Tag Archives: Twitter marketing

Ten Twitter Marketing Tips for Authors

Ten Twitter Marketing Tips for Authors

Twitter is a fantastic tool for authors to connect with their readers, promote their books, and build a loyal fan base. With 396.5 million monthly active users as of February 2023, Twitter is one of the world’s most popular social media platforms. So, if you’re an author and you’re not already using Twitter to market and sell your books, you’re missing out!

By following and interacting with people in the book industry (authors, book reviewers, publishers, cover designers, etc.), you can build relationships and gain insights into what readers want in a book. This can help you better target your marketing efforts and increase the chances of readers picking your book up. As a book editor, I have landed several clients because I connected with them on Twitter and discovered many books I enjoyed reading that I wouldn’t have if I wasn’t using Twitter.

Let’s review ten ways authors can use Twitter to market and sell their books.

  1. Build an author brand: Twitter is an excellent platform for building an author brand. By consistently tweeting about your book, your writing process, and other related topics, you can establish yourself as an expert in your genre and attract a following. Use a professional profile picture and header image, and ensure your bio accurately reflects your writing and interests and contains the link to your website or your books where they can be purchased.

  2. Connect with readers and other authors: Twitter is a great place to connect with readers and other authors. Follow other authors in your genre, and engage in conversations with them. Respond to tweets from readers talking about your book or other books in your genre. This can help you build relationships with them, which can lead to more book sales.

  3. Share book-related content: Twitter is a great place to share book-related content. For example, you can share quotes from your book or others, behind-the-scenes photos and videos of your writing process, upcoming signing events, and other interesting tidbits about your book (like where you might have travelled for research). You can also use Twitter to share reviews and testimonials from readers, which can help build excitement and credibility for your book and make readers more likely to buy it.

  4. Use hashtags: Twitter uses hashtags to make it easier for people to find tweets about a specific topic. For example, when you tweet about your book, use relevant hashtags, such as the title or genre it falls under. It will be easier for people to find your tweets and can help you reach a wider audience. You can also use the hashtags #WritingCommunity or #PoetryCommunity to attract members of those Twitter communities.

  5. Connect with literary agents and publishers: Another great thing about Twitter is that it’s a great way to connect with literary agents and publishers. By following agents and publishers in your genre, you can stay updated on what they’re looking for in a book and find out when they are looking for new submissions.

  6. Run giveaways and contests: Twitter is a great place to run giveaways and contests. You can give away copies of your book or offer other prizes, such as a signed bookplate or a Skype/Zoom call with you. This can help you build buzz for your book and attract new readers.

  7. Get more reviews with book swaps: Connect with authors and readers who enjoy the genre of your book(s) and suggest a book swap with them for an honest review on Amazon and Goodreads. It’s easy to send them a Kindle ePub file.

  8. Utilize Twitter Ads: Twitter offers a range of ad options that can be tailored to your specific audience and goals, such as promoted tweets and promoted accounts. These ads can help you reach a wider audience and drive more book sales.

  9. Be consistent: Twitter is a fast-paced platform, and getting lost in the noise is easy. To be effective, you need to be consistent in your tweeting. Tweet regularly, at least a few times a day (if you can), and make sure your tweets are interesting and engaging.

  10. Consider hiring Bodacious Copy: Christine Bode of Bodacious Copy can assist you with a customized, strategic Twitter marketing plan, writing content, and helping you to manage your account and grow your following.

In conclusion, Twitter is a powerful tool for authors to market and sell their books. By connecting with readers, building a community, promoting your book, connecting with the book industry, using hashtags, running giveaways and contests, being consistent, and hiring a professional like Bodacious Copy to help you, Twitter can help you to market your books to the best audience for them, and put you on the path to the next level of your writing career. So, start tweeting and talking to people, and watch your book sales increase!

