A Short Social Media Platform Guide For Writers, Part 1
There is no denying it: social media is part of our daily lives and it is here to stay. This fact is true with writers, as a social media platform is essential for writers to get their books out there to be recognized. You are in no doubt familiar with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other platforms.
The big question is comes to which is the best social media platform for a writer to use.
Facebook is the most popular social media network in the world. Facebook allows users to create Pages, which acts as a small web site. Author Pages allow writers to write posts, post images and videos, and create a sidebar that stays with users as they scroll down the page. Writers can also create a Facebook Group, a specialized page where users who join your group can posts their own pages and images. Be warned though that you will need to moderate your group to block and remove unwanted posts and users who harass you and other members of the group.
Twitter/X
Twitter is all about text, which as made it a popular choice for writers. The platform is used to sharing news and ideas. To be successful on Twitter, using what are called “hashtags” are necessary. Hashtags are often related to news and trends. For example, #amwriting is considered a hashtag to use and to help bring user engagement. Don’t just talk about writing, but talk about topics that are still appropriate such as news and pop culture.
Instagram is primarily used for sharing images and videos. Posts are simple posts of images that you upload to your author platform. The recommended post count is 2-3 posts a week. Stories are temporary content that appear for twenty-four hours; content can range from images to video to even polls and other interactive content. There are even Story Highlights that can be posted on your main account for users to click on. Reels are short 30-second videos, and IGTV is used for Question-and-Answer (Q&A) sessions.
Next week, we’ll be taking a look at a few more social media platforms.
MPLWG
Additional Resources:
Reedsy – Social Media For Writers: The Complete Guide
Kindlepreneur – The Ultimate Guide To Social Media For Writers 2023
Constant Contact – Social Media For Writers: A Guide To Building Readership
Book Bub – How Successful Authors Use Social Media: 24 Content Ideas