Social Media Tips for Indie Authors

As an audiobook narrator for indie authors, I know how daunting the task of marketing can be - especially when it comes to social media. It seems the "algorithm" is always changing, trends come and go, and with new platforms popping up, it can be daunting just to begin. When it comes to the basics of social media for indie authors, I’ve gathered up the most frequent questions I see so we can discuss them together!

Should I make an account before my book is published?

Yes! If you’re making the jump to social media, you can absolutely get started building your account before your book is available. 

Ideally you’ll be connecting with potential readers, but even following other authors can help you. Seeing what they post can help inspire you, and can help you keep on top of social media trends in the book community.

You can also introduce yourself, sharing what you like to write about (or even what you like to read!)

Hopefully your account will start to grow and you’ll drum up excitement for your book leading up to release.

What should I post?

There are so many options available to you!

Pre-publication you can share snippets of what you’re working on. You don’t have to give anything away, but even sharing word count updates is something. You can share “reveals” at different stages: title reveal, cover reveal, publishing date, etc. 

After publishing, be sure to share any reviews or positive feedback you receive. Follow social media trends to share info about your story. Consider sharing some quotes from the book, or character profiles.

At any time, you can continue to generate posts by sharing what you’re reading, or books you enjoy. Look out for any “special days” on social media, such as “World Book Day” when you can post about your own book, or one that you love.

Do I need to show my face?

No! If you’re camera shy, or trying to stay anonymous, there’s no need to show your face. You can create graphics, use b-roll footage, and shots of not all of you: your hands, your workspace, a book covering your face, the back of your head, etc. There’s still plenty of material for you to post without showing your face, if you’d prefer not to.

Do I need to post videos? How do I do that?

This will slightly depend on the platform - some are all videos, some text based, and some a mix of media. In general, it can be helpful to use a mix of text, images, and videos. But don’t overthink videos! There’s a few tricks to make them less daunting.

Animation can turn a static image into a reel. Platforms like Canva allow you to animate elements of your design. By animating part of the graphic, you can now download and post this as a reel. So any of the designs we’ve already discussed, you can simply turn into a video.

Don’t discount b-roll footage. For a cozy winter book, using video of snow falling or a fireplace burning can set the vibes.

Social media can be daunting, but hopefully it is a little easier with these tips! Be sure to check out my digital templates to make it even simpler. There’s so much that goes into marketing a book - don’t let social media slow you down!