Are you frustrated with not getting visible results from social media as a writer? If so, this article is just for you.
Perhaps you’ve opened accounts on your platforms of choice, posted your best writing, and engaged with your audience constantly, but to no avail. And you’re probably beginning to think that social media is all hype and no result. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
Social media is still a gold mine for marketing your goods and services; you just need to know the right buttons to push. That’s why I’m here: to show you effective social media marketing tips for writers.
With these pointers, you will be on your way to increasing your visibility, network, and writing career.
Also Read: Best Social Networking Sites for Writers
Effective Social Media Marketing Tips for Writers
1. Define your Goals
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. It might seem like a cliché, but it’s true. You need to know why you’re on social media so you can identify strategies to make you meet your why.
Therefore, you need to identify your goals. Each writer’s marketing goal will depend on their type of writing. For instance, fiction writers and writers selling writing courses will have separate goals.
Then, you need to match what you’re offering with your social media expectations. For instance, a fiction writer will want his audience to read his stories or connect with publishers and agents. On the other hand, a writer with online courses targets upcoming writers or other people who want to learn writing skills.
Knowing this will help you determine precisely what you want to accomplish using social media and how to do it. It should also guide your social media content strategy and your content creation.
Additionally, you could also have other writing goals, such as increasing brand awareness, driving traffic to your website, or attracting new clients.
Also Read: Why You Should Have a Website as a Writer
2. Choose the Right Platforms
There are many social media platforms to choose from, and if you use the wrong ones, you won’t get any results. That’s because it has to align with your target audience and goals.
For example, LinkedIn might be more appropriate if you write for B2B. Consider Pinterest if most of your audience is female, and note that TikTok might not be the best choice if your audience is middle-aged.
This is because social media users have different preferences based on the platform’s features and needs. So, you should focus your effort on where your audience is.
You don’t have to make these guesses; there is available data about each site that you can use to make an informed decision.
3. Quality Content
If you want your audience to consider you an expert, show them what makes you one. Do this by creating high-quality and valuable content that appeals to them. These could be writing tips, short stories, or industry insights. The aim is to show that you know your onions.
You can use AI tools to speed up your writing process, but avoid recycled and shallow content; edit the result from AI properly for a more human outlook. Anything written on your page has to be the best of your work.
4. Engage with your Audience
It is often said that content is king, but I’d like to add that the audience is the true king. You must build connections by showing your genuine interest. Respond to their comments, ask them questions, and share personal stories.
In addition, you must learn how to respond to criticism graciously because you’ll get them as well.
You can also participate in discussions around your writing or related topics. Your followers are not numbers; show them your appreciation through shoutouts and acknowledgements.
5. Utilise Visual Content
Visuals can attract more attention and engagement to your posts. Unfortunately, it is one of the social media marketing tips for writers that is often overlooked because many writers ignore that area.
You don’t want to make that mistake. Hence, you need to incorporate images, videos, or infographics into your social media strategy and use them to complement your posts. For example, you can share videos of book trailers, readings, or behind-the-scenes footage. However, they must be relevant to your content.
Some platforms are more effective for visuals than others, so find out before investing time and effort. This is another consideration when choosing your preferred social media site.
6. Collaboration
Most times, your audience will include writers or complementary businesses. It’s easy to consider other writers in your niche on social media as competition. But you can collaborate through guest posting, hosting webinars, or podcasts.
Similarly, you can host virtual events together to expand your reach beyond your audience. This will help you gain credibility, have more visibility, and attract new clients.
7. Leverage User-generated Content
This is essentially a promotion from people who have had positive dealings with you. User-generated content (UGC) shows your customers’ genuine experiences in their own words.
It could be in the form of images, reviews, or brand mentions. Other user-generated content, such as reviews or quotes from your book or article, can also be powerful social proof.
Potential clients find this content attractive, fostering a sense of community and appreciation. UGC builds trust and boosts engagement because it’s not traditional advertising.
However, you might have to prompt your previous clients or associates to get UGCs.
8. Analyse the Data and Adjust your Strategy
The world is data-driven, and data doesn’t lie. The best way to measure your performance is to check your social media analytics regularly. Monitor metrics like click-through rates, reach, engagement rates, and follower growth.
Analysing this data periodically will help you understand what resonates with your audience. Then, you can refine your strategy accordingly to meet their expectations.
9. Stay Up-to-date
A lot can change in the social media space in a few weeks or months. It could be algorithm updates, new features, and the like. The only way to keep up is to be current and aware of actual updates so you can evolve. It will also help you avoid breaking new rules that can get your account suspended or sanctioned.
Besides that, experiment with more features and keep your content fresh with live videos, stories, and reels. Follow trends to see how and if you can incorporate them into your strategy. Adaptation is vital if you want to stay relevant on social media.
10. Be Consistency
Nothing good comes easy, so you need to consistently put in the work. This will help you to build brand recognition and keep your audience engaged. A posting schedule is useful and can help you maintain an active online presence on social media. This can be difficult when you’re starting, but with proper planning, it gets easier.
All you’ll have to do is set out a list of possible posts or topics; they can include series and Q&As. Write the posts, divide them up on a calendar, and make a timetable for posting. You can use scheduling tools to automate your posting.
Also, experiment with different posting times and frequencies to determine what works best. Post regularly to stay at the top of your followers’ feeds.
Get Visible
Social media is a very affordable way to promote your brand if you know the right steps. These social media marketing tips for writers will increase your professional network and enable you to showcase your work, achievements, and skills. But you must be persistent, patient, and committed to building your brand.
