags. They are huge! I usually write a description for my post and add three to four hashtags on there so when I share on Tumblr, Facebook, and Twitter they'll have a few hashtags on there that will help share my post more. After a publish the post I comment on it with several lines of hashtags. It all depends on what the post is about but if its writing related I usually use #writerlife #writersofinstagram #writerproblems #amwriting #yagenre #auhorlife #selfpublished #writerscommunity #authorsofinstagram #booklove #WIP. For posts about reading and books or about Weapon Icean I usually do hashtags like #readerlife #amreading #readersofinstagram #bookish #booklove #bookstagram #readerprobs and that sort of thing. I usually have at least three or four lines of hashtags and then I publish the comment and my post is officially hashtagged.
Another super awesome thing about Instagram is that before you publish your post underneath there's several choices of social media platforms you can share your post on. Sign into your Facebook account, Twitter account, Tumblr or Flikr account and when you hit publish your post will show up on all those platforms to be shared and seen by your other followers that aren't on Instagram.
You can find me on Instagram Here
Pinterest Hacks:
I love Pinterest. If you follow me on there you know that I spend too much time on that app just pinning away all day long. I have tons of public boards and lots of private boards. I'm not as savvy with the whole marketing of Pinterest as I am with Instagram but there are a few things that I've learned to help share your blog posts and books. One of the best ways I would say is to get onto lots of group boards. I'm on the Go Teen Writers group board where I can share my blog posts and I'm on several Indie author group boards where I can share Weapon Icean. I don't have as much success as some do on group boards but they do work and they do help at getting your posts and books out there.
Another thing that helps on Pinterest is to create a board for your blog. Each time you post a blog post make sure you have a good pinnable picture on there and then pin the blog post to your blog board. Create a board that says Books I've Published or something like that and post your published books on there. Also, for writers storyboard your stories! Not only is it fun and helps get rid of writer's block but it also lets readers take a sneak peek at the inner workings of your book. Readers can check out your books Pinterest storyboard and see what images, prompts and sayings inspired you while you wrote the book they read. Potential readers can find your board and love the Pins and find the idea interesting and go and buy it because they liked how fascinating your storyboard is. Also create a Writer board, a Book board to pin about some of your favorite or latest reads. Create inspiration boards to help you find inspiration when writer's block is settling in and a character inspiration board. Not only do these things help with your creative process but it helps you gain new readers and new followers.
You can find me on Pinterest Here
Goodreads Hacks:
I just recently have taken advantage of Goodreads. This platform is mostly for readers and authors. As a blogger or artist there isn't much you can get out of Goodreads. But if you're a new author this is what you need to do to take advantage of the author program on Goodreads. (It took me forever to figure this out and I may miss a few steps because Goodreads makes it kind of complicated and slightly difficult to become an author... to me anyways, so make sure to look it up on Google and you'll find directions on there). You add your newly published book to the Goodreads database. Title, ISBN and all that and then hit publish and it will be in the Goodreads system. Then you search your book and click the author name and I believe it will ask you if you are the author. You say yes and then apply and within a few days your Goodreads account will go from basic reader account to author account. On there you can connect your blog and social media sites to your profile, answer author questions, and create book giveways.
I recently realized something awesome. As a writer and reader, if you are reading a book search the book your reading and then put it under Currently Reading. You can connect that to your Facebook and I think Twitter too and whenever you update what page your on in your book through Goodreads the progress will go up on your social media which could also help you gain more followers and readers, especially if you attract those who read the same genre as you do.
You can find me on Goodreads Here
Instagram and Pinterest are my two huge social media platforms that I use every day,all day. Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter are great too but they aren't my thing. Everyone has their own platforms that work best for them and fit with how their brain works. My brain happens to be very visual (funny because I'm writer which has no visuals and is all imaginary) so Instagram and Pinterest that are full of images and thrive on images are perfect for me. Writing statuses and funny quotes from your book and blog posts on Facebook or Twitter might suit the way your brain works better. So try out Instagram and Pinterest but if those don't work for you then check out Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr or even Google+.
As a side note, some may say Tumblr is scary and at first it can be difficult to figure out but I would suggest getting a Tumblr account. You don't even have to be on it all the time. Just set it up. Get a good picture and a username and try it out because you can do everything from post pictures to statuses to vocal recordings and videos and also lets you put your Tumblr posts onto your other social media platforms. So just check it out and give it a try. Some of the most loyal and fanatic of fans are on Tumblr.
(You can find me on Tumblr Here)
I hope these hacks help you as a writer, author, reader, blogger or artist! Have a great week everyone!
Instagram Hacks:
If you follow me on Facebook or Tumblr or any other social media network you have to have noticed how much I love Instagram. Instagram is my all time favorite network. It's easy and simple and by far the best way to get a large following and become noticed. All you need is good photos and a good description underneath and lots of strategic hashtags. I have two separate accounts. One is private and I just post more personal stuff on there for friends and family to see. I don't post a lot on there but when I do it's usually personal. And then I have the private account. What I love about Instagram is that on Settings you can go to Add Account and then you create or sign into your other account and then at the top of your Home page on your username you tap it and you can switch easily between accounts and get notices from both accounts.
