Social Media

Authors Who’ve Launched Their Careers on TikTok
Here’s how two self-published authors have been successful in their marketing and promotion efforts on TikTok.

Writers, Stop Using Social Media (Like That)
A social media following doesn’t guarantee sales. Building an audience that’s engaged with your work—your mission—requires more varied tools.

Which Social Media Platform Is the Best?
Identifying the right platform for you comes down to your personality, what you like to do and, most importantly, what you want to achieve.

How to Make Money Through Social Media Without Being an Influencer
You don’t need to be famous or a tech guru. All you really need is an Instagram account, a PayPal link, and something to offer your audience.

A Year Without Social Media as a Freelance Writer
For freelancers, forgoing social media can mean giving up crucial visibility. But it can also provide time to focus on being a better writer.

Should You Hire a Social Media Assistant?
Virtual assistants take over tasks that you could do yourself. What you’re buying, in effect, is the freedom to use your time in other ways.

How and Why to Build a Twitter Following While Unpublished
An unpublished writer describes how she built a five-figure Twitter following within a year, by helping other writers and engaging on a personal level.

Saying No to Twitter: What Authors Need to Know
Social media use can drive book sales, but not all successful authors use Twitter. If you don't want to be on Twitter, you don't have to be on it. Digital services consultant and AuthorPop founder Daniel Berkowitz shares why Twitter truly is optional.

10 Instagram Tips for Writers
Younger generations (and older ones!) flock to Instagram for its feed of beautiful pictures. So how can writers use Instagram to their benefit?

Social Media for Authors: The Toughest Topic to Advise On
I believe a successful social media strategy is driven by one’s personality and strengths, as well as the qualities of the work produced—leading to a unique approach for each writer. A

So You’re an Author Without a Social Media Presence: Now What?
Social media is just one component of your author platform, and not necessarily the most important component. It works best as part of a holistic book marketing and promotion strategy.

The Pros and Cons of Using a Facebook Profile But Not an Official Page
Every author is told to start an official Facebook page. But what if you stick with your personal profile only? Learn the advantages and disadvantages.

Why You Should Join All Social Media Networks
I think it's fair to say that most of us are not looking to add more social media activity to our lives.

Storytelling Across Media: Q&A with Agent Laurie McLean
Agent Laurie McLean discusses the platform and book launch strategy for author/musician Simon Curtis.

Best Practices for Author Facebook Pages and Groups
Kirsten Oliphant discusses how to effectively use Facebook pages and groups.

Overcoming My Fear of Twitter
Chris Jane, who writes the biweekly Q&A series 5 On, discusses overcoming her fear of joining the Twitterverse.

The Secret to My Productivity, Or: Thoughts About Luxury and Privilege
I'm often asked: How can I be so productive? Or how does one balance creative work and other life demands? Here's the most truthful answer I have.

Engaging Audiences through Twitter in 15 Minutes a Day
Writer and blogger Kirsten Oliphant explains how to build your platform on Twitter in only 15 minutes a day.

Using Pinterest to Market Children’s Picture Books
A children's author shares her strategies for promoting her picture books on Pinterest—as well as what adult fiction marketing techniques haven't worked for her.

My 5 Philosophies of Social Media
If you need a place to start, then focus on talking about or posting about others you admire.

Facebook for Authors: Getting Started Guide
This 101 guide describes best practices for authors using Facebook for book marketing, with tips on when you should set up a fan page.

2 Easy Ways to Measure the Impact of Your Social Media Use
Learn how to easily study the impact of your social media use on your marketing and promotion efforts.

How to Avoid the “Extra” Work of Social Media
Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of speaking at a one-day publishing event hosted by Blurb in Brooklyn, NY.

How to Measure Whether Your Social Media Activity Is Worthwhile
Today I'm a contributor over at Writer Unboxed, discussing how social media can be used more effectively. My suggestions rely, in

Social Media 201: uPublishU Panel Preview
Tomorrow, I'm moderating a panel at BEA's uPublishU on Social Media 201, featuring: Porter Anderson L.L. Barkat of Tweetspeak Poetry

Why Don’t Publishers Believe in Author Websites?
It's not unusual for authors to be told by their publishers that author websites aren't necessary or effective. Should their insight be trusted?

