Frances Caballo's Blog: 10 Twitter Tips Writers Need to Know, page 9
November 2, 2020
Blogs for Authors
It’s been too long since I last compiled a list of blogs for authors. I thought it was time to revisit this topic.
You know how health experts say that you are what you eat? Well, I have a saying: You are what you read.
Truly.
If you read junk, well, you will likely write rubbish. But if you read books that are well written, you’ll learn to write well. (More on this topic some other time.)
I also believe that if you want to write well, you need to read blogs for writers. And if you’re going to sell books, you need to read book marketing blogs and social media marketing blogs.
Keeping up to date on industry blogs will enable you to learn more about:
Social mediaBloggingCreativity Book marketing Online advertising, such as Facebook ads and Amazon ads
So, without further ado, let me introduce my new list of bloggers that authors should read. There are several new entries.
Top Blogs for Authors
Between posts, she writes herself and invites guests to write for her. There’s hardly a day that goes by when Jane doesn’t have a new post on her blog. They tend to be rich in content and well thought out. Don’t miss this blog. You’ll learn about writing and marketing as well as how to land a publisher. For me, Jane Friedman produces the top blog in the writing and publishing field. Subscribe to her blog now. You’ll never be disappointed.
Presently, the text to Joanna Penn’s podcast (The Creative Penn) serves as a blog. Listen to her podcast or read her blog posts. Joanna is never stingy with knowledge. The more you listen to her and her guests, the more you’ll learn, and the more success you’ll have as an author.
I love this blog. Where would the indie blogosphere be without the snarky and entertaining writing style of Anne R. Allen? Anne tells it like it is without reservation and always seems to have a new perspective on even tired, old subjects for her loyal authors/readers.
Indie Author Blogs
The Alliance of Independent Authors
This blog reliably delivers information that writers need to know to succeed. It seems to get better year after year. I know that I enjoy it more now than I ever have.
Read his blog, subscribe to his YouTube channel, and sign up for his newsletter. He is one of today’s top voices in book marketing.
Dave Chesson is the public face of Kindlepreneur. I don’t know who his partners are, and it really doesn’t matter to me. I love the posts on this website and the advice. This is a top voice in the indie world.
Blogs Not to Be Missed
TheBookDesigner is Joel Friedlander’s blog. He started this blog out of thin air years ago. Since then, it’s grown into a mainstay in the independent publishing arena. Whenever you see a list of the best blogs for writers, you’ll find TheBookDesigner.com on it. If you’re self-published, you have to read this blog.
Lisa is a nonfiction creativity coach who has successfully launched authors in their writing careers and helped them find publishers. Her posts are always well-written, and her fees are worth every penny. Not many people in the indie author sphere have heard of her, I know. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t well informed. On the contrary, she is an extremely talented person who had achieved a lot in her career. Subscribe to her blog and the next time you need an editor or advice on a marketing plan, contact her.
Selecting blogs for a list like this is never easy. I’m sure there are some I’ve forgotten, and for that, I apologize. But I’ve done my best to list the blogs that I consistently read every week.
Not sure what to write about on your blog? Read this post I wrote: 50 Blog Topics for Authors.
A social media expert for authors (something I never dreamed of becoming), I build author platforms to enhance book sales. I also use my industry connections to promote authors and their books. What else can I do for you? I’m a writer so I provide content writing and email marketing services. Let’s chat! And don’t forget to download my free Twitter ebook.The post Blogs for Authors appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.
October 29, 2020
Book Marketing Update
Today’s Book Marketing Update is a concise one. But people are busy, right? So I rounded up the very best blog posts that you’ll want to read.
Stay safe and healthy and enjoy the strategies below.
Book Marketing
5 Ways to Sell Your Book on Your Own Author Website by Dave Chesson: When you sell books from your website, you receive 100% of the profit. But is it worth it? Read this post to decide for yourself.
Want additional tips on book marketing? Be sure to read this post that I wrote.
Publishing
Molly Stern Launches Zando: Zando is a new independent publishing company. Its founder says that the company will develop its own list as well as partner with “influential people, platforms and institutions to acquire and publish new titles under their own imprints.” Check it out.
How One Author Landed a Publishing Deal for a Gift Book: Q&A with Sarah Chauncey and from Jane Friedman: This author managed to land a publishing deal despite the lack of an author platform. But once she found a publisher for her book, she had to make up for lost time.
