Leveraging Social Media to Promote Your Book: Best Practices

Hey there, authors! It’s Renee Lautermilch here, Chief Editor at Smart Publishing. If you're getting ready to launch your book or even just thinking about how to get the word out, social media book marketing is one of the best tools in your toolkit. Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting out, social media is an amazing way to promote a book on social media and connect with readers.

But let’s face it—social media can be overwhelming. With so many platforms, algorithms, and strategies out there, where do you even begin? In this post, I’ll break down some book promotion tips and social media strategies for authors that will help you make the most of your online presence and get your book into the hands of the right readers.

Why Social Media is Essential for Book Promotion

Social media is more than just a place to post pictures of your lunch or share cute cat videos. It’s a powerful marketing tool that can help you:

• Build a loyal audience.

• Create buzz around your book.

• Direct traffic to your book sales page.

• Engage with readers and potential fans.

If you’re serious about book promotion, being active on social media is a must. And the best part? It doesn’t matter if you're working on a bestselling guide or a romantic fiction novel—social media strategies for authors work across genres. You just need the right approach.

1. Pick the Right Platforms

There are a ton of social media platforms out there, but not all of them are worth your time. You want to focus on the platforms where your readers are most likely hanging out.

• Instagram: If your book has strong visual elements (like a beautiful cover or imagery from your story), Instagram is a great place to share behind-the-scenes content, book quotes, and sneak peeks. Plus, Instagram Stories and Reels can be fantastic for engaging content.

• Facebook: Still one of the most powerful platforms for authors, Facebook allows you to create dedicated author pages and engage with readers through groups and posts. It’s also a great place to run Facebook ads for targeted book promotion.

• YouTube: For extended videos like podcasts, YouTube is the perfect platform. If you’re planning to start a spin-off podcast based on your book, you should definitely have a YouTube channel to post the podcast video content on.

• TikTok: The "BookTok" community on TikTok has exploded, and it’s a goldmine for authors looking to reach younger readers. Short, engaging video content is the key here. Book reviews, teaser clips, and book challenges are all the rage.

Bonus Tip: Don’t feel like you have to be everywhere. Focus on 2-3 platforms that suit your style and audience, and do them well. It’s better to engage consistently on a few platforms than spread yourself too thin.

2. Engage, Don’t Just Sell

One of the biggest mistakes authors make on social media is only posting sales pitches. Yes, you want to promote a book on social media, but you also need to build relationships. Social media is about conversation, not just promotion.

How to engage:

• Respond to comments: Whether someone comments on your posts or messages you directly, always take time to engage. People love when authors respond to them personally.

• Join conversations: Don’t just talk about your book. Participate in conversations about topics related to your book—whether that’s writing, your book’s themes, or discussions in relevant groups or hashtags.

• Ask questions: Get your audience involved by asking questions in your posts. For example, “What’s your favorite book in this genre?” or “What’s one thing you wish you could ask a character from a book?” These types of posts encourage engagement and conversation.

3. Share Valuable Content

Beyond promoting your book, share content that provides value to your followers. This will help you build trust and establish yourself as an authority in your niche.

• Share writing tips: As an author, you have valuable insights into the writing process. Share your tips, experiences, or even the struggles you face as you write. This can resonate with aspiring authors and readers alike.

• Behind-the-scenes content: Take your followers behind the scenes of your book creation process. Show them your writing space, how you brainstorm ideas, or sneak peeks of your next book.

• Quotes and snippets: Share compelling quotes from your book or even short excerpts. This gets readers excited and gives them a taste of what’s to come.

4. Run Contests and Giveaways

Who doesn’t love free stuff? Running a contest or giveaway can help generate excitement and increase visibility for your book. Here are some ideas:

• Pre-order giveaways: Offer an exclusive chapter or a downloadable resource in exchange for pre-orders.

• Giveaway contests: Ask people to follow you, share a post, or tag a friend to enter a contest for a free copy of your book or other book-related merchandise.

Contests and giveaways create buzz and excitement, and they help spread the word to a wider audience.

5. Utilize Hashtags

Hashtags are one of the easiest ways to increase the visibility of your posts. Whether you’re on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, using the right hashtags can help you reach a broader audience.

• Use genre-specific hashtags: For example, #RomanceBooks, #ThrillerReads, #BookRecommendations, etc. These help your posts get in front of readers who are already interested in your genre.

• Create a unique hashtag: Make a hashtag for your book or your author brand. This way, fans and readers can join in on the conversation and you can easily track the buzz around your book.

Bonus Tip: Research hashtags in your genre and see which ones are trending. Don’t just pick random ones—focus on the ones that your target audience is actively searching for.

Wrapping It Up

Social media is a powerful tool for book promotion—if you use it the right way. With the right approach and social media book marketing strategies, you can grow your audience, engage with readers, and get your book in front of people who are excited to buy it.

Remember, social media isn’t just about shouting “Buy my book!”—it’s about creating a relationship with your readers and sharing content that resonates with them. By consistently applying these book promotion tips and social media strategies for authors, you’ll see your engagement grow, and so will your book sales.

At Smart Publishing, we help authors like you navigate the publishing process and make the most of your marketing efforts. Ready to take your book promotion to the next level? Let’s chat!

Our high-touch service means we can’t work with everyone. Share your book idea with us, and we'll schedule a time to see if you're a good fit for our author family.