SPA Girls Podcast – EP175 – How To Make Facebook Work For You
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We often get asked what authors should post on Facebook, and whether it’s worthwhile even being on the platform at all.
The answer from the SPA is a firm yes, we believe Facebook is a really useful tool for authors, especially in romance. There are many positives to having a presence on the social platform, not least of which is the ability to find and connect with readers and other authors.
So this week we break down the platform and talk about the different areas that are useful to know about as an author, plus give you ideas to use for ongoing content, some etiquette to bear in mind for using Facebook, and ways you can use Facebook to amp up your book sales.
Show Notes:
Shar’s tips:
Tip 1: It’s still worth having a facebook author page. Yes, organic reach has dropped but Facebook is STILL the biggest social media platform by far. Having an author page keeps your penname secret (if required), and means you can run ads.
Tip 2: Note sure what to post? Create a weekly schedule to ensure you mix up the content/chat/connection with readers posts versus SALES posts (should be 3/4:1 and then preschedule using the inbuilt facebook scheduling system to streamline the process – eg #MondayMovieFavs #TuesdayExcerpt #WednesdayWanderings #ThrowbackThursday #FridayFunny #SaturdaySnack #SundayShare
Tip 3: Experiment with Facebook ads and prepare to learn. Two things first: Understand how to calculate your readthrough on your series / Understand your audience (other authors they like via also boughts, movies that tie in, themes in common etc) Start with $5/day and try six ads in one ad set. Leave running for 3 or 4 days and then see which image is most successful. Then using that image create another six ads but this time change out the text. This is iteration and a way of testing. Facebook requires a LOT of testing.
Tip 4: Facebook Groups are a good way to communicate with your superfans – less so for new fans. To be effective they require clear rules, good moderation, and regular input. I personally believe they come about as a result of book sales success, rather than driving that success.
Trudi’s tips:
- Join other author’s groups/pages and see what they’re posting about and how they’re engaging with readers.
- Ask questions, use polls, reply when people post on your comments. Builds up your organic reach if you have more comments and engagement.
- Content curation is a valid way to post. It doesn’t all have to be original content from you.
- Know your readers, and know the kind of content they’d be likely to respond to.
- Consider working in with other authors if you can’t manage on your own. Make sure you’re in the same genre though, or it’s all for nothing.
Wendy’s tips:
- Doing short video clips of yourself is a great way to get your fans to interact. They love the personal touch, and seeing you talking directly to them is something they will respond to. I use Quick Time on my Mac to record, but there are other options depending on what computer/laptop you have.
- FB polls are a great way to interact at the same time as gaining valuable information. For example. What story trope do you like A. Friends to lovers B. Cinderella story C. Second chance at love. D. Secret romance.
- Engage/like other author pages. See what’s working for others, and mimic them. Save their posts to use at a later date.
- Keep your posts short, most people are looking at FB on their mobile devices and are doing so for short periods of time.
Cheryl’s tips:
- Taking time one day a week to schedule posts will make life a lot easier than thinking about it each day and using a themed hashtag as Shar suggests means you know the type of thing you want for each one. (Sunday works for me) I have a folder with graphics specifically for my posts separated into funnies, inspirational, animals etc.
- Share on other pages that you own to save time by using the same post. (personal v author page – only if it’s relevant). Use the share option on the bottom right hand of your post.
- Share in groups but be mindful of group rules and make sure you are on topic. If not, you could find yourself banned from that group.
- To gain likes, invite people who have already liked one of your posts to take the next step and like your Page. (The two things are different) To do so, just click on the list of names below the post. In the window, scroll down and click the Invite button.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Free video – how to set up a Facebook ad from Dave Chesson:
https://kindlepreneur.com/how-to-advertise-book-facebook-facebook-ads-for-books/
Mark Dawson’s free guides: https://selfpublishingformula.com/spf-resources/
Recommended read: Michael Cooper’s Help My Facebook Ads Suck!
https://www.amazon.com/Help-My-Facebook-Ads-Suck-ebook/dp/B078NBW3M3
Episodes 100 – 200 List
200 What we’ve learned so far…
199 Interview with Adam Croft – Mindset and Marketing
198 Find Your Sparkle – with Julie Schooler
197 Hack Your Muse – with Kelly McClymer
196 Public Speaking For Authors – with Alena Van Arendonk
195 The Magic Pill – with Laura Van Arendonk-Baugh
194 A Day In The Life Of A Writer
193 Keep It Simple
192 Interview with Skye Warren: Money Mindset and Facebook Ads
For Authors (Part Two)
191 Interview with Skye Warren: Time Management & Advertising
For Authors (Part One)
