Social Media can seem daunting. However, if you want to sell your book, then you need to be on it. Luckily for you, there are ways to spend less time on social media promoting your book and more time writing that next novel. The trick is by using social media tools to automate a lot of the work. In this article, I will be sharing six social media tools authors need. The tools listed below are the same ones I use daily.
The key to making the most of social media is listening to what your audience has to say about you, your competitors, and the market in general. To get this information, you’ll need a social media management tool.
A social media management tool is kind of like the “One Tool to Rule Them All” for social media. You will want a tool that allows you to monitor and engage across all your social profiles. The social media tool should provide reports so you can make sure what social media strategy is successful. There are tons of social media tools authors need to effectively grow their readership. However, you don’t need all the tools. Having too many tools can cause disorganization.
What Authors Should Use Social Media Tools For
As an author, you will want to use social media tools to learn more about your readers. Data will tell you the best time to post, what type of content your audiences engages with the most, and what hashtags give you the most results. Treat your social media more as a science and less of a guessing game by using analytic tools. Everything you do should be based on data.
Here is the list of the Top 6 Social Media Tools Authors Need
1. Canva
Canva is an online DIY program designed to help non-designers create high-quality visual content for your social media. Use this tool to create stunning graphics that go with a blog post, tweet, Instagram post, or Facebook post.
2. BuzzSumo
Buzzsumo is a powerful online tool that allows you to find out what content is popular by topic or on any website. To use BuzzSumo, type in a keyword or website, and Buzzsumo will show you the most socially shared piece of content related to that keyword or website. As you can imagine, this is a powerful tool for social media.
Buzzsumo shows you content that has the most shares across Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, and Pinterest. Once you know what content has resonated with people in your target audience, you will have a better idea of what to create and share. I like to use Buzzsumo to get inspiration for new blog content.
You can also use buzzSumo as a way to research and find influencers in your field that you can contact for cross-promotional social media opportunities.
3. Pexels or Pixabay
If you want free high-quality stock photos, Pexels and Pixabay is the way to go! I probably use these websites every day to source out new photos that I can use in my blog posts and on my social media accounts. (P.S. all the photos in this blog article are from Pexel!)
4. Schedule your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram posts.
Either use a scheduler like Hootsuite, Buffer or Sprout Social or post your content in the moment. All of these social media scheduling tools also give you some fantastic data about your audience to help you improve your social media strategy and campaigns.
For me, I use the Later App and Plann to schedule all of my client’s Instagram posts! These two tools allow you to visually plan your feed with a simple drag and drop function. Plus they both help you create a consistent brand theme.
5. Facebook and Instagram Insights
Third party reporting software for tracking the success of your social media are great tools. Reporting software is the top tool authors need to manage their social media effectively. I usually like to use Facebook and Instagram’s free insights tool as it is easily accessible.
Facebook and Instagram Insights is an extremely useful tool for tracking who is looking at your page, what times of day they on your page, which content is doing well and which isn’t, what your competitors are doing – and much, much, more.
6. Understand Algorithm Changes and Use It To Your Advantage
Social media algorithms change more often than you think. Keep updated on all the new changes and use this data to your advantage. Little changes in algorithm make a world of difference!
Conclusion
Now that you are finished reading this article go and check out each of these social media tools and get familiar with them. I promise these tools will give you more time to write your book. Looking for more social media advice? Join my Authors only Facebook group where I will answer any of your marketing or publishing questions. Plus I am giving away my free 20 page social media guidebook that has over 100 tips for authors in it!
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