How Christian Authors Can Use Social Media

Social media has opened up a whole new set of platforms for authors to showcase their books, connect with readers, increase visibility, and interact with bookstores and other authors, not to mention spread the Word of God.

Here is how you can use a few popular social platforms:

 

1. Facebook 

Facebook is a must for authors. This is the first place that your loyal readers will look for you. Facebook is a great platform to share news, book releases, link to book sale pages, and increase visibility for your author brand. This is the perfect platform to showcase your most popular books and let people know about the less renowned ones.

 

 

2. Twitter

Twitter is also an effective platform for authors and probably the second place your readers will look for you. It’s a quick and easy way to interact with readers and influential people who can promote your books and ministry. Books usually have many great one-liners and Twitter’s “140 character limit” is perfect for short passages or a quote with an image.

 

 

3. YouTube

YouTube is the perfect place to upload interviews, audio devotions, radio programs and book reviews. Often people read about the author on the back of books but would love to hear some more insight on the book and why they wrote it. YouTube offers a new way to get in touch with your audience personally without seeing them face to face.

 

 

4. Pinterest

Pinterest offers a unique way to showcase your book covers and quotes. The reason Pinterest is such an effective platform for authors is because you can link your images directly to sale pages. When someone sees a beautiful image matched with a deep or relevant quote from your book, they will be compelled to “click-and-buy.” Pinterest also has a wonderful Christian community who share Scripture, Christian books and uplifting quotes across their various boards. 

 

 

5. Goodreads

If you aren’t on Goodreads, what are you waiting for? Open an account! All serious readers use Goodreads to rate books, recommend them to their friends, and connect with their favorite authors. Goodreads is not so much a sales generator as an exposure generator. 

 

 

Goodreads tools to take advantage of:

-Lists: You can add your books to lists such as “Books for Women” and “Best Christian Books” which increases the chance of people finding, buying, reading and reviewing your books.

-Quotes: You can add quotes from your books on Goodreads. This is a nice tool because when people search for quotes in Google, Goodreads is one of the first sites to pop up. 

-Videos: Goodreads allows you to embed videos onto your profile. 

-Blogs: You can link a blog from another site onto your Goodreads profile and it will automatically import onto your profile on the days your blog goes up.

-Reviews: Many people use Goodreads to review books they have read which encourages other people to read them too, plus it’s a great way to receive feedback on your writing.

 

Don’t forget to cross-promote your social platforms with your Amazon account and website. Many people may love your books but never now how much more you have to offer them. Every reader wants to connect with the author of their favorite books on some level. 

Social media has opened up a fresh page – dying for your story to be written all over it. All you need to do is pick up your proverbial pen and connect.

 

This post was written by Kirstin Venn. Kirstin is a Social Media Specialist with Media Connect Partners.