The Importance of a Social Media Presence

Hello, all!

On the blog today, I'd like to talk about the importance of a social media presence as an author -- both BEFORE publishing a book and after.

I know, I know -- social media isn't everyone's cup of tea. It can be a cesspool of hate and mean comments, and sometimes, it gets me down. But it really is valuable for building a career as an author.

Whether you're just writing your first book now or you've published several books already, either indie or traditional, it's never a bad idea to make yourself a social media account. Start as soon as you can. Why?

It's the best marketing tool for authors, in my opinion. I've made so many sales from advertising my books on social media. You could pay for ads, but basic accounts are free!

And it's helpful to have a community of authors there for you if you need to vent or just want to meet like-minded people. All of my author friends have been found online, and I've even met a few lovely people in person because of it!

What social media sites should you make an account on? I have accounts here:

X/Twitter

Instagram

Threads (part of Instagram)

TikTok

BlueSky

Hive

YouTube

Consider a Goodreads or BookBub account. Some of my author friends also have podcasts to promote themselves and other authors.

Those have all been helpful to me. Making my own website as well!

What should you post about? Anything, really, from books to everyday observations. Remember, while promoting your books is crucial, people also want to know about YOU. I make sure to chat about non-book related things so people can see my human side and connect with me.

Where do you stand on social media? Will you make an account? In my experience, being on social media is very helpful in being an author. I think you should at least consider it, especially when it comes to marketing! Plus, some publishers will want you to have social media, so keep that in mind.

Take care, and happy social media-ing!

Sincerely,

Dana Gricken