Ebooks
Top 8 Platforms to Sell Your Ebooks from Sabrina Ricci: This is a solid piece that introduced me to two platforms I hadn’t heard of before: Selz and Tradebit.
Quote of the Week
A social media expert for authors (something I never dreamed of becoming), I build author platforms to enhance book sales. I also use my industry connections to promote authors and their books. What else can I do for you? I’m a writer so I provide content writing and email marketing services. Let’s chat! And don’t forget to download my free Twitter ebook.The post Book Marketing Update appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.
October 22, 2020
Book Marketing Update
In today’s Book Marketing Update you’ll learn a lot. Well, at least I learned a lot.
Dave Chesson explains how to improve your book sales in a variety of international markets.
We know that book covers play a critical role in book sales. Book Riot looks at their list of the twenty best covers for 2020. Prepare to be inspired.
Instagram is hot so definitely look at WordStream’s suggestions for including your profile.
Enjoy the fall and stay safe.
Book Marketing
Amazon International Markets Explained by Dave Chesson: There are steps you can take to improve your book sales and ranking in a variety of markets. Read this post to find out how.
Big Book Launches vs Low-Key Book Launches by Kirsten Oliphant: Kirsten describes both types of book launches. In conclusion she says, “There isn’t a one-size-fits-all launch. Choose what works for YOU. Take into account your budget, your goals, your time, your publishing schedule, and your mental health. One big thing to remember? Writing a book is a long-term investment.”
What You Can Learn About Platform From a 12-Year-Old from Jane Friedman’s blog and by Michelle Melton Cox: This is a clever blog post with some gems of advice. Be sure to check it out.
Book Covers
The Best Book Covers of 2020 from Book Riot and by Kelly Jensen: Book covers sell books and according to Book Riot, these are the best. Take a look at them and be inspired.
Social Media
Instagram Visual Design: How to Improve Your Branding on Instagram from the Social Media Examiner: Everything I know about Instagram I learned from Kat Coroy. Be sure to read this interview of her.
7 Ways to Promote Your Instagram Account from WordStream: This is an excellent post. To improve your Instagram account, switch to a business account, study your analytics, and read this post.
Publishing
Surviving—and Thriving—In The Brave New World Of Publishing from Anne R. Allen and by Paul Dinas: “Bottomline concerns have all but decimated the publishers’ promotional efforts and have left it up to the authors for the most part. Computer sales tracking allows publishers, agents and distributors daily performance reports. While it used to take six months to figure out if a book was successful, now it takes less than month.”
The end of the general trade publishing concept from The Idea Logical Company: Written by Mike Shatzkin, this is an in-depth look at the state of today’s traditional publishing companies.
Quote of the Week
A social media expert for authors (something I never dreamed of becoming), I build author platforms to enhance book sales. I also use my industry connections to promote authors and their books. What else can I do for you? I’m a writer so I provide content writing and email marketing services. Let’s chat! And don’t forget to download my free Twitter ebook.
The post Book Marketing Update appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.
October 19, 2020
You Want Success? Follow Your Passion
Do you follow your passion? I hope so. I think passion is so important in our lives – it’s giving voice to our soul – that I decided to republish this blog post. I wrote it four years ago yet I think it’s timeless.
I’m writing this after having seen Miles Ahead, written and directed by Don Cheadle, who also starred in it.
The film focused on a set of years when Miles Davis wasn’t recording during the late 1970s. Using flashbacks to earlier times, Cheadle gives us snippets of Miles’ career and how it once flourished. But what we mostly see is the breakdown and its insanity and his path back to resurrection.
Being on top never seemed comfortable for Miles. Yes, there were the record deals and financial deals, but there were also the distractions of drugs, racism, and women. Yeah, being on top as a black man didn’t make him immune to the vagaries of racism.
How does all of this apply to you? I think as indie authors it’s easy to fantasize about what life as a famous author might feel like. We all want to experience it. Don’t you?
I mean, how does it feel once an author receives money, acclaim, and maybe even an award or two – or at least movie rights? How does it feel once speaker fees roll in, the big house. Maybe even a big car, if you are so inclined.
Follow Your Passion – Always
Does it get easier?
One thing that doesn’t get easier – at least I don’t think it does – is the desire to create something truly great. To create something of beauty. To satisfy yourself and your readers. Because like Miles Davis, there’s the ever-present pressure from others to keep producing. To continue meeting the expectations of others and that can be too much pressure for an artist of music or words.
