Building readership is one of the biggest challenges that all new authors face, and book marketing is a long process that can be confusing and overwhelming. So where do you start? What’s the first path you can take to reach readers? How do you continue to grow fans? Is there a simple step for beginning authors? Yes, there is!

 

For new authors, social media can be an effective way to not only generate new fans and engage readers, but also form valuable industry connections. Twitter is particularly good at this. It allows authors to form real connections with passionate readers and build relationships with fellow writers. In this post, you’ll learn about the Twitter basics to discover how this interactive social media outlet can help you thrive amongst readers!

 

Using Twitter Basics to Establish Your Author Presence

 

So what is Twitter, exactly? To put it simply, Twitter is a social network where users interact with one another through short messages, or tweets. This online outlet allows users to stay updated on topics that interest them, essentially making it a personalized news source. This makes it a great avenue for authors to reach readers with the latest news on their writing projects. But how? By using Twitter’s features to your advantage!

 

Profile Picture

Set your profile picture to an image of you holding a copy of your book. Show off your hard work and make your book recognizable by your Twitter followers. Here are a couple more quick tips from eBooks2go’s Twitter Guide:

 

Header Image

Your book cover is an excellent option for the banner image that runs across the top of your Twitter profile. Authors can take this a step further and feature images of upcoming promotional events, such as a book signing or book launch.

 

Page Bio

Focus your bio description around yourself as an author. Include any relevant links such as your author website, blog, or retailers selling your book. If you’re just starting out, your bio is a great opportunity to explain your writing inspiration and aspirations!

 

Building Your Author Presence on Twitter

 

With each tweet, retweet, and interaction on Twitter, think of how your efforts could make valuable connections. How can you help readers get to know you as an author? How can you connect with other writers, both established and aspiring? What can you do to capture the interest of your desired readership? Check out some of our suggestions to make build your author presence on Twitter …  

 

Use Hashtags

A hashtag is created by putting a # symbol in front of keywords or phrases in a post. The post is then grouped with other posts using the same hashtag and appears in searches on Twitter for other users to discover. With this in mind, authors can search hashtags and keywords to connect with other aspiring authors and fans by liking their posts, joining conversations, and follow users to spark interactions! Here are just a few of many well-known writing hashtags circulating the Twitter world:

  • #AmWriting
  • #WritersLife
  • #WIP (Work in Progress)

 

Short & Sweet

Each tweet is limited to 240 characters, so tweets should be kept short and sweet. Think of the average user as they quickly scroll through their Twitter feed. Long posts are more likely to be skipped over, while clear and concise messages are more easily recognized and understood. Aiming for less than 240 characters is ideal, but while you focus on brevity be sure not to skimp on quality! Avoid choppy sentences or misspellings, as these will hurt the writing credibility you’re trying to build.

 

Rule of Thirds

It’s important to post often to engage with your followers and gain new ones. However, it’s also important not to flood your followers’ feeds and drive them away. When posting on Twitter, a recommended strategy to follow is the Rule of Thirds. Meaning, a third of your posted content should be promotional, a third should be book or industry related, and another third should be personal interests. The Rule of Thirds helps authors maintain a good balance with their posts to create and capture the interests of Twitter users.

 

Encourage a Response

By tweeting an open-ended question on your Twitter page, you are encouraging others to engage and reply. You can also create a poll directly on Twitter, allowing you to ask for your followers’ opinions and provide them a few choices to gauge the most popular choice. For example, you can have readers weigh in on a new character’s name. Questions and polls are great ways to start conversations and generate interactions about your book and other writing projects.

 

Understanding Twitter basics allows you to utilize the platform to your advantage. Learn even more Twitter tips and tricks from eBooks2go’s Twitter Guide! Download the guide for free today and learn not only Twitter basics but also discover how to find your Twitter voice, connect with followers, establish your Twitter audience, and utilize Twitter promotion options!