Twitter isn’t going anywhere. The sad thing is, most authors are ignoring it.
They can’t afford to.
A few authors like CS Lakin and Mary DeMuth are doing an incredible job of using the network to connect with readers, industry leaders, and even publishers.
They “get” Twitter because they know it’s a powerful tool and they take it seriously.
Authors need to start thinking like advertisers.
Advertisers know that people talk. They don’t just stick to one social network. They chat with their friends on Facebook, share photos on Pinterest, add their two cents on Twitter, and ramble on blogs.
The trick isn’t to control communication, it’s to provoke it and harness it.
Hashtags are the internet’s way of indexing conversations. Using Twitter can increase your virality and your sales. That sounds like a pretty solid reason to use the platform.
Here are some ways that you can use hashtags:
Hashtags + Video
At the 2013 Superbowl, Twitter was declared the winner. Almost every commercial had a hashtag associated with it.
Remember the heartwarming God Made a Farmer commercial?
It had a hashtag: #GodMadeAFarmer. The hashtag started trending, the video went viral, and all of a sudden TV advertising was relevant once again.
Just like the God Made a Farmer team, Mary DeMuth added her hashtag to the end of her video.
By the time people had finished the trailer, they were ready to spread the word!
Tweetables
- Remember the Superbowl? It wasn’t a football team or a singer that won. It was Twitter. – Click to tweet.
- What’s the deal with hashtags anyway? – Click to tweet.
- What does this book trailer and an adorable Superbowl commercial have in common? – Click to tweet.
- Start thinking like a marketer, not a starving artist. – Click to tweet.
- Find out how hashtags work over multiple platforms. – Click to tweet.
Hashtags + Twitter
During the post halftime show blackout, advertisers took advantage of the oppotunity to use Twitter to release spur of the moment marketplans, blitzing their way to commercial wins.
It was a great moment for transmedia.
CS Lakin increased her print book sales by 1,000% in one month just by using hashtags correctly. If you want those kinds of numbers, you must start tweeting smarter.
Hashtags + Images
Want to get your message to spread across Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Vine, and half a dozen other sites? Use hashtags.
Mary DeMuth did this well for her #EverythingBook (check out her board on Pinterest!).
Almost every day, she would release a sharable image. Often, it would include the #EverythingBook hashtag.
Here’s what Mary had to say about her experience with hashtags:
For instance, I used #Everythingbook to refer to my latest book release for Everything: What You Give and What You Gain to Become Like Jesus. I gave a list of quotes to folks if they’d like to share them, along with the hashtag. I also included the hashtag in the book to make it easier for people who tweeted about it. Don’t be afraid to use funny hashtags too, just for color. But don’t become a hashtag crazy person. You can turn off readers if you constantly use them. – Mary DeMuth
Have you created a hashtag for your book? Do you need a website for your book?
Caitlin, this was a very informative articles with great examples. I really appreciate the tweets you have been adding to your articles, both for the content and the example.
Thanks, Lyndie! I appreciate your feedback!
I’m all on board – and I love the examples you use!
But my question: If people don’t “get” Twitter and refuse to really learn the ins and outs, is it better for them to just not do it?
I’ve seen a lot of authors who I know hate Twitter and do it because they’re “supposed” to, and it is clear in their attitudes on Twitter.
Would love your thoughts!
Great question!
When I’m coaching an author who is new to the world of social media, I tell them to pick one network and focus on that. Once they feel comfortable with that medium, they can add another one. No one wins when the author feels resentful and overwhelmed.
I wish more authors were on Twitter because that’s where a lot of industry leaders are. You can get their attention faster and easier on Twitter because it was built for that purpose.
Instead of browsing on Amazon or even Goodreads, I browse my Twitter stream and ask my followers for suggestions when I want to read something new. I could make it even simpler if I followed genre specific hashtags.
I was at a conference a few weeks ago and they confirmed that more and more people are using social streams to get the news, recommendations, and ideas instead of traditional media models.
There is a giant opportunity for authors! It’s just a matter of seeing it!
Thank you! That is a great perspective! 🙂
I admit I don’t quite “get” Twitter but I am on it! I must read more about using it! All I know is that I’m @dhbarbara1, LOL!
Thanks Barbara! You’ll get it. 🙂
Sounds like a great idea, Caitlin, but how the hell do you create a hashtag? I have 14 novels, do I need one for each book or just my website. I’m using Twitter, but not as much as I should –@pagact
Help.