Whether we’re talking about yesteryear’s Raymond Carver or Ernest Hemingway or today’s indie rock stars, such as Joanna Penn and Mark Dawson, the push is there. Will always be there. To keep producing. Keep entertaining. Keep your fans and readers happy.
It’s thrilling, and it’s a pressure cooker, all in one.
Literary Figures
Hemingway, even as a Nobel Laureate, seemed tortured. He drank too much and eventually committed suicide.
Carver was a master short story writer but had a difficult relationship with his editor, became an alcoholic (eventually went to rehab), and smoked until he died of lung cancer at the age of 50.
Take Joanna and Mark as examples. They work hard. Whether successful authors have publishers or don’t want publishers, the fact that they’ve enjoyed success doesn’t mean that their past success will beget future success, now does it?
Following Your Passion Isn’t Easy, But You Have to Do It
They have to earn it, over and over and over again. And for some artists, that push – whether or not it comes from your inner drive or an agent’s – can feel like pressure. But if we want to write at our best, it’s the pressure that we have to ignore, let go of. Don’t you agree?
If we aren’t secure enough, and don’t let ourselves fall prey to alcohol and cigarettes, like Hemingway and Carver, or cocaine, like Miles did, well, then we have a chance.
To stay on top, to continue to attract our readers while attracting new ones, we have to continue to perfect our writing, our craft, our marketing. We have to perform, perhaps not as Miles Davis did in front of live audiences, but we still perform through our words.
In today’s world of indie publishing, writing one book isn’t enough. In fact, talk to any successful indie author and he or she will suggest that you produce at least two to three books back-to-back in a year. At least. More is preferable.
This is the era of short attention spans. If you publish a book and wait a year before you release a second, who’s to say anyone will still remember you? Even if they do, you’ve lost your momentum.
So you have to begin anew and launch your second book as though it were the first because if you take too long of a break between books, readers move on.
So it makes me wonder how Miles Davis must have felt. I can understand why he needed that break.
Miles was brilliant. Let’s not forget that. He studied the masters of classical music and understood them perhaps in a way that few others did. Then he created his music. While following his passion and his muse, he created new forms of music and success found him.
From Miles Davis to Dorothy Allison
Like Miles Davis, author Dorothy Allison took a break as well. Sickness made her stop everything and nearly did her in. But fortunately for all of us, she survived and is about to finish another novel.
I had the gift of hearing her speak at a writer’s conference recently and, oh my goodness, what an artist. There’s something different about Dorothy, something special.
If you’re unfamiliar with her work, Dorothy received mainstream recognition with her novel Bastard Out of Carolina, a finalist for the 1992 National Book Award. She also wrote Cavedweller, published a collection of short stories called Trash, and published two other books.
Dorothy speaks lyrically. Speaks with depth, and like Carver, writes only about those things that matter in the world. To hear her speak is to listen to someone speak poetry in prose. Despite her recognition, do you know why she writes? To have someone come up to her and say, “Thank you for telling my story.” That’s all she wants.
Like Miles and like any successful author, Dorothy follows her truth, her heart, her passion. And by following her heart, she found her readers.
There’s a beautiful line in Miles Ahead in which Miles Davis says,
You have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself.
Can’t you feel the veracity of that truth in your gut? You have to write a long time to write like yourself. To write the stories that match your passion.
And if you’re lucky — because there’s some modicum of luck in all of this — you’ll find your readers, just like Joanna, Mark, and Dorthy did. Because you will with time write like yourself.
Master your craft. Communicate your message. Find that some day a reader will approach you and whisper in your ear, “Thank you for telling my story.”
Regardless of whether fame or money find you, I believe that you’ll find satisfaction in having done it your way. At having created the only path you could.
A social media expert for authors (something I never dreamed of becoming), I build author platforms to enhance book sales. I also use my industry connections to promote authors and their books. What else can I do for you? I’m a writer so I provide content writing and email marketing services. Let’s chat! And don’t forget to download my free Twitter ebook.
The post You Want Success? Follow Your Passion appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.
October 15, 2020
Book Marketing Update
I hope you enjoy today’s Book Marketing Update.
MailerLite recently published a post with 18 email marketing statistics that none of us should ever ignore.
I always appreciate newsletters from David Gaughran. He knows so much! In his video, he explains how to add ten categories to the books you list on Amazon.
All of the posts below have great content so I hope you find new strategies to adopt and boost your book sales.
