Setting Up Your Author Social Media Accounts

What EVERY author needs to do when setting up their author social media accounts.

• Use Your Author Name as Your Username

• Use Your Author Headshot As Your Profile Image

• Post About Your Writing, Not Just Your Book

• Make Your Account Public

• Follow Your Author Branding

  
  

While prepping for our annual Author Summit at Familius (the publishing house I work for), I was reviewing our FAQs from newly contracted authors. This is a great starting point for me to know what the authors we work with as a whole could learn in a group setting.

Almost every newly contracted author asked, "What do I need to do to help market my book?"

While Familius can set up collaborations, submit books for review and award consideration, and get stores to carry inventory to sell, one thing we can't do is create author-reader relationships. Nobody knows a book like the author!

A great way to strengthen your author-reader relationships is through social media. Plus, social platforms let you connect with readers around the world!

No matter which social media platform you are on, here are the best practices for creating your author social media accounts:

TOP TIPS FOR AUTHORS CREATING SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

Creating Your Author Social Media Account Tip # 1: Use Your Author Name as Your Username

Readers can't follow, collaborate with, or tag you if they can't find you. And if it's too much work to find you, people will give up. Make it easy for them!

Have your author name in your username. If you have a common name that's already claimed by another account, add an identifier to your name like:

@ErikaSargentWrites

@ErikaSargentAuthor

@ErikaSargentBooks

@BooksByErikaSargent

(Here's my author Instagram account: @ErikaTheAuthor)

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT DO THIS:

Do NOT make your book your username. This limits the type of content your followers expect you to post. Plus, what will you do when you go on to write several other books? Create and manage a separate account for each of them? No, thank you!

Creating Your Author Social Media Account Tip # 2: Use Your Author Headshot As Your Profile Image

Remember that some readers will only ever meet you through social media. It's important that you give them a great author headshot that they can connect with.

You'll never regret paying a professional editor or cover designer for your book. You'll also never regret paying for professional headshots for your social platforms.

But if professional author headshots aren't in the budget right now, keep the photo simple. Remember, profile pictures are small (see image to the left). Make sure your face isn't lost in a busy background or busy clothing/accessories. The one exception is if that look is part of your author brand.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT DO THIS:

Do NOT use an outdated photo unless that's part of your brand. If you use an outdated headshot (clothing, photo editing, hairstyle, etc.), readers will automatically assume that your writing is outdated and irrelevant to them.

Creating Your Author Social Media Account Tip # 3: Post About Your Writing, Not Just Your Book

Authors can easily get stuck in the rut of only posting about their newest book. But, if you only talk about your new book, readers will stop listening.

Instead of trying to grow book fans, you should focus on growing author fans. Share your writing struggles, the books that inspire your writing, and fun facts about you! This way, it doesn't matter which book from your own author library you're promoting. Your author social media followers will support it (because they love supporting YOU).

As you're posting content to your author social media accounts, keep this in mind: Author Fans > Book Fans

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT DO THIS:

Do NOT have all of your posts feature your book cover. You will come across as "salesy" and lose followers if all you ever post is "buy my book" content.

Creating Your Author Social Media Account Tip # 4: Make Your Account Public

Always set your author social media accounts to public. If you don't, your content won't be searchable to your fans. They'll miss your signing announcements, cover reveals, and writing milestone wins!

Having a public account helps readers know that they are following the RIGHT account. There are lots of fake accounts on social media. Having a public account helps fans know they are following the real deal.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT DO THIS:

Do NOT share personal information that you're not comfortable with the general public knowing. If you want to use social media to update friends and family about personal updates (moves, relationships, employment, etc.), create two separate accounts. One account will be a private social media account for friends and family. The other will be a public social media account for your author fans.

Creating Your Author Social Media Account Tip # 5: Follow Your Author Branding

It doesn't matter which author social media platforms you use to promote your writing and books. It's important that they all have the same look and feel. This is your author brand!

Make sure that all of the following are consistent on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and any other social platforms you are using to connect with readers:

• Profile Image

• Username

• Tone of Voice

• Subject Matter

• Colors/Filters

• Branded Hashtags

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT DO THIS:

Do NOT use your author social media accounts as brain dumps unless that is your brand. Your followers should know what type of content to expect from you. Remember, this is your professional writing social media account! Save the travel itineraries, foodie posts, and home renovation updates for your personal account and focus on posting content related to your author journey.

As you create your author social media accounts, remember that it's SOCIAL media. Have fun with it, and as you consistently post about your author journey, you will find a digital network of support and author fans!

With six years (and counting) working as a book marketer for a publishing house, I'm here to help authors. Have a question about book marketing? Sign up to get FREE tips, tools, and techniques to successfully market your book.