AtlasBooks Distribution Blog

Part Five of your social media strategy? Why.

Remember the first four elements:

1. Who are your readers? — narrowing down their demographics as finely as possible.
2. What are you selling? Features vs. benefits content development. What action do you want your audience to take? Have you made it easy for them?
3. When will you contact your readers and how often? What is your social media schedule?
4. Where will you reach your readers? Where are they on the social media landscape?

Once you’ve identified these four strategies, you’re ready to dive into #5: Why.

Why should readers choose your book? What’s in it for them? Identifying the why in your social media strategy is often the toughest step, because it requires you to really differentiate your book from all the rest and tell why you’re special. Word to the wise? Don’t freak at a negative review. Recently, Jacqueline Howlett, author of The Greek Seaman, ranted online about a negative review she had received. Big mistake. Major media outlets picked up her reaction, and suddenly Jacqueline’s buzz was all negative, and all about her, not her book. (See the AtlasBooks Blog’s take on this review here.)

Once you finally pin down you why, get your readers talking about it. Target book clubs, both online and off. Everytime you speak before a group, let them know you’re online. Make it easy for readers to contact you.

Next up: the final element of your social media strategy: How? Get ready.

Maria Peagler is the author of Color Mastery, a Benjamin Franklin award-winning Best Craft Book of 2010, and the founder of SocialMediaOnlineClasses.com, where she teaches small business owners, solopreneurs, and freelancers how to spread the word about their products online.