Read on Twitter
Ooh, does Twitter sell books? I HAVE THOUGHTS.
Another thread on why it's important to be clear about goals, processes, pathways, and other Super Sexy Publishing Things.
Another thread on why it's important to be clear about goals, processes, pathways, and other Super Sexy Publishing Things.
Social media sells books online, at online bookstores. This only works if your ebooks cost less than a burrito bowl.
Social media doesn't help you get a B&N end cap. It doesn't help you have a book named "book of the month" with a retailer. That's publishing team hustle.
Social media doesn't help you get a B&N end cap. It doesn't help you have a book named "book of the month" with a retailer. That's publishing team hustle.
Social media CAN help build librarian interest and support over time, but that's basically hand selling and relationship building. (The cocktail party analogy works well here)
You can probably achieve the same impact by networking in person with library heavy lifters at a con*.
You can probably achieve the same impact by networking in person with library heavy lifters at a con*.
* Cons are freaking expensive and social media just costs you time (and of course, a part of your soul).
I refer to the evergreen advice of Jed Bartlet. Four word answers are killer, because they're too simplistic. "Social media doesn't sell books." Give us the next four words, and the four after that, and tell me what does. That's more useful than declaring what doesn't work.
LOVE A WEST WING REFERENCE:
Complexity isn't a vice, you guys. It's the reality in which we're all trying to do our thing.
Social media can sell books. Working diligently with a publisher can sell books. Both can flop so hard you need to get a job at Starbucks while you lick your wounds.
Social media can sell books. Working diligently with a publisher can sell books. Both can flop so hard you need to get a job at Starbucks while you lick your wounds.
Goals:
#1 NYT bestseller?
A Big Book every few years?
Short and sexy novellas?
Pulp fiction FUN?
Work with a bucket list editor/publisher?
Make writing a day job?
#1 NYT bestseller?
A Big Book every few years?
Short and sexy novellas?
Pulp fiction FUN?
Work with a bucket list editor/publisher?
Make writing a day job?
Process:
write books
write more books
getting closer! write another book.
MAKE THE NEXT ONE BETTER.
Almost there, do it again.
(Network however you like best in between all of this)
write books
write more books
getting closer! write another book.
MAKE THE NEXT ONE BETTER.
Almost there, do it again.
(Network however you like best in between all of this)
Pathways:
oh, boy. Here's where I disagree with probably everyone, so let's do this at the digital family table. IT'S THANKSGIVING, AND I'M THE RUDE CANADIAN COUSIN.
The way YOU sell books isn't the way SHE'S going to sell books, okay Fred? There are so many ways to get there.
oh, boy. Here's where I disagree with probably everyone, so let's do this at the digital family table. IT'S THANKSGIVING, AND I'M THE RUDE CANADIAN COUSIN.
The way YOU sell books isn't the way SHE'S going to sell books, okay Fred? There are so many ways to get there.
I can count on more fingers than I have authors who have absolutely built Twitter into their primary platform, that when they post about their books here, they see real numbers move. Not dozens of books, but hundreds, and anyone who pretends that's not significant today is lying.
Hundreds of books moved in a day, from a tweet: that's power authors didn't use to have.
And not everyone likes the work that goes into building that platform. Not all of us (me!) are suited to doing it. But it's a viable pathway. It just is.
And not everyone likes the work that goes into building that platform. Not all of us (me!) are suited to doing it. But it's a viable pathway. It just is.
It's also completely viable to use social media as your water cooler, nothing more, and build a bookselling career separate from that. This could be the traditional publishing path, or it could be indie publishing. SOCIAL MEDIA PIMPING ≠ INDIE PUBLISHING.
There are so many pathways to publishing success. I'm a process dork, so I tend to pay attention to more of them than most; I'm biased, 1000%, towards indie, because it's what has given me my career. It's not the only way. Not by a long shot. And it's not for everyone.
Some books don't have social media buzz and do well because they get internal buzz from the head buyer at Target or Walmart or B&N.
Some books don't have social media buzz but sell crazy well in ebook due to real reader word of mouth.
Some books don't have social media buzz but sell crazy well in ebook due to real reader word of mouth.
And some books sell a few copies a day, every single day, because of social media, and if you write enough of those, you can skip next year's Thanksgiving Game of Judgement* and go on holiday instead.
(* Canadian spelling)
(* Canadian spelling)
