The Top 5 Best Social Outlets for Author-tunities (marketing)

These days, social media (SM) networks and websites serve as excellent platforms for author-tunities (author marketing). These SM outlets allow authors, artists, and other creative heads to share their talents with the world. Here are some of the best SM’s available and some tips on how to utilize them to your advantage.

What would Shakespeare tweet?

1. YouTube – This is undoubtedly one of the best social media marketing resources online: YouTube is not only interactive (people react to videos, create video responses, link them to others, comment on them, argue about them, LIKE them and so on.) but also easy to use. If you know people who review or talk about stuff related to your topic or book on their channels, you can simply send them a message and invite them to talk about your book in exchange for something like a free copy. This way, you get videos talking about you out to the right audience.

2. Google+ – Google+ is a lot like Facebook . On Google+ you can promote your books by joining significant communities, called, circles and participate in relevant events with ‘circles’ who think the same way you do or are interested in the same things. This SM network plugs you into the ideal readership for your work.

3. Facebook – If done correctly, authors can benefit greatly from advertising and interacting on Facebook. Check out fan pages and other Facebook tutorials.

4. LinkedIn – This is a valuable SM site for non-fiction writers, especially. Most LinkedIn followers and members are of a more serious business mind than your average social networkers. Business is the lead topic on this membership site, which is why authors with business-related books do well here with links that connect to websites or books.

5. Twitter –Sometimes short and sweet can be a good thing. And that’s never more true than where marketing is concerned: in a tweet you must squeeze your information into just the most important, most scintillating 140 digits of tantalizing tweets to be tweeted and re-tweeted around the globe. Just remember, when you use Twitter to market a book, just say no to any inclination of hard sales pitches. Instead, intrigue fellow-tweeps with interesting or useful ideas from your book, instead of talking directly about said book. Then direct them to your webpage. Tweeting is all about seduction.