For my author account I post a lot about my writing or reading or TV show watching... pretty much anything that I'm up to throughout the day that I feel like sharing. I post about Weapon Icean a lot to keep the book relevant and circulating to gain some attention from potential readers. As a writer or blogger don't just post about your blog or writing. Post about your normal life outside of writing too. Followers and readers want to get to know you. I post about my latest read, my newest binge-worthy TV show I'm watching, music I've been listening to, what I ate for lunch, what I was up to that day in general and a few selfies and pictures here and there. Another hack is hashtags. They are huge! I usually write a description for my post and add three to four hashtags on there so when I share on Tumblr, Facebook, and Twitter they'll have a few hashtags on there that will help share my post more. After a publish the post I comment on it with several lines of hashtags. It all depends on what the post is about but if its writing related I usually use #writerlife #writersofinstagram #writerproblems #amwriting #yagenre #auhorlife #selfpublished #writerscommunity #authorsofinstagram #booklove #WIP. For posts about reading and books or about Weapon Icean I usually do hashtags like #readerlife #amreading #readersofinstagram #bookish #booklove #bookstagram #readerprobs and that sort of thing. I usually have at least three or four lines of hashtags and then I publish the comment and my post is officially hashtagged.
Another super awesome thing about Instagram is that before you publish your post underneath there's several choices of social media platforms you can share your post on. Sign into your Facebook account, Twitter account, Tumblr or Flikr account and when you hit publish your post will show up on all those platforms to be shared and seen by your other followers that aren't on Instagram.
You can find me on Instagram Here
Pinterest Hacks:
I love Pinterest. If you follow me on there you know that I spend too much time on that app just pinning away all day long. I have tons of public boards and lots of private boards. I'm not as savvy with the whole marketing of Pinterest as I am with Instagram but there are a few things that I've learned to help share your blog posts and books. One of the best ways I would say is to get onto lots of group boards. I'm on the Go Teen Writers group board where I can share my blog posts and I'm on several Indie author group boards where I can share Weapon Icean. I don't have as much success as some do on group boards but they do work and they do help at getting your posts and books out there.
Another thing that helps on Pinterest is to create a board for your blog. Each time you post a blog post make sure you have a good pinnable picture on there and then pin the blog post to your blog board. Create a board that says Books I've Published or something like that and post your published books on there. Also, for writers storyboard your stories! Not only is it fun and helps get rid of writer's block but it also lets readers take a sneak peek at the inner workings of your book. Readers can check out your books Pinterest storyboard and see what images, prompts and sayings inspired you while you wrote the book they read. Potential readers can find your board and love the Pins and find the idea interesting and go and buy it because they liked how fascinating your storyboard is. Also create a Writer board, a Book board to pin about some of your favorite or latest reads. Create inspiration boards to help you find inspiration when writer's block is settling in and a character inspiration board. Not only do these things help with your creative process but it helps you gain new readers and new followers.
You can find me on Pinterest Here
Goodreads Hacks:
I just recently have taken advantage of Goodreads. This platform is mostly for readers and authors. As a blogger or artist there isn't much you can get out of Goodreads. But if you're a new author this is what you need to do to take advantage of the author program on Goodreads. (It took me forever to figure this out and I may miss a few steps because Goodreads makes it kind of complicated and slightly difficult to become an author... to me anyways, so make sure to look it up on Google and you'll find directions on there). You add your newly published book to the Goodreads database. Title, ISBN and all that and then hit publish and it will be in the Goodreads system. Then you search your book and click the author name and I believe it will ask you if you are the author. You say yes and then apply and within a few days your Goodreads account will go from basic reader account to author account. On there you can connect your blog and social media sites to your profile, answer author questions, and create book giveways.
I recently realized something awesome. As a writer and reader, if you are reading a book search the book your reading and then put it under Currently Reading. You can connect that to your Facebook and I think Twitter too and whenever you update what page your on in your book through Goodreads the progress will go up on your social media which could also help you gain more followers and readers, especially if you attract those who read the same genre as you do.
You can find me on Goodreads Here
Instagram and Pinterest are my two huge social media platforms that I use every day,
As a side note, some may say Tumblr is scary and at first it can be difficult to figure out but I would suggest getting a Tumblr account. You don't even have to be on it all the time. Just set it up. Get a good picture and a username and try it out because you can do everything from post pictures to statuses to vocal recordings and videos and also lets you put your Tumblr posts onto your other social media platforms. So just check it out and give it a try. Some of the most loyal and fanatic of fans are on Tumblr.
(You can find me on Tumblr Here)
I hope these hacks help you as a writer, author, reader, blogger or artist! Have a great week everyone!
What are your favorite social media platforms?
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