20 Ideas for Sharing on Social Media

Many writers who are newly published or new to social media can feel confused about what they should share publicly as they make their first foray into social media marketing.

Some fear the vulnerability of having their content shared freely on the Internet. Others may feel that they have exhausted the topic they write about.

When asked, I sometimes respond by suggesting to authors what they shouldn’t post: pictures of kittens (there already too many on the Internet, especially on Facebook) or images of meals they prepare, unless they wrote a cookbook and have mastered the skill of presenting food on a plate.

Represent Your Brand on Social Media

It can be difficult for authors to think of themselves as a brand, but you are, and your readers (and colleagues) are watching you.

Try to reflect your brand in every post and tweet. For example, on my Facebook page and Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ accounts, I stick to the topics of social media and writing. On my blog, I write about how writers can use social media to market their books. On Pinterest, I’ve created pinboards filled with social media infographics as well as boards that reflect my interest in reading, writing, bookstores, and bookshelves, as well as boards on quotes from famous authors and writing prompts. Social media and information about books – including an occasional post on social media – are the only topics I write about and share.

As a brand, it’s important for you to keep your messaging consistent. If you write about traveling abroad on $30/day, give tips throughout the year. If you wrote a book about hiking, offer tips on boots, tents, and camping with a three-year-old. If you wrote a book about running a small business, provide time management and other tips throughout the year.

Ask questions, seek engagement and return to your social media networks during the day to acknowledge comments. Make time to engage with your friends and fans by clicking on your Home tab and seeing what they have to say. Don’t forget to share their posts too, and leave comments.

Writers: Use These 20 Ideas When You Share on Social Media

If you need more ideas about what you can post, here is a list of twenty items that you can share on your social media profiles.

1. Share book covers, especially if you can’t decide which of several versions you should use. Post the covers and ask your followers to help you decide.
2. Share a poem, a free chapter of your book or a free short story from an anthology.
3. Did you create a Goodreads giveaway? Let your followers know about it.
4. Share your shelf of favorite books on Goodreads, LibraryThing or Riffle.
5. Share pictures of yourself from a recent reading or workshop you taught.
6. Share pictures of your books on shelves at a local café or bookstore.
7. Share video clips from your readings.
8. Share a podcast of you talking about your book.
9. Did a colleague start a Kickstarter campaign? Encourage your fans and followers to make a donation.
10. Share links to your blog posts.
11. Create a variety of pinboards on Pinterest (author quotes, writing prompts, favorite books, colleagues’ books, etc.) and share links to them.
12. Share information about your colleagues’ book and blog posts.
13. Let your readers know when you discount prices on your books.
14. Go to Alltop and curate information to share. Topics can include advice from famous writers, writing tips, writing prompts, or information about blogging and self-publishing.
15. Collect and share cartoons about the writing process. Your friends will enjoy the opportunity to chuckle.
16. Don’t forget to share great lines from your books or poetry.
17. Let your readers know about a free eBook you offer when the sign up for your eNewsletter.
18. Sign up for a curation application such as Scoop.it. You’ll be able to curate information, publish it in the form of an online magazine, and share the link to each publication on your social media networks.
19. Continue to search for new methods to promote or share your books and then write about what you’ve learned. You can then share the link to the post and help your colleagues continue their education as well.
20. Sign up for Canva or PicMonkey, create branded images with a text overlay and share them with your fans and followers.

What ideas do you have that I didn’t mention here?

About the Author

Frances Caballo is a social media manager for writers and author of  Avoid Social Media Time Suck: A Blueprint for Writers to Create Online Buzz for Their Books and Still Have Time to Write, Social Media Just for Writers: The Best Online Marketing Tips for Selling Your Books and Blogging Just for Writers. Presently, she is the Social Media Manager for the Women’s National Book Association-SF Chapter, the San Francisco Writers Conference, and the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google+.

Photo courtesy of pakorn | freedigitalphotos.net