Ken
Is it worth registering at a place such as hashtags.org?
Originally, I had said that you don’t need to register a hashtag but I’m going to recant. That was bad advice. Last night, I found myself registering a hashtag because I was serious about an upcoming project. The key is to think like a professional marketer. So register it and use it!
I used Twubs.com to register the hashtag for my upcoming project. It’s an easy, painless process.
Thanks Caitlin for that great post! I have to admit that even though I use Twitter some, I don’t understand how to use hashtags. Just add them in front of…what? Every tweet or the title of a book or post? I feel a bit stupid because it seems like it should be a no brainer, but somehow I still feel pretty lost. I see the importance because I see it happening (and you all say so), but I don’t understand what it does and why. I’ve read a couple of posts about it, but still feel like I’m missing something. You’ve always been so helpful. Can you shed some more light for me? Thank you so much!
Hi Laura,
Twitter is a micro-blogging site. That means you can pretty much write anything as long as it fits into the space Twitter allows. You can post pictures, gifs, videos, etc.
A hashtag is how Twitter (and many other platforms) file things into categories. When you blog, you file things into categories as well. Think of hashtags as microcategories that thousands of people can access at any given time.
Does that help? 🙂
I am lost along with you!
Very informative article. I’m just learning about hashtags. So if you want to hashtag your books, should you hashtag the genre, the title of the book or the title of the series? Or if it’s an ebook, should you give the title, then hashtag say Amazonkindle?
Hi Golden!
You can hashtag the genre and amazon kindle but that’s different than what I’m talking about.
For instance –
“Check out my new book, The Devil Wears A Sundress on #Amazon #Kindle #IndieThriller #Romance.”
vs
“He thought the men in suits were his enemy. He found out too late it was his wife. #DevilWearsASundress”
Both work but you want people to use YOUR hashtag. They can find your book with #Kindle #Amazon #MustRead and half a dozen other hashtag but you want them to continue the conversation with YOUR hashtag.
My hashtag for the book I released this week is #faithleaps.
That’s great! Did you register it?
I’m just about to release my debut novel and am so glad I found this post on hashtags first. Thanks so much! The title of my book is Choking on a Camel and my author website is http://www.michalannmcarthur.com (not quite live yet). My question is, would you recommend that my hashtag match my book title, hashtag #ChokingOnACamelBook or should it match my website, hashtag #MichalAnnMcArthurBook?
I see in the Mary DeMuth example you showed, the hashtag and the website URL match. I’m wondering if I should have created a book website rather than an author site.
Thanks for helping a complete newb.
Hi Michal Ann,
You could shorten it to #ChokingOnACamel or #ChokingCamel. You don’t need “book” in the title.
You should buy the URL but you can have it redirect to a landing page on your own site. That makes it easier than juggling multiple websites.
I am with Laura, I just don’t get it. So if after every tweet I do, I put my hashtag, then what? If people search that hashtag, what will they find? All of my tweets? I am totally lost with the hashtags. I do get that if I search a hashtag, It brings me to tweets on a certain subject.
I just registered my hashtag, #heartsontheline on Twubs. I don’t know if that means no one else can use it now.. ?
Thanks for this article, it’s been very helpful. Do I need to register a hashtag for each book I have?
You don’t have to but it is a good idea.
Is there a book about how to use Twitter you would recommend? This many details I can only keep up with in written form for me to refer to when it comes up.
thank you for all the information, but I am still lost. Please help. Can I use a hashtag for my blog:mindofagoddess.wordpress, and my book angelinactionblog.wordpress?
I am wanting people to go to my basic blog as well as my specific book blog.
when I go to someone else’s hashtag and leave a comment, do I leave my hashtag or theirs?
thank you!
diane
mindofagoddess.wordpress.com
This is all very helpful. I just went to twubs.com to register a hashtag for my book but ‘book’ is not a category. So, since my book is about an issue (post-abortion healing) and is also a bible study (product) that can be done as a group and will have an online community (movement), what category should I use? Movement, product, literature….?
Thanks,
Shadia
Shadia –
I would put it down as a product because yes, you are selling something. Your book is part of your business AND ministry. What you register it as doesn’t make that big of a difference. How you use it will make the biggest difference.
I found your article and registered #chicgirlsguidebook to start promoting my new DIY style book on Twitter and Pinterest. Thanks so much for the advice!