A Call to Disarm Technology & Hype (And Boost Your Writing Productivity)
The internet and other technology keeps us on insanely high alert, ultimately producing an effect where we attend to everything and we attend to nothing (deeply). This high-alert state is producing a fatigue that’s detrimental not only to our psyches and relationships, but also to the quality of our professional output.

Does Social Media Really Sell Books?
There's no end to the conflicting advice about social media and book marketing. In this post, I present a framework for what's effective and what's not.

Audience Development for Writers: Your Life-Long Career Investment
In this talk from the 2013 Midwest Writers Workshop, I explain the process of growing my readership since 2008, then share a few key principles I follow to make it an enjoyable and sustainable process.

2 Strategic and Compelling Reasons to Keep Blogging—Plus When to Kill a Blog
Note from Jane: Today's guest post is from Dan Blank (@DanBlank) and covers a topic that was recently addressed on

5 Ideas for Using Pinterest as an Author
How authors, especially novelists, can start using Pinterest in a way that's a natural outgrowth of their work.

It’s Time for (Many) Experienced Writers to Stop Blogging
Author L.L. Barkat argues that writers who already have experience—as well as authors trying to promote themselves—should stop blogging.

How I Got a Six-Figure Twitter Following (and Why It Doesn’t Matter)
It's almost a running joke. Whenever my manager introduces me at an event, he always starts by saying how many

Is Your Author Website Doing Its Job? 6 Things to Check
Today's guest post is by Laura Pepper Wu, the co-founder of 30 Day Books, a book studio that provides marketing tools

Build a Better Author Bio for Twitter
Before you decide to follow someone on Twitter, what's the first thing you look at? Probably the bio. Let's assume

A Little Bit About My Work at VQR
Yesterday, over at Neal Abbott's blog, I answered a few questions about my new job at the Virginia Quarterly Review,

How One Introverted Author Successfully Markets His Work
The following Q&A is with author Bob Tarte. Bob lives in Michigan with parrots, ducks, geese, parakeets, rabbits, doves, cats, hens,

How Long Does It Take to Get Blog Readers?
The following advice is excerpted from How to Blog a Book by Nina Amir, recently released from Writer's Digest Books.

Facebook Strategy for Authors: In-Depth Discussion
If you're like most authors I know, you've wondered about how to best use Facebook. Should you stick to your

Top 10 Blog Traffic Killers
The following advice is from Michael Hyatt's newest release, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. The book is one of

My Best Advice for Writers From 2011
Last week I shared 12 Must-Read Articles From 2011. Now I'm going to share a list of the best advice

12 Must-Read Articles From 2011
Here are the most brilliant online articles I read this past year. You may not agree with the arguments you'll

How Social Media Can Change Your Life
Sometimes I find myself defending social media to the experienced user and beginner alike. It can be easily accused—and rightly

How Perfect Does Your Manuscript Have to Be?
As part of the 2012 Missouri Writers Guild conference faculty, I did a Q&A for their conference blog that discusses

Platform and Social Media Must Not Be Your Center
Today's post is excerpted from The Writer's Workout: 366 Tips, Tasks, & Techniques From Your Writing Career Coach (Writer's Digest,

Too Many Facebook Friends: Blessing or Curse?
On my personal Facebook profile, I am slowly but inevitably reaching the cap for friends (3,810 of 5,000). It's prompting

3 Blunders That Can Kill Your Author Platform
Today's guest post is from author Kristen Lamb. The digital age author has more opportunities than any writer in the

How to Waste Your Time on Social Media
Last week, I discussed how you can waste your time trying to get published. You can also waste your time

To Learn About Your Readers, You Need a Site
In the newest edition of Writer's Market (and Writer's Market Deluxe), there's a featured interview with me, where I discuss the