If you have a book to promote, then Twitter is something that can be easy to get started with. If you’re setting up Twitter just for your book marketing, then use your author photo and include your topic area in your summary.
Twitter is a platform that is useful for short, clear messages, with a hash tag… with or without an image. You don’t have to pay, but you can also choose to pay to promote a particular “Launch” tweet.
Tip #1 – Ensure you have a Keyword in Each Tweet
So you love your book title, but does it describe your subject area? If your book is in say Marketing, make sure you put this in a hashtag, e.g. #marketing #books.
Tip #2 – Direct to the Book Page Link
If you use Freado’s Bookbuzzr it has a built-in automated tweet program, set up with a link to your book. But you can also do this yourself with one of the automated tweeters: HootSuite (a complex suite), Tweetdeck, or Buffer, our preferred tool.
Make sure the link goes to a descriptive book sales page, one with a preview / look inside.
Tip #3 – Create Intrigue with a ‘Twist’
Remember the English guy who travelled around the world, staying free, seeing if he could get to New Zealand just through Twitter followers who played ‘host’. He also wrote a book about it. I’m sure his hosts were delighted to buy a copy and see their mention.
If you’re writing a historical memoir or story, why not think of a link to the present through a recent event or concern in society. You could create a Press Release and tweet the release (ensure your book link is in the bottom of the release). Use appropriate hashtags for the genre or topic, e.g. #books #historical. That’s book marketing in progress.
Tip #4 – Turn the Tweet Around
Put the viewer in mind with every tweet. Rather than saying “Read my simple guide to ADHD”, word it: “Do you get confused by ADHD advice? Then see this simple guide…”
Ask the reader to “please retweet” or “share this with a friend”, etc. to encourage action.
Tip #5 – Keep the Important Part first
Long tweets may get cut off, so ensure all your tweets have the crucial message first. Short is sweet: 80-120 characters is ideal. Use bit.ly to make a short link you can track, or just use the automated one.
Keep the tone the same and keep your tweets fairly consistent… active voice is best!
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Podcasts & Twitter Lists
Get a whole host of book marketing ideas from these iTunes podcasts:
“The Author Hangout”, by Book Marketing Tools.
“Social Media for Small Business”, an Australian-based program hosted by Suzi Dafnis.
Sign up for useful news and resources by subscribing to Book Marketing Twitter Lists:
Joel Freidlander’s Self-Publishing Resources: https://twitter.com/JFbookman/lists/self-publishing
Laurence O’Bryan’s Best Reviewers: https://twitter.com/LPOBryan/lists/greatreviewers