The Author Viral Content Toolbox

 

Authors ask the same three questions when it comes to social media:

 

·         Is it really necessary? I hate it.

·         How do I get something to go viral? The dumbest things seem to get millions of views.

·         Do social media posts lead to book sales? It seems like a waste of time.

 

The answers are: YES. It is possible. Yes.

 

But, there is a caveat. You need to post with:

 

·         Intention

·         Consistency

·         Regularity

·         Creativity

·         Attitude

 

And, you need to properly reach out to people beyond just those that already follow – or are connected to -- you.

 

Let’s look, first, at what an author can post on social media. Each social media platform has unique features. The more platforms you are actively on, the greater the chance of discoverability. Right? Being on four platforms is better than one or two, although not all platforms are equal, Facebook, for instance, is way bigger than X. However, X does not limit your number of connections, making it easier to reach more people than on, say, LinkedIn.

 

Authors must know why they are on social media. It could be to:

 

·         Sell books

·         Get clicks on a web site

·         Promote a brand

·         Market a message

·         Build up a followership to monetize as an influencer

·         Angle for a book deal

·         Sell some other product or service

·         Download a freebie

 

Authors must also know what the people on social media seek to get out of being online and interacting with you. In other words, for the people that you hope consume and share your content, what is it like for them?

 

Why should they like what you said – or be so impressed that they feel compelled to share it with others? What would move them to comment on it? What is it that makes them feel inspired/touched by your posts to buy a book?

What could you post on social media?

1.      Photos/illustrations/paintings

2.      Digital imagery

3.      Satirical or distorted images

4.      Memes

5.      Give-aways/offers of discounts and deals

6.      Infographics/charts/stats

7.      Links to blogs or other content by or about you

8.      Links to content from other people/sources

9.      Lists

10.  Slideshows

11.  Videos

12.  Audios

13.  Quotes, with or without your commentary

14.  News of the day with or without your analysis

15.  Jokes

16.  Contests/awards

17.  Press release announcements

18.  Event notices

19.  Fundraiser links

20.  Recruitment/sign-up links

 

Will your content reflect:

·         Sentimentality

·         Counterintuitive views

·         Controversy

·         Outrage

·         Fear

·         Fun

·         Pride

·         Hope

·         Philosophy

·         Pets/animals

·         Family/friends

·         Love

·         Psychology

·         Faith

·         Finances

·         Charity

·         Sex/relationships

·         Sports

·         Politics

·         Disaster/death

·         Travel

·         Nature

·         Food

·         Health

·         Wellness

·         Entertainment

·         Beauty

·         How-to tips

·         Cultural arts

·         Predictions

·         Questions

·         Pronouncements

·         Secrets revealed

·         Opinions

·         Advocacy

·         Honoring a person, events, holiday, or anniversary

·         Complaints

 

The list can go on.  There is no end as to:

 

·         Which content you share

·         How often you share it

·         The ways you choose to present your content

·         How people respond to your shares

 

There is no formula for going viral, though I suspect it involves images of cute dogs, hot bodies, and political mockery – or all three.  But authors should know they need to embrace social media and to use it purposefully with some urgency and creativity.

 

Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on LinkedIn. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2023. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.4 million pageviews. With 4,600+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult: www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.