BTW, how are you enjoying fall? Autumn is my favorite season. I love the cool mornings and the changing colors all around me as I take my daily walks. I hope you’re enjoying it too.
As usual, stay safe and healthy!
Email Marketing
18 Incredible Email Marketing Statistics You Should Know in 2020 from MailerLite: This post outlines 18 — yes 18! — email statistics to help you craft a better email marketing strategy. Be sure to check it out. Also, check out my blog post on why authors need both email marketing and social media.
Book Marketing
Do This, Not That – Tis the Season? Launching Your Book During the Holidays from Joel Friedlander’s blog and by Keri-Rae Barnum: This is Keri’s advice: “Unless publishing after October 15th of any year is a strategic and well thought out plan, I urge you to wait. Publishing your book in January or even March and give yourself the gift of time – to plan, to market and to succeed.”
Add TEN categories to your Kindle books to increase sales on Amazon from David Gaughran: A video on YouTube from David Gaughran on how to use the Kindle category system to sell more books on Amazon.
What is Author Brand? by T.R. Robinson: “Brand creates an awareness, recognition and appreciation. It is the way people are made to feel about the person/company and product.”
5 Ways To Market A Memoir When No-One Knows Who You Are from Joanna Penn: ” … there are ways that you can attract an audience even if you’re just starting out. In today’s article, journalist and memoir author Andrew Emery shares his tips.”
Book Reviews
3 Amazon reader review myths: What you need to know by Sandra Beckwith: This is a must-read post for every author. Sandra Beckwith has excellent advice.
Of Note
4 things to learn from the daily rituals of great writers from Prolifico: ” … most creatives follow a more or less strict schedule designed to accommodate their personal idiosyncrasies. Having identified what works best for them, they are successful in translating their talent into concrete work because they are able to remain flexible and adapt their routine to changes in their circumstances over time.”
Quote of the Week
A social media expert for authors (something I never dreamed of becoming), I build author platforms to enhance book sales. I also use my industry connections to promote authors and their books. What else can I do for you? I’m a writer so I provide content writing and email marketing services. Let’s chat! And don’t forget to download my free Twitter ebook.
The post Book Marketing Update appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.
October 8, 2020
Book Marketing Update
Did you notice last week that my Book Marketing Update now publishes on Thursdays?
Here’s the scoop. Friday is a terrible day to to send emails to readers. The best days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
So the decision was easy for me.
Today’s update has more information from Mark Coker, who, by the way, is producing a lot of great content.
I also included two posts by Lisa Tener because they both speak to the importance of establishing an author platform.
If you don’t think you have time to manage an author platform, check out this post and this book.
I hope you have a lovely fall weekend and that you keep safe and stay healthy.
Publishing
The Authors Guide to Post-Pandemic Publishing by Mark Coker: “Most indie ebook authors have seen their sales increase as a result of the pandemic. In this fourth and final installment of Mark Coker’s ebook publishing intensive for Colorado Writers Collaborative 2020, Mark examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world of publishing for authors, publishers, retailers and readers.”
Serendipity Literary Agency Founder Regina Brooks on How Authors Can Stand Out from Forbes: Here’s the skinny: If you write nonfiction books you must have a platform or your won’t find a publisher. If you write fiction, a platform will help you to entice a publisher.
Book Marketing
Three Must Haves for an Effective Book Marketing Campaign and Platform Building: “The 3 must haves are clear goals, knowing whom you’re serving (your audience or market) and a robust book marketing plan. You can substitute ‘platform building campaign’ if you’re not yet ready for the book marketing plan.”
How To Write, Market, and Be Mentally Healthy by Rachel Thompson on Anne R. Allen and Ruth Harris’s blog: This post is a must-read. Anne R. Allen and Ruth Harris have an award-winning blog for writers and I never miss a post. Combine that fact with the knowledge that Rachel Thompson has and what you have is a powerful blog post. Enjoy it!
Open, Click, Buy – How to Sell Anything via Your Newsletter from Joel Friedlander’s blog and by Nate Hoffelder: “Everyone tells you that newsletters are a great way to sell stuff. In the marketing industry, it’s called direct marketing, and it has many advocates because this really is an effective way to sell just about anything.”
Jon Lieff, MD on Writing and Publishing by Lisa Tener: This is an inspiring story for any author but especially for nonfiction writers hoping to attract a publisher.
Social Media News
Facebook Announces New Groups Features, Including Automated Moderation Tools and New Engagement Options: If you have a Facebook group, read about these new features.