Goodbye Scully Love Promo, Hello Bodacious Copy

When I first got involved with social media management back in 2008 and started Scully Love Promo, it was because I wanted to work with musicians.  After all, I have been a music fan my entire life, and having the privilege of working with so many amazing recording artists has been one of the great pleasures of my life.  I don’t know what I was thinking but it was never my intention to become a marketer, I simply wanted to help artists with their social media.  However, as we now know, today, it’s all about marketing.

After one of the most challenging, if not the most challenging year of our lives, I have decided that I need things to change and I need my life to be less stressful because my hair has been falling out.  I’m committed to doing what it takes to make that happen including a change of diet, change of residence, and career change.  I will be 57 years old in January and I can no longer work 12 hours a day at my desk, and in fact, I find seven hours a day to be a challenge, both physically and mentally.

You may already know that I have been working as a copy editor for some time and so far, this year, I have had the honour and pleasure of editing four books.  I invite you to visit my new website for Bodacious Copy at bodaciouscopy.com for details.  I want to do more of this work because I enjoy it and I’m planning to study editing through Queen’s University, beginning in January, to become accredited for the skills I have developed over the past 35 years. You may ask why I am calling my new business Bodacious Copy and the reasons are twofold: “Bodacious” has been a nickname of mine since my college days, and creating bodacious copy is what I do.

As of January 2021, I will be offering my services as a social media marketer using Twitter ONLY because I can no longer keep up with the constant changes and frustrations of the Facebook and Instagram platforms.  I have personally had the most success using Twitter without having to spend money on ads than with any other platform.  I have a strategic plan for how I can best assist musicians and writers with their goals, using Twitter.

These days, it’s more important than ever that musicians get as many listeners and followers (followers are most important) on Spotify and YouTube as possible, particularly for those who have monetized their YouTube channels.  So, it makes sense that we should be using Twitter to connect with Spotify playlist curators and other music curators (because there are many out there), radio stations, and podcasts who will play your music.  The connections that we can make on Twitter with music industry professionals who could be helpful to your career are significant.  You simply need a plan to utilize this platform to the best of your abilities and this is what I want to focus on moving forward.

For first-time or self-published authors, it is important to connect with capable industry professionals who can assist with copy editing, proofreading, interior layout, book cover design, and marketing, as well as with publishing houses, university and literary presses, literary agencies, bloggers, and other online publications who will publish your work.  And of course, you’ll be looking for readers.  I can help you find them.

If you know of any musicians or writers who would like to have assistance with their Twitter marketing, or of anyone who needs an experienced, capable copy editor, I would be delighted if you would share my contact info with them. I can be reached at christinebode@hush.com. Or, just write me a note and let me know how you’re doing.

Thank you to everyone who has trusted me over the years with your social media marketing and copy editing. You know who you are.  You have enriched my life and allowed me to fulfil my dream of being my own boss, and I am deeply grateful.

My best wishes to you for a happy holiday season despite whatever challenges you may be facing.

With gratitude,
Christine Bode

The Global Spotlight Podcasts with Twitter Marketing Specialist Keith Keller

Keith KellerMelbourne based Global Twitter Marketing Specialist Keith Keller is considered amongst the top 1% of Social Media influencers in the world.

Keith is a popular speaker and has appeared on numerous radio shows, teleseminars, webinars and Google hangouts around the world.

I’d like to help Keith spread the word about some of his brand new projects, products and podcasts because he’s taught me so much about Twitter and is always helpful to me there as well. You can read more about him and his latest projects here.

Here’s the first two installments in the brand new series of podcasts: The Global Spotlight

“Believe In Yourself & Ignore The Naysayers” 

www.TinyURL.com/BelieveMP3

Do You Have “Passion & Purpose” For What You Do?

www.TinyURL.com/PurposePodcast

Keith is very VERY excited about this new project and would love your feedback.

THE GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT PODCAST

A fresh episode comes out every two weeks on iTunes now and Keith has a lovely newsletter that goes along with that as well – If you would like to get a copy you can register here.

Follow Keith Keller on Soundcloud for his Crack The Twitter Code one on Crack The Twitter Codeone coaching series and more, or become an affiliate for his new Coaches Connection Academy.