Social media can be a useful part of an author’s platform, helping them connect with readers, fellow writers, and the publishing community. But deciding what content to post next can be a struggle. So how do successful authors use social media to engage with their fans? And what can authors post on social media besides links to their own books?
Below you’ll find 23 ideas, along with examples from dozens of successful authors. Many of these tactics can help promote a book, but in more creative and engaging ways than simply posting a link to a book’s retailer page. We hope this provides you with inspiration when you’re brainstorming content to publish on social media!
Publishers and agents, this post is written for authors. We encourage you to share it with your authors to help them build more engaging profiles!
Give readers the opportunity to ask questions live, and give them a set amount of time in which they’ll have your undivided attention.
Fans are often eager to voice their opinions online, so prompting them with a specific topic can be a great way to start discussion and get people talking about a book.
Diana Gabaldon shared a review which sparked a debate on her Facebook page, and asked her fans to chime in with their opinions.
Social media is a great place to show fans what your next book will look like. They’ll be excited to see the visual depiction of your next story, and it will build recognition when the book is available for sale.
Stephen King had a unique cover reveal, sharing an animated video of his newest book’s cover on Facebook.
Susan Dennard posted a large image of part of her new cover to Instagram, and included a link in the description where readers could see the full cover and read an excerpt from the book on Entertainment Weekly.
Bring your books to life by showing fans how you envisioned objects from specific scenes.
Maggie Stiefvater posted a picture with tarot cards that appeared in a scene from her book. The tarot cards were also part of a month-long giveaway and offered as a prize to fans.
Cheryl Bradshaw created a Pinterest board where she compiled images of props and scenery from her book series with detailed descriptions so readers could see how she envisioned these elements.
If you’re participating in conferences, book tours, book signings, or any other event, let fans know where they can find you.
Show fans what inspires you during your writing process. This can be anything from the research you gathered, photos from location scouting trips, diagrams or sketches you drew, or even excerpts from early drafts.
Leigh Bardugo created a Pinterest board for each of her main characters showing her inspiration for how they looked and dressed.
Your fans may be clamoring for your next book, so give them an update! They’ll enjoy the glimpse into your publishing process, and an update serves as a nice reminder of the upcoming release.
If you’d rather not give specific updates on your work in progress, show your fans where you work. Writing can be an isolated task, so social media provides a great way to invite readers into your workspace (without the risk of in-person distraction).
Sarah M. Eden revealed the reality of many authors’ writing space: wherever they can cram in some writing time!
To drive exposure for a book, create an image of a notable, inspiring, or funny quote from the book. You can use tools like Canva or Designfeed to easily turn quotes into eye-catching images.
Readers who follow authors on social media obviously love books. Relating to them and sharing in that love of books can foster engagement. For inspiration, check out BookBub’s blog, where you’ll find posts like 21 Quotes Only True Book Lovers Will Understand or 17 Secrets Only Book Lovers Are In On.
Accomplishing a literary feat like topping a bestseller list, winning an award, or landing a new book deal is something authors want to shout from the rooftops. But thanking readers for their role in your accomplishments is a more humble way to share good news, recognizing readers for their involvement in that success.
You can also show fan appreciation by sharing art they’ve created based on your books, or reposting photos they’ve shared with you.
Use your social media presence to promote other authors you admire. You can coordinate efforts — cross-promoting each other’s work gets you exposure to new fans — or share the love unprompted! Maybe they’ll return the favor later. Either way, fans love to see recommendations from their favorite authors. A book or author you like is likely one they’ll enjoy, too.
We love this adorable, heart-felt post from Lisa Scottoline, in which she gives a shout-out to David Baldacci.
If you don’t want to post detailed reviews, simply share what you’re reading now or your to-be-read (TBR) list.
Encourage interaction by creating fun games: quote fill-in-the-blanks, trivia, scavenger hunts, mad-libs, guessing games — the possibilities are endless.
Music can be inspirational, and fans often want to know what authors listen to while crafting specific scenes, or what songs influenced the creation of their characters.
If fans ask questions in your Facebook posts, your answers can get buried in the comment threads. So compile your answers in their own post!
Here’s a great example from Maya Banks where she answers questions following an announcement for upcoming book releases.
As someone with a platform, you have the opportunity to advocate for charities and other good causes you feel strongly about — and actually be heard. Share how you participate and gently encourage fans to play a role.
Your characters might not be real people, but you can add a fun layer of realism by celebrating their major life events — birthdays, anniversaries, or post-novel updates — on social media.
J.K. Rowling regularly wishes her characters a happy birthday… or acknowledges the anniversary of a major event from the Harry Potter series.
Your fans are clearly interested in the topics you write about in your books, so chances are you share other interests as well. If you find a photo, article, or video particularly interesting, share it with your fans. They might enjoy the content, too! Bonus points if you ask for their opinions to foster a conversation.
Here’s a fun post from Karen Robards where she engages fans with a question.
When in doubt, post pictures of animals. It’s a sure win — everyone loves animals.
Not all of your content has to be about books! Lots of authors share random photos they take, adventures from their latest trip, favorite recipes, opinions on pop culture and current events — you name it. Don’t assume fans won’t care about what you have to say. Those personal posts can be the ones that get the most engagement!
It’s perfectly fine to take a break from social media to focus on writing. Your fans will understand — and they’ll be happy to know you’re making progress on your next book! If you take a hiatus, consider checking in once in awhile to let fans know what you’re up to.
Sarah Dessen checked in with her fans on Facebook to 1.3K likes and nearly 100 comments of encouragement. Not a bad way to get some inspiration to keep on writing!
What other types of content do your fans engage with on social media? Let us know in the comments below!
This post was originally published on June 6th, 2016, and has been updated with new examples.