Q. I'm about to post on social media about a book! Any tips?

Include an image with your post. It will likely get more attention than if you just posted text because the image will stand out more in users' feeds.

Make sure you tag the author and/or illustrator (if they're not YOU :-)) as well as publisher.

VERIFY THAT YOU ARE TAGGING THE RIGHT PEOPLE before posting. Don't assume that a person's name is their tag. My main handle on Twitter is @inkyelbows, for example, not @debbieohi (I stupidly chose the first username when I joined Twitter instead of my real name), and I'm @inkygirl on Instagram.

If you've already been posting the cover of your book a lot on your social media, find a way to add variety in the image. If your book has an underwater theme, for example, you could place a few seashells around it or other themed objects before taking the photo.

My approach is to avoid asking people for money (e.g. "Please buy my book") whenever possible because it comes across as spammy. When I do ask (e.g. "You can pre-order now"), I try to combine it with a giveaway or swag offer.

Think about what YOU would be most likely to respond to on social media, when it comes to book promotion. Also think about what turns you off. For me, it's usually people who are constantly posting hardsell self-promo. 

These are just a few tips; I could write a whole book about this. But I'm not going to, because I'd rather be working on other projects.

Last updated on March 8, 2018 by Debbie Ohi