By: Author Laura McNeill
Authors are often reluctant to give Twitter a
try. After all, for those who write entire books, it might seem improbable that
we can connect to our audience in 140 characters or less. But Twitter is easy,
and a fantastic way to quickly branch out to find new readers!
Getting involved and being active on social media
is a must-do when building your author platform! And, sure, it’s easy to put
off signing up for Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest until tomorrow … or next
week … or next month… but getting started doesn’t have to be scary!
Twitter is a favorite of mine, and I’ve loved the
ability to connect with so many other authors and readers. An important
note: Though the perception is that authors “sell” books through
social media, I believe that smart authors use social media to connect with
readers, bloggers, reviewers, and book lovers, and form relationships.
Ready to get started? Here’s a simple
10-step guide to using Twitter.
1.
Choose Your Username
Choose your username (or “handle”) wisely. It’s
what your readers, bloggers, and reviewers will see every time you Tweet. For
that reason, it may be best to stay away from usernames like @fritolover,
@luv2getfreebooks, and @crazyaboutguyz.
As an author, you need to keep it short, simple,
and professional. Choose a handle that identifies you easily. Mine is
@lauramcneillbks.
2.
Create a Snappy Bio
Take some time to create a witty and concise bio.
Remember that quite a few people on Twitter may have previous knowledge of who
you are or what you do!
So, using 160 characters, create something
memorable, quirky, and jam-packed with important information.
Here’s mine:
HarperCollins Author. Mom. Tide & Buckeye
Fan. Lover of books & all things pink. Represented by McIntosh & Otis.
Center of Gravity (7/15) & Sister Dear (4/16)!
3.
Choose a Great Photo
Just as important as a great bio is choosing the
best photo for your profile. Authors should use a close-up, clear,
professional, and well-lit picture. Are you smiling? Do you look approachable?
Scroll through other authors’ profile pictures.
Which ones stand out? Which ones are fuzzy?
Don’t hesitate to ask a friend to snap a dozen
photos – and chose the best one. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words.
4. Go Ahead and Tweet!
. . .
To read the rest of the post, click here:
~*~
If you missed my
latest writing and marketing tweets, here they are again:
- Author Marketing Mastery #26: Ten Twitter Tips Authors Must Know - Where Writers Win http://ow.ly/fFNc301Edq4
- What's Wrong With a First-person Narrator | The Editor's Blog http://ow.ly/am1h301EduYWhat Are The Rules On Mixing Viewpoints When Writing Fiction? http://ow.ly/bocI301Edxb
- How To Express Your Characters’ Thoughts - With Exercises http://ow.ly/XZHL301EdEt
- The Portrait Of The Antagonist As A Human Being - Writers Write http://ow.ly/gWPO301EdI0
- Penney’s Guide to Characterization http://ow.ly/V3Cp301EdKb
- The Secret to Winning a Writing Contest http://ow.ly/XSnL301EdNv
- 70 Idioms with Heart http://ow.ly/UT5O301EdOA
- 5 Tips to Keep You from Being Overwhelmed | Live Write Thrive http://ow.ly/cQAk301EdVw
- Pronoun & Macmillan: a Shift to More Author-Friendly Publishing? - BookWorks http://ow.ly/zuh0301Ee1K
- Turn your Book into an Audiobook in Six Easy Steps! – Claire Luana http://ow.ly/OgAA301Ee5G
- Young Protagonists Do Not Mean Young Adult Book | Dora Furlong http://ow.ly/xVPm301Ee9d
- A World Of Writers And Readers: Understanding Modern Publishing ~ Karl Drinkwater http://ow.ly/fgpF301EeaM
- Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: Top 10 Sites for Indie Authors http://ow.ly/GIPr301EecQ
- 6 Reasons to Power Up Your Productivity as a Writer http://ow.ly/zJgy301Eefa
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