Podcasts of Note
SPS-246: How to Write Your Best Book – with Christina Kaye and Mark Dawson
International Insights: Kobo — Alliance of Independent Authors: Self-Publishing Advice Center
Quote of the Week
A social media expert for authors (something I never dreamed of becoming), I build author platforms to enhance book sales. I also use my industry connections to promote authors and their books. What else can I do for you? I’m a writer so I provide content writing and email marketing services. Let’s chat! And don’t forget to download my free Twitter ebook.
The post Book Marketing Update appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.
October 5, 2020
105 Hashtags for Writers
Are you still confused by hashtags? If so, I list 105 hashtags for writers that will make the chore a breeze.
This post will explain everything you need to know about hashtags and give you a comprehensive list of more 105 hashtags for writers that you can use.
A Word About Hashtags for Writers
Hashtags are words with the number sign (#) in front of them. To create a hashtag, place the icon in front of a word or before two words that don’t have a space between them.
#AnExample
Hashtags began on Twitter and quickly Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and even LinkedIn. Use hashtags to enhance search results and to highlight keywords important to your niche or genre.
The hashtags listed here can be used on any social media platform.
But please remember this:
Don’t use more than two hashtags on Twitter. If you use more than that, your tweet will appear spammy.Go wild with hashtags on Instagram. You can use up to 30.Facebook and LinkedIn don’t limit the number of hashtags you can use.
You can search for #WritingPrompt to find suggestions for a sentence to get your journaling started. To find posts with the latest ideas on how to use social media to enhance sales of your book, look for #smm (social media marketing).
How Hashtags Benefit Writers
Hashtags are a great feature that can help you to expand your online reach by attracting readers searching for the hashtags in your updates. For example, if you write mystery books, include the genre hashtag to help mystery aficionados find your books.
If you’re looking for a writer’s conference, use #WritersConference in the Twitter or Facebook search bar to find one. Hashtags are also useful for tracking mentions of you or your books on Twitter, provided you create a hashtag for your book. For example, a hashtag for my first book, Social Media Just for Writers, could have been #SMJ4W.
A caveat: Check out a hashtag you want to create to ascertain that it wasn’t previously created by someone else or that it doesn’t signify something obscene.
You don’t want to overuse hashtags, yet when used appropriately (one or two per tweet), they hold the potential to improve the chance of someone discovering your tweets—and your latest book—through social media search functions.
Hashtags can also increase the occurrence of retweets and reshares on other platforms. Remember that hashtags help to narrow a search.
For example, when you want to find a information on self-publishing, use the hashtag #SelfPublishing. Then share the information you found with your colleagues.
If you see a hashtag you don’t know, go to http://tagdef.com/ or http://hashtags.org/, which will provide definitions of hashtags.
105 Twitter Hashtags for Writers
The list below contains hashtags that writers can use to be discovered and to find readers.
#1K1H: This hashtag communicates that you’re about to write 1,000 words in one hour.
#1LineWednesday: Share the best line from one of your books on Wednesdays and use this hashtag.
#99c: If you have a spare $0.99 to spend on a new story, use this tag in your Twitter search bar, and you’ll find a cheap eBook. You can also use this hashtag to find new readers if you’re selling an eBook for this price.
#Amazon / #GooglePlay / #Kobo / #iTunes / #Smashwords: Use these hashtags to let your readers know where your book is available for download or order.
#AmazonCart: You can encourage your readers to connect their Amazon and Twitter accounts. Then each time your readers include #AmazonCart in a tweet, Amazon will know to add the items with the corresponding Amazon link to your readers’ shopping carts.
#amwriting / #amediting: These terms are commonly used for Twitter chats you join. Johanna Harness is the creator of the term #amwriting as well as the www.amwriting.org website. Chats take place throughout the day. Some authors use #amediting to let their readers know that they are editing their next book.
#AskAgent: Never pitch to an agent on Twitter but you can ask them questions when you use this hashtag.
#AskPub / AskEditor: Use these hahstags for ask publishing and editing questions.
#AuthorChat: This hashtag is used for ongoing conversations between authors.
#AskAgent / #AskAuthor: These are great tags for writers who don’t have an agent or editor, but have questions for them. Who knows? You just might find your next editor or agent on Twitter.
#AskEditor: Similar to the above hashtag, use this one to ask an editing question.
