Can you change your algorithm on social media? Short answer- yes.

Friends,

Running the rat race. Hustling with the hustlers. Keeping up with the Jones.

These are just a few things I struggle with.

And as I floundered with it all, I lost who I was as an author and historian. I am ashamed to admit that I got drawn into the drama of social media. Rarely did I comment, but I was a backstage peeper to what was going on. I made the popcorn and sat back, scrolling for hours, sharing the stories with my husband, and getting angry at people I had never met.

And the algorithm took me into the deeper and darker parts. It was fascinating! I have never seen such hatred, high school drama, and needless accusations in my life.

And where did it lead me? Far, far away from the people who brought joy to my life.

Now I know—controversy sells. The more drama surrounds your name, the higher your sales may be. The data proves it.

Buuuuutttttt…..

Did it bring me joy? Not really. I gained 3 pounds because I was eating so much popcorn.

So, what can you do when you are drawn into a social media world that you don’t want to be a part of or surrounded by people who are not your intended audience?

Take a breath, and know you’re in for a world of work. What I mean is that you can change your algorithms. It’s going to take about a week, and you’ll need to be dedicated to liking, sharing, and commenting on the content creators that you want to see more of. And you’re going to have to ignore the drama.

The easiest way? Click that search box and type in what you want to see. History, pets, books (be careful on this one—be specific about what types), creators that you already enjoy, and see who they are following.

Personally, I have different ‘types’ of content creators that I follow on different platforms.

My Instagram is more directed towards art, DIY, and book readers (not official reviewers).

My Facebook reels are all about Motorcycles, veterans, and funny animal videos. On my ‘official’ authors Facebook page, I have more indie writers and artists.

I recently changed my TikTok to reflect more historical videos and creators. I have found some good recommendations for historical fiction, mystery, and fantasy books.

On X (formerly known as Twitter), I have all the cool historians and museum curators.

Why did I force such drastic changes across all platforms? Because I want to see a wide range of things. If I had allowed all my social media accounts to be focused on one thing, i.e., indie writers, then I would never see what other people are doing. I wouldn’t get the inspiration that I needed to expand my own thought process and curiosity.

I am not saying that you need to follow my plan. It took effort to make sure that I got myself out of my trap.

Now for the real question of the day. How do we, as artists, promote our work on these platforms? You read the room and create different reels, posts, and promotions that are more directed to what you see.

The downside is that it means you will have to be creative with your posts. I know a lot of people say you can post the same thing on each platform, but I haven’t found that to be true—at least in my world—because all my social media have a different algorithm.

On TikTok, I highlight my book as a fantasy because that is the more appropriate genre for the age group on the app. Fast-moving, short videos that don’t require much reading. It needs catchy music and lots of moving parts.

I also found that if you have a TikTok shop, you will get buyers, BUT only if you add in freebies. What I mean is that if you’re selling your book for the same price as Amazon, the buyer is going to want the book signed, with gilded edges, stickers, bookmarks, and character art to come with it.

Facebook / Instagram

On Facebook and Instagram, I tailor it (now) more to who my characters are and the history or ‘visuals’ of them. I tend to do more peaceful music, slower transitions, and longer pauses so that the full effect of the book or art can shine.

I don’t see much ‘purchasing power’ on these platforms. Most people are there for the visual effect, not to buy. But maybe I just haven’t figured it out yet.

Twitter—My ‘ads’ or postings are not the same as those on Facebook because of the sizing difference. Be careful using a Facebook post that is more square than a Twitter post, which is more rectangle. I tend to make them short, sweet, and sassy. I find that elevator pitches and sassy quotes work better here to promote your work. You only have so many words- so you have to make them count.

Twitter

I’m not going to lie—I think a lot of my Amazon buys come from Twitter posts because I can easily link the website to it. And we all know that the ease of Amazon vs. visiting an artist’s website is what brings most of our sales.

There we go. That’s how I changed my algorithm to reflect who I was as a person—a multidimensional person with a wide range of likes and hobbies. I’m not going into website creation because I’ve not figured it out yet. But when I do- you’ll be the first to know.

Until tomorrow, my friends- Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

If tales of legend, myth, and fantasy topped with a cup of coffee interest you, I suggest checking out my book, The Writer and the Librarian. It’s a historical fantasy about a middle-aged woman faced with a decision: accept what is written in the history books or find out for herself the truth behind the stories. Limited edition copies are now available on my website (Shop – R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author (rlgeerrobbins.com) or at

Amazon: https://a.co/d/flQhakX

Barnes and Noble: The Writer and the Librarian by Rose Geer-Robbins, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Target: The Writer And The Librarian – (the Raven Society) By R L Geer-robbins (paperback) : Target

And on any of your favorite Indie Book Store websites!

Current sales as of today= 170/1500

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