Tips for Social Media Use
I understand why many adults opt to avoid social media.
It comes with some serious downsides: the possibility of cyber-bullying and doom-scrolling addiction are only two of them.
Even if it is a powerful tool for connecting and sharing, many of us shy away because we fear the trolls and, oddly enough, the exposure.
As much as we want our books to be known, do we really want to put ourselves out there?
I find Instagram welcoming, upbeat, and friendly, but you’ll rarely find me on Facebook, and I have quit X altogether. Threads has become a positive place for authors as well, in my experience. Instagram suits my photo-and-caption thinking better than Threads’ pithy comment or question format.
(If you’re on Instagram or decide to give it a try, follow me @author_kim_catanzarite.)
FOMO—Fear of Missing Out—is a real thing. When you see other authors posting photos of their latest awards or awesome reviews, you begin to question where your awards and reviews are, and you may start to wonder whether you and your books are good enough.
It’s not a pleasant feeling. The best advice I can give you is to keep your head in your own game. Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. Just focus on yourself and your own books!
What You Need to Know About Social Media
Social media platforms allow us to connect with others, and foster communities by sharing info and experiences. It’s a great way to let people know you’re writing a book, that you’re a self-publisher, and anything else you want people to know (for instance, maybe you’re a blogger as well).
Whatever you have going on that you want to draw attention to can help to find an audience on social media. Many authors document their road to publication. Every step of the way, they share their experiences: What it’s like to develop a writing habit and complete a novel, for instance; how to find an editor; the inspiration that helps them stay the course; obstacles they encounter along the way.
Social media can be a good way to promote products, i.e., your books. You can share the review quotes you receive, short excerpts, the cover release, your author photograph. You can also talk about the places where your books can be purchased and any discounts or promotions you run.
Some social media platforms are better for selling than others. As I mentioned, I’m on Instagram. In my experience, it has not been a wonderful tool for selling books. On the other hand, it’s been pretty good for helping attract Kindle Unlimited readers. TikTok is rumored to be effective for selling books, and Facebook is as well. Before you create an account on any app, consider whether it’s going to do what you want it to do—and if you'll want to spend time there. Instagram allows me to reach out to the reading and writing communities and to connect with fans of my series.
Algorithms shape what you see. Social media platforms use algorithms to personalize content feeds, showing users what they are most likely to engage with. So, if you put hearts on all of the words of inspiration posts you come across, that’s what you’ll find more of the next time you scroll through your feed. If you enjoy cat videos and spend time watching them, cat videos will find your feed and shadow you forevermore.
This is all to say that authors who are serious about using social media for their writing business should be careful about which posts they engage with. Otherwise, they may find themselves falling down the proverbial rabbit hole. Social media is a notorious time waster. Consider yourself warned.
Social media impacts mental health. Social media can have negative effects on mental health. Excessive use can lead to social anxiety, depression, and social media addiction. It's important to be mindful of how social media impacts how you feel. Take breaks when necessary. If you notice that you’re becoming stressed by what you see, put the phone down. Take a few days off.
Remember that social media is a virtual world, and you can step away anytime.
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