#bestseller: Have you written a best seller? Let everyone know. Refrain from using this hashtag if you haven’t written a best seller. Are you reading a best seller? Show your readers that you read as well by including the title, a link, and this hashtag in a tweet.
#bibliophile / #bookworm / #reader / #BookAddict: If you’re looking for a reader for your books, add one of these hashtags to a tweet about one of your books.
#BookAholic / BookPorn: This hashtag is self-explanatory. If you love books and read them a lot, use these hashtags in a tweet or Instagram post.
#BookBlogger: If you focus on book reviews on your blog, use this hashtag.
#BookCover – Would you like your readers to help you select a book cover for your next novel? Use this hashtag.
#BookGiveaway: Is your book listed for free during a Kindle promotion? Use this hashtag. Use it also for your Goodreads giveaways.
#BookHoarder: Love books? Do you have a tall pile of books to read? Use this hashtag.
#BookList: Share the titles of books that are on your books-to-read list,
#BookMarket / #BookMarketing / #GetPublished: Search for this hashtag to learn more about marketing your books.
#BooksAndCoffee / #BooksAndTea – These hashtags are especially common on Instagram by people who love books as well as those who read extensively and write.
#BookWorm: / #BookNerd: Looking for avid readers? Use this hashtag when tweeting about your books.
#BYNR (Book Your Next Read): Authors use this hashtag to promote their books.
#CoverReveal: Have a new book that you just published? Reveal the cover and use this hashtag.
#Creativity / CreativityRocks: Use these hashtags whenever you talk about creativity on Instagram or Twitter.
#eBook: Did you release an ebook or recently convert a hard copy novel to an ebook? Use this hashtag so that iPad, Nook, Kobo, and Kindle users can download it.
#FollowFriday / #FF: This is a fun Twitter tradition for expressing gratitude to your retweeters by giving them exposure to a wider audience. On Friday mornings, write a message composed of the usernames of your most loyal retweeters. You can also use #FF to connect with writers you admire or members of your critique group or book club.
#Free / #Giveaway: This has become a popular hashtag on Twitter. Let readers know when you’re offering your next book or story giveaway.
#FreeDownload / #FreeReads: Use these hashtags when you want to promote your book as being free.
#FreebieFriday: If you offer a book giveaway on a Friday, use this hashtag.
#FridayFlash: Did you write a flash fiction piece (1000 words or less)? Use this hashtag to increase your visibility as a flash fiction writer.
#FridayRead / #FridayReads: On Fridays, you can share what you’re reading. Refrain from using this hashtag for your book. Authors use this hashtag to communicate their love of reading.
#Genre/ #Romantic / #Comedy / #Suspense / #Mystery / #Erotica / #Paranormal / #Poetry / #DarkThriller / Dark Fantasy, etc.: Some readers search specifically by genre when looking for a new book. Use the hashtag that corresponds to your genre.\
#Goodreads: Use this hashtag when referring to a review, book giveaway, or favorite quote on Goodreads.
#Greatreads: You can use this hashtag for promoting your friends’ books or just sharing your impressions of the last book you read.
#Holidays: #Halloween, #Christmas, #Hanukkah, and other holidays are sometimes trending on Twitter. Use them in creative ways to promote your blog and books when you feature an event or blog post related to a holiday.
#HotTitles: Have you read some books lately that are selling like wildfire? Let your Tweeps know about them. (Don’t use this hashtag for your books.)
#Instapoet: Use this hashtag to attract traffic to your Instagram account, to identify yourself as a poet who has risen through the ranks as an avid social media user, or to attract attention to similar poets.
#KidLit / #PictureBook: Authors of children’s books will want to use these hashtags.
#kindle: If you have a book on Kindle, let everyone know.
#KindleBargain: Use this hashtag when your book is listed temporarily for free.
#memoir: Connect with other memoirists and readers by using this hashtag. Also, designate your latest memoir with this hashtag.
#MondayMotivation: Use this hashtags when tweeting an inspirational quote on Mondays.
#MustRead – If you just finished a phenomenal book, use this hashtag.
#nanowrimo: Every November, thousands of writers take part in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), the effort to write a novel in one month. The project started in 1989 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over time, it became a national and then international effort. By 2013, NaNoWriMo attracted 310,000 adult novelists, plus an additional 89,500 young writers. You can keep in touch with other NaNoWriMo writers all over the world by using the #nanowrimo hashtag in your tweets or by searching for this term. Use it to let your readers know that you’re writing another volume in a series you write too.
