Social media is an ever-evolving component of book marketing, and Twitter for authors can be one of the most effective platforms. In some circles, the debate continues about where authors should spend time online, but in the opinion of many, Twitter has earned a top spot. It allows authors and other experts an opportunity to post frequently with pithy comments. Tweets can range from book excerpts to blog posts and items connected to events of the day. By sharing information and being visible with readers and fans, it helps generate traffic to book and author websites steadily.
Twitter users also can be a part of many conversations by sharing tweets from other users. Relevant articles, images, and blog posts from anyone interesting can be great items to share. Retweets help to cultivate relationships with others and keep your feed both active and relevant. Being a Twitter favorite and building a large following can provide a boost to author branding. You can most as often as you like (10 times a day would be the maximum), and because the tweets are brief, it takes only a few seconds each time. Tweeting with consistency and frequency builds your visibility over time.
Effective use of Twitter can be an essential part of promoting you and your book. It allows you to market your book and reveal a bit of your personality to fans at no cost. Beyond your book and interests, trending topics offer opportunities to join broader conversations. Many of these are the most active conversations on Twitter each day and have the attention of most people. It's wise to avoid being overly political or opinionated in most cases, but it varies by person. Being helpful, informational, and inspiring are generally the best ways to go. People appreciate insight and useful knowledge.
Following other authors and publishers on Twitter can quickly help you develop ideas for tweets of your own. To grow your following, follow people you want to follow you back. Also, use hash-tags for important keywords, so if people search for those words, your feed will be part of the result. Retweet interesting Tweets from people you follow—so they may follow you back. Lastly, even though you're using Twitter to promote your book and yourself as an author, don't be too promotional. Find other things to post about; tips, fun facts, or other tidbits of information you think your followers might like.
