You already believe you should sell your book on social media, or you won’t be here.
I bet you are reading this because you are looking for effective ways to do social media book marketing.
I figured we might as well get right to it so I don’t bore you with irrelevant details.
Having said that, read along for the tips.
13 Ways to Sell Your Book on Social Media
Whether you want to sell your books on Chegg, Facebook, TikTok and other social media platforms, you need the right strategies, or you will struggle to achieve your goal. So, here are effective ways to sell your book on social media.
1. Have an Author Website
Every writer should have an author’s website. This is because the only way to succeed as a professional writer is to think of it as a business.
You must build your brand the way a business owner will build their business, and one of the first things every business owner does is to own a website.
In this hyper-digital age, your author website serves as your online office where readers can get to know you, learn about your books, sign up for your newsletter and confirm your authenticity. Having a clean, updated website makes you look professional and trustworthy.
Plus, when you share links on social media, you’ve got somewhere solid to send people.
It’s just easier all round to have an author’s website that serves as your book-selling HQ even if you sell on e-commerce platforms.
Also Read: Why You Should Have a Website as a Writer
2. Create a Consistent Brand Identity
One mistake you shouldn’t make is having an inconsistent brand identity.
Remember that you need to treat your career as a business, so you need to make sure you stand out. As you well know, there are many authors out there, and you want your readers to be able to pick you out from a multitude of other writers.
But before you panic, you don’t need fancy design skills to get this right; you just need consistency. This is so that after a while, you will be recognizable by those elements – be it colours, writing tone, logo, signature and so on.
So, use the same colours, tone, and vibe across your posts.
Pick a specific colour(s) and stick with it. Even when you do decide to change, you can make an announcement so your fans can be fully informed of the change.
Also, let your personality shine through your posts. Are you funny? Deep and emotional? Super informative? Express that everywhere.
There is no general consensus about whether writers should have a logo or not; that’s more a thing of personal preference. If you do, the same rule applies. At the risk of stating the obvious, it should be the same everywhere.
Aim for a brand that when people see your content, they know it’s you without even seeing your name. That’s how you build recognition, which then leads to trust, and ultimately leads to more book sales.
Also Read: How to Brand Yourself as a Writer
3. Determine Your Voice
Segueing from the last point, remember that your voice is your personality online, so don’t be afraid to let it shine through.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to be someone else, especially a writer you admire or one who is successful. But you are better off showing up as yourself.
You can only achieve consistency when you sound like yourself – or else, you will sound phoney.
Plus, choosing your voice helps you connect more deeply with your audience because readers don’t just buy books; they buy you.
So, whatever type of post you’re sharing, let your unique flair come through. It makes people feel like they know you, and that connection can turn followers into fans.
4. Choose the Right Platform
Selling your book online requires choosing the right platform. You don’t have to be everywhere, and you can’t even be everywhere; there are so many platforms, how do you effectively manage them all?
The result will be a sloppy social media strategy, and we don’t want that.
So, you need to find out where your audience hangs out and learn how to sell on that platform.
For instance, if you sell books that cater to older millennials and above, you should probably learn how to sell books on Facebook. For educational books, think Chegg. Romance writers will do well on TikTok and Instagram, and for business books, LinkedIn might be better.
When it comes to choosing the right platform, think quality over quantity. It’s better to kill it on one or two platforms than spread yourself thin trying to do it all.
Go where you can show up authentically and consistently.
Also Read: How to Determine the Best Social Media Platform to Promote Your Book
5. Consider Your Audience
This is quite tricky because I don’t think a writer should write first for an audience; it results in inauthentic writing, and we already addressed how that’s inadvisable.
I believe a writer should write about topics that are true to them, they are passionate about, and come easily to them. When they do that, their true audience will find them.
But since you are reading a post on how to market your book on social media, I believe you’ve already gotten that.
Now, you need to engage the people who will resonate with your work the best way you can.
So, who are your books for? Teen fantasy lovers? Self-help seekers? Business owners? Or hopeless romantics?
