As an author, one of the most important factors in selling your book is your connection to your readers. You’ve tried everything you can think of but for some reason, no one is engaging with you. Here are a few reasons you might not be getting the best response online.
1. You’re Talking to the Wrong People
Have you been posting frequently but get very few responses? Maybe a comment here and there but only a handful of likes? If so, you might be posting information that’s not resonating with your audience. First, make sure you are reaching the correct audience. If you’re a Young Adult author who is using hashtags for Adult Fiction or Sci-Fi, you’re probably not reaching your ideal readers. Then make sure you’re posting about topics they care about. If you’re a self-help writer, your audience probably wants some tips from you on how to improve their lives, not the latest breakthrough in chemical engineering.
2. You’re Only Self-Promoting
Social media isn’t a fan of people who only post about their book. It feels salesy to put it lightly and modern audiences hate being bombarded with marketing messages. If you have 6 posts in a row just asking people to buy your book, your followers are bound to get annoyed. Self-promotion is like cilantro, a little goes a long way. Try using the 70/30 rule, 70% of your content should be helpful, relatable and fun, while the other 30 percent can be self-promotion.
3. You Don’t Post Often Enough
You need to be consistent on social media. Consistency can look different for you than it does for another author. If consistency for you means every day post every day. But if consistency to you is three times a week, post three times a week. Disappearing for weeks or months at a time will break that trust, cause your followers to lose interest in you, or potentially forget about you. Not to mention, the Instagram/Twitter algorithm punishes inconsistency and low engagement, so your posts will be seen by fewer people if you’re not active. Your audience just needs to know when you’ll be online, and when they might receive new content. Create a posting schedule and stick to it. On days you feel like you can’t create original content, just share content from someone else. Repost something your followers will love or might find helpful.
4. You’re Not Social Enough
Social media is exactly that, social. You need to get out there and make real connections. If you put in the effort to engage with others, they will want to engage with you in return. It’s a give and take relationship, not a take-take. You get as much from the community as you give, so if you’re never engaging with people why should they engage with you? Share an exciting announcement from someone you follow, or share helpful posts from other accounts.
Try using these tips and see if your engagement improves! If you have any questions about using social media as an author, DM me on Instagram or schedule a free 30-min strategy call with me so we can talk about how to improve your online presence.
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