#ReadStagram: Are you an avid reader? Use this hashtag on Instagram.
#SampleSunday: Share links to samples of your writing and collect the feedback.
#ShortStory: Do you prefer to write short stories? Attract new admirers with this hashtag.
#SummerReads: Got an easy-to-read book that you’d like to recommend? Use this hashtag.
#ThankfulThursday: Similar to #FF, use this hashtag to thank other users in your community.
#TravelTuesday: Are you traveling? Use this hashtag and share your pictures. Or if you wrote a blog post about your travels, use this hashtag.
#TuesdayMotivation: This hashtag is similar to #MondayMotivation.
#WednesdayWisdom: This hashtag is similar to #MondayMotivation.
#WhatToRead: Looking for a new book to read? Use this hashtag in Twitter’s search bar.
#WLCAuthor: The World Literary Café is a promotional website for authors. Similar to the Independent Author Network (#IAN), Indie authors who join these organizations help each other in their promotions. TIP: These types of hashtags are unfamiliar to your readers so use them thoughtfully, if at all.
#WordCount: With this hashtag you can share your progress with other writers on the book or story you’re writing.
#WriteGoal: Users include this hashtag to announce publicly how many words they intend to write that day.
#WriterWednesday / #WW: Use this hashtag to connect with writers you admire and authors who are your colleagues.
#WritersBlock / #WriteMotivation: Do you sometimes need a little motivation in the mornings to get your writing started? Use these hashtags to find your inspiration. If you’re also an editor, use these hashtags to inspire authors.
#WritersLife / WriterCommunity: If you have a fun image or quote to share about writing or the writing process, use this hashtag to amuse your author colleagues.
#WriteTip / #WritingTip / WriterTip: If you don’t have time to take a workshop, trying using these hashtags to learn more about your craft. Authors who are book coaches or editors can use these hashtags to attract new clients.
#writing / #editing: These terms are similar to #amwriting and #amediting.
#WritingBlitz: Use this term to let your followers know that today you are writing as fast as you can.
#WritingFiction: Fiction writers use this hashtag to meet each other or to share their books, goals, or ideas on writing fiction.
#WritingPrompt / #WritePrompt: Is it hard to get started on the next chapter of your novel? Well, worry no more. Log on to Twitter, search for this tag, and you’ll find a great prompt to get those creative juices bubbling.
#YaChat: Want to discuss the young adult books you’ve read. Use this hashtag.
#YABooks: You can use this hashtag but #YALit would likely be a better choice.
#YaLit / #IReadYA: The hashtag #YA can bring irregular results so it’s better to use #YALit.
Dig deeper into Instagram by purchasing my new ebook.A social media expert for authors (something I never dreamed of becoming), I build author platforms to enhance book sales. I also use my industry connections to promote authors and their books. What else can I do for you? I’m a writer so I provide content writing and email marketing services. Let’s chat! And don’t forget to download my free Twitter ebook.
The post 105 Hashtags for Writers appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.
October 1, 2020
Book Marketing Update
There are plenty of posts to choose from in today’s Book Marketing Update.
Yesterday, I discovered Mark Coker’s podcast. Did you know about it and not tell me? 
September 25, 2020
Book Marketing Update
I truly love the posts in today’s Book Marketing Update.
If you only have time to read one or two posts, you must read Jane Friedman’s article on Amazon’s importance to book sales and online book events.
I hope you enjoy your weekend and stay safe and healthy.
Book Marketing
Audiobook Narration, Production and Marketing Tips with Derek Doeker and by Joanna Penn: “Derek Doepker gives some tips on why audiobooks are so important as a format, self-narration, working with a narrator, plus, production and marketing ideas.”
Amazon’s Importance to Book Sales Keeps Increasing—for Better or Worse by Jane Friedman: This is a phenomenal post about Amazon and publishing. There is no way I can paraphrase the content of this article so please just read it.
Pinterest Launches New Holiday Hub and Marketing Guide to Assist with Holiday Campaigns from Social Media Today: Boost the sales of your books this holiday by taking advantage of Pinterest’s holiday hub. Are you new to Pinterest or want to get more out of this platform? Be sure to buy my ebook, “Pinterest Just for Writers.”
Online Book Events (Book Marketing)
Online Book Events: A Necessary Pivot in 2020, But How Do You Compete? by Jane Friedman: Jane Friedman’s knowledge of the publishing and book marketing industries is so extensive. She continues to surprise me with the depth and breadth of her knowledge. This is another must-read!