Identify your readers, know them and tailor your content to what they care about. When you speak directly to their interests, struggles, and dreams, you create a bond with them
People buy from people who “get” them. So put yourself in their shoes and post content that makes them feel seen.
6. Create Valuable Content
People scroll social media looking for entertainment, inspiration, or answers. If you want them to keep coming back, give them value.
Share writing tips, behind-the-scenes peeks, quotes from your book, or even funny author moments. You could also recommend other authors you enjoy, and just maybe, they will feel the need to reciprocate, or their audience will find you.
The point is that you shouldn’t make it all about buying your book, or you will turn people off. You also need to be helpful, entertaining, or relatable.
When people enjoy your content, they’ll stick around.
7. Engage with Your Audience
Don’t just post and ghost – you know, those ones that post once a year or only when they have a book to sell.
Or, those that post and then say nothing else.
You can only get away with this if you are a big author and have made your mark in the writing world. If not, you need to engage.
You must reply to comments, ask questions, and show genuine interest in your followers. Social media is social, after all, so the more you interact, the more your community grows.
Plus, people love buying from authors they feel connected to. A simple “thank you” or thoughtful response can turn a casual follower into a loyal fan.
8. Post Consistently
Like I said earlier, don’t be one of those authors who post only when they have a book to sell. While you don’t have to post daily, you do need to show up regularly.
Your readers can tell when you care about them and when all they mean to you is sales.
To avoid that, you need to show up regularly even when you have nothing to promote. Moreover, consistency builds trust and keeps you top of mind.
To help you achieve consistency, create a schedule that works for you – even if it’s just three times a week. You can use tools like content calendars or scheduling apps to stay on track.
Or you could hire a social media manager and content writer to help you manage your account if you are too busy.
9. Collaborate with Book Influencers
Partnering with influencers is a good way to market a book on social media because they already have the audience you’re trying to reach. This is particularly great advice for selling books on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Find bookstagrammers, BookTok creators, or YouTubers who review your genre, and offer them a free copy or host a giveaway together.
If they genuinely love your book, their followers will notice. A shoutout from the right influencer can give your book a serious visibility boost; leverage it.
10. Use Hashtags
Relevant Hashtags like #BookTok, #AmReading, or genre-specific tags like #CozyMystery or #RomanceReads can help readers find you. They’re great for leading readers to your content.
Don’t go overboard, though, so you don’t get flagged; pick a mix of popular and niche hashtags. Also, make sure to do a little research and use them strategically.
It’s a simple trick that can get your book in front of fresh eyes every time you post.
11. Promote Across Channels
I know I said you should choose the right platform, but that doesn’t mean you should put all your eggs in one platform; you can still promote across channels. You just need to focus more effort on one or two that pay more.
So, for instance, don’t hesitate to repurpose content for Facebook, LinkedIn, or your email list after sharing your book on Instagram.
Each channel reaches different people, so spread the word. All you have to do is tweak the messaging to fit the vibe of each space.
Cross-promotion goes a long way in ensuring more people hear about your book.
12. Use Social Proof
Do you have reviews, reader reactions, and testimonials? Share them all. Social proof works powerfully because it shows people that others are loving your book.
And it gives you credibility because when people can see that your book is getting love, they’re more likely to check it out too.
So, take a screenshot of a kind review or a reader’s comment, and repost fan content to attract others to your amazing work.
13. Consider Paid Ads
If you’ve got a little budget, paid ads can give your book a big push. For instance, Amazon is one of the popular self-publishing platforms, and a good way to sell your books on Amazon is to use paid ads.
Other platforms like Facebook and Instagram also let you target exactly who you want; romance lovers, fantasy fans, busy moms, you name it.
If it’s your first time, you can start small and test what works before diving deeper.
A well-targeted ad with a great hook and eye-catching visual can drive clicks, grow your audience, and boost sales fast.
Are you an author reading this? Share with others what social media book marketing technique you’ve used in the past that works.
