Expert: Dana Lynn Smith
Facebook is the second most popular website in the U.S. (after Google), accounting for about 10 percent of all online usage. Bottom line: if your potential customers are on Facebook, you should be there too. Here are some suggestions for getting the most from this powerful networking tool:
1. It’s amazing how many authors don’t mention their books in their Facebook Profile. When Facebook did a complete re-design of the Profile in December of 2010, showcasing books became more of a challenge because they removed the information box and web links that were located just below the Profile photo.
But there are ways to take advantage of the new Profile format to let your friends and visitors know about your book. See this post for tips on how to feature your book at the top of your Profile and this post for information on making the most of the Info tab.
Remember, your Facebook profile must be registered in your real name. If you create a profile for your book or business, you risk having your account cancelled.
2. Facebook Pages are similar to personal profiles, but they are created for business use. You can create a page for your book, your business, or even one of the characters in your novel. People join a page by “liking” the page.
You may want to offer an incentive to join (or at least visit) your page, such as a free download or a coupon for one of your products. Another way to attract fans is to set your page up as an information hub, offering links and resources. Using Facebook applications like Static HTML, you can create customized content for your Facebook page, including graphics, text, videos and mailing list opt-in forms.
3. Groups are a great place to meet people who share your interests and find new friends. Search for groups by entering keywords in the Search box at the top of the page and then clicking on the Groups tab. You can gain visibility on a group page by introducing yourself on the wall, participating in disucssions, and posting your book cover, photos or videos.
Forming your own group can also be beneficial. Be sure to encourage discussions and offer valuable information such as free downloads and links to resources.
4. Joining relevant events is a good way to get visibility because you can write on the event wall and post photos. You can also promote your own live or virtual events by hosting an event.
5. Facebook displays pay-per-click ads on most pages on the site, and ads can be targeted by age, gender, location, education level, relationship status, or keywords in people’s profiles.
Excerpted from Facebook Guide for Authors, by Dana Lynn Smith.
Dana Lynn Smith is a book marketing coach and author of several book marketing guides. To learn more about book marketing and promotion, follow @BookMarketer on Twitter and visit The Savvy Book Marketer blog at www.TheSavvyBookMarketer.com to get Dana’s free ebook, Top Book Marketing Tips.
