This is extremely simplified, but who doesn’t like simple, right? If you are completely new to social media, the suggestions below will probably not seem simple to you at all. I suggest that you reference the following links to get familiar with social media terms and how writers can engage Twitter, Facebook, and blogging initially:

Writer’s Guide to Twitter by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Three posts from Writers Digest’s Robert Lee Brewer’s blog:

“SEO Tips for Writers (How to Optimize Your Site/Blog Without Getting Technical)”

“Facebook Tips for Writers”

“Platform Building 101 for Writers: Planning”

I am not a marketing or public relations specialist hence the simplicity of my plan, but this will generate some movement and get you thinking in the right direction. It is not so much about you selling yourself as it is about you finding the best ways to engage your readers. I mean, you wouldn’t be publishing your stuff if you didn’t care about readers, right?

So get some paper and pen or copy and paste the bullets below. This is going to one list-making, researching, time-consuming frenzy, but it is so worth it! Just remember: on the road to doing what you love, you’ve got to do some things you hate.

Are you with me? Let’s go!

Twitter/Facebook campaign

    • Make key connections by following and tweeting other like-minded leaders, experts, and consumers in your field.
    • Prepare sample e-chapters for download (easily break up a PDF of the book—CutePDF Writer is a free add-on for Word and is super easy to use)
    • Offer free giveaways to tweeps who retweet your post (include links to your website) and follow you. The giveaway can also include those who comment on your blog, or answer correctly to special trivia you post via Twitter
    • Tweet relevant information with key words that relate to your area of expertise. Use hastags (e.g. #weightloss, #selfhelp, #focus, #leadership, #motivation) to make your tweets searchable.
    • Develop a consistent schedule for hosting chats on Twitter (first gather raving fans to attend and RT its presence—people you may have mentored is a great place to start.) Register chat schedule with @chatschedule. Even consider partnering with other organizations who have a built-in audience who need to hear from experts like you. Also consider offering yourself to Twitter book chats as a featured guest.
    • Reward landmark followers with free product (e.g. “Free [[NAME OF BOOK]] gift pack to my 1000th follower.”)
    • Blog/website
      • Posting YouTube videos or photos of yourself at events (book signings, speaking engagements, on the street meeting people and handing out free books), giving specific advice, or sharing an accomplishment/testimonial of how your book impacted one person or a group of people.
      • Host a Q&A to answer on-the-spot questions from your readers.
      • Bring in guest bloggers who offer complementary goods or services to your specialty.
      • Guest blog on other sites.
      • Send copies of your book to online book reviewers
        • You can search them out and follow them on Twitter, become a follower on their blogs, and get to know how they engage readers and how they receive requests to review books.
        • Offer yourself to be a featured guest expert for articles on your specialty’s leading websites.
          • Another option: “Like” that company or service provider on Facebook and comment on their Facebook status updates when they ask questions or make relevant comments or observations. Be discrete with your efforts to promote yourself here. This is about their goods and services but if you can contribute effectively to what they are discussing you can seem helpful and interested rather than pushy.

Side note for indie authors who one day want to publish traditionally

As an editor, I do look for this kind of activity when I am researching an author for possible acquisition. When you are excited enough about your message or story that you invest time and creativity into getting it into people's hands, it makes me think that you will be a good publishing partner. When I go to an author's Facebook page or blog and see nothing about their book, I think that they do not know what part they need to play in publishing and perhaps would not be ready to work with a publisher. Publishing (yes, traditional publishing) is a partnership where both parties pool together their resources to build the largest, most supportive and impacted group of readers possible for that one author. Just something to think about.

What other tips can be added to this list?

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