Social Media
The new Facebook features every author should know about from SproutSocial: There are quite a few new features at Facebook so be sure to check out this blog post.
Why Goodreads is bad for books from New Statesman: This is the subtitle to this headline: “After years of complaints from users, Goodreads’ reign over the world of book talk might be coming to an end.” Definitely take time to read this article.
The Best Times to Post on Social Media in 2020 [Infographic] from Social Media Today: Take a look at this chart but also look at your analytics to determine the best posting times for you and your readers.
Of Note
The Ultimate Guide to NaNoWriMo Planning by Savannah Gilbo: This post includes ten tips on preparing for NaNoWriMo.
Introducing the 2020 National Book Award Longlists from BookRiot: Looking for a great read? Check out this post.
Quote of the Week
A social media expert for authors (something I never dreamed of becoming), I build author platforms to enhance book sales. I also use my industry connections to promote authors and their books. What else can I do for you? I’m a writer so I provide content writing and email marketing services. Let’s chat! And don’t forget to download my free Twitter ebook.The post Book Marketing Update appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.
September 18, 2020
Book Marketing Update
My weekly Book Marketing Updates have been lengthy of late, haven’t they?
It’s that there is so much great content out there for authors and I want to present you with a variety of topics. That way, you can select the blog posts that are most meaningful to you.
Under the book marketing heading, I loved the post about author bios. Don’t consider this post a repetition of what you’ve seen elsewhere. I adopted many of the suggestions and I’m so glad I found this information.
I think it’s important for authors to know about Twitter’s new Holiday Hub. Use this website to your advantage this holiday season to improve your book sales.
Check out the rest of the posts and determine which strategies best suit your needs right now.
And stay safe and healthy.
Book Marketing
Bestselling Author Jenny Milchman on The Keys to Success by Jenny Milchman and from Rachel Thompson: The advice by the USA Today bestselling author is stellar. Be sure to read read her take on success.
How to write an author bio by Anna Sproul, a literary agent: There have been several author bio blog posts lately. Here’s another one that you should consider reading. I just updated my bio based on Anna Sproul’s advice. Check it out here.
How Authors Can Make an Income from 1,000 True Fans, With Orna Ross and Joanna Penn: Whether you call your collection of dedicated readers a street team, super fans, or true fans, every author needs a corps of readers who read every book you publish and promote them.
Social Media News
How to Conduct a Social Media Audit (Includes a Free Template) from HootSuite: If you want instructions for a DIY social media audit, read this post. If you’d like a professional to handle it, check out what people think of my social media audits.
How to manage multiple Twitter accounts easily from SproutSocial: Believe it or not, I know authors who have multiple Twitter accounts. Joanna Penn is one example and Susanne Lakin is another. Joanna separates her dark thriller author Twitter account from her marketing/publishing Twitter account. Susanne has three Twitter accounts, including one for her romance novels. If you think you need a second Twitter account, be sure to read this post.
Twitter Launches ‘Holiday Hub’ to Help Marketers Prepare for the Holiday Season from Social Media Today: This is so cool! Twitter launched a new “Holiday Hub” mini-website to help its users make the most of the upcoming holiday season. Be sure to check this out.
Publishing
Publishing Wide For The Win with Erin Wright and via Joanna Penn: This discussion explains what ‘going wide’ means, why libraries are so important, and tips for publishing wide wherever you are on the author journey.
“I wish I had known that before I self-published.” 25 authors share what they’ve learned by Sandra Beckwith: If you are thinking about self-publishing your first book, be sure to read this blog post first.
Of Note
Looking for a great read? Check out this shortlist of Book Prize finalists.
Where Novelists Get Stuck: 3 Common Issues with Early Drafts from Jane Friedman’s blog and by Susan DeFreitas: Susan DeFreitas has written a number of guest blog posts for Jane Friedman. In this post, she discusses character arc, plot structure, and pacing and tension.
Quote of the Week
A social media expert for authors (something I never dreamed of becoming), I build author platforms to enhance book sales. I also use my industry connections to promote authors and their books. What else can I do for you? I’m a writer so I provide content writing and email marketing services. Let’s chat! And don’t forget to download my free Twitter ebook.
The post Book Marketing Update appeared first on Social Media Just for Writers.
10 Twitter Tips Writers Need to Know
- Frances Caballo's profile
- 274 followers