190 Dragon Wrangling with Scott Baker: secrets for
Successful dictation
189 Interview with Patricia McLinn: Writing by the seat of
Your pants
188 Interview with Morgana Best: Writing & Marketing
Cozy Mysteries
187 Interview with Geoff Symon: Wounds & Crime Scenes
186 Interview with Natasha Bajema, WMD for Authors
185 The Writer’s Detective with Adam Richardson
183 Facebook Advertising with Maria Luis ~ Part Two
182 Facebook Advertising with Maria Luis ~ Part One
181 Learn dictation with Kilby Blades
180 Interview with Brian Meeks, Mastering Book Descriptions
179 Interview with Tara Cremin, Kobo Writing Life
178 Interview with Larissa Reynolds – Newsletters Part Two
177 Interview with Larissa Reynolds – Newsletters Part One
175 Wrangling Facebook: How To Make It Work For You
174 How To Write A Regency Romance
173 How Do You Identify Your Writing Weaknesses?
172 Interview With Dan Wood, D2D
171 Interview With Serenity Woods
169 5 Goals You Need To Make In 2019
168 Jumpstart Your 2019 Marketing with 31 Quick To Dos for Jan.
167 Scheduling For Writing Success
166 Our 2018 Roundup
165 He Said, She Said: Creating Dazzling Dialogue
164 Interview with Steffanie Holmes: Reverse Harem
163 Interview with YA author Kelly St Clare
160 Amazon Excl v Wide – things to consider and how to market
159 Interview With Kathryn LeVeque
158 Some Like It Hot – Or Not. Heat Levels In Romance
157 Interview With Louisa George
156 The Kindness Factor: Helping You Achieve More and Stress Less
155 Editing
153 Characters: From Cookie Cutter to Kapow
152 Interview with Tina Dietz: Audiobooks
151 Interview with Grace Burrowes
150 Should You Prune Your Mailing List?
149 RWNZ18 Interview with Damon Suede & Geoff Symon
148 Interview with indie superstar, Bella Andre
147 Top Ten Traits for Success
146 Write Better Faster with Becca Syme
145 Newsletter Ninja Tammi LaBrecque
144 Looking After Your Creative Health
143 Interview with Carlyn Robertson from Bookbub
142 Personal Branding For Authors with Lauren Clemett
141 Ten Free Online Tools For Authors
140 Tempting Taglines & Heartstopping Hooks
139 Findaway Voices with Kelly Lytle
138 Get Your Writing Mojo Back
137 Interview with Toni Kenyon: facebook live & serials
136 Dealing with misinformation and change in Sp-ing
134 Interview with Kevin Tumlinson, Draft2Digital
133 Interview with Sara Rosett
132 Organization For Authors – how to keep track of your
research and book details without losing your mind
131 Interview with Ricardo Fayet of Reedsy
130 Critical Care: Leveraging feedback for success
129 Brand You
128 SAS Special: Interview with Johnny B. Truant & Sean Platt
127 Industry Insiders with Damon J. Courtney of Bookfunnel
& Christine Monroe of Kobo
126 SAS Debrief with Jami Albright
125 SAS Special: Interview with Michelle Spiva
124 SAS Special : Interview With Michael Anderle
123 Sports Psychology for Authors – Interview With Nate Vella
122 Using Sub Plots To Amp Up Your Writing
121 Interview with Scott King: Outlining Your Novel
120 Pen-names Pros, Cons and Possibilities
119 Reader Engagement with Nalini Singh
118 Writing the Small Town Setting
117 Handling Negativity and Naysayers
116 Tough Mindset Questions For 2018
115 Interview With Nicola Davidson: Sex and Sensibility
114 Tropealicious
112 Interview With Honoree Corder & Ben Hale: Write Like A Boss
111 Ten Health Hacks For Writers
110 Interview with Kathryn Burnett: Your Writing Audit For Future Success
109 Interview with Melissa Storm: What Readers Want
108 Interview With Zoe Dawson: Writing Across Genres
107 Interview With Dave Chesson, The Keyword King
106 Pros and Cons of Kindle Unlimited
105 Why YOU should do Nanowrimo
104 Ten Truths For New Self Publishers
103 Find 30 Minutes A Day EXTRA!
102 Your Christmas Presence: Maximizing the Holiday Season for Authors
101 The Writing Life: Interview with Katie Cross
100 100 Episodes! Retrospective with funny moments; changing AO title
About The SPA Girls
The SPA Girls are Trudi Jaye, Cheryl Phipps, Wendy Vella and Shar Barratt: four New Zealand authors who between them have had more than 100 books published.
They’ve been self-publishing since 2013, and Wendy Vella alone, has sold more than 2 million copies of her historical and contemporary romances.
The SPA Girls Podcast (SPA = Self Publishing Authors) is one of the industry’s leading publishing podcasts globally, with over five years worth of weekly top-rating episodes.
Aimed at the beginning self-publisher, the podcast has received rave reviews from listeners and guests alike! Each week the SPA Girls bring listeners a new episode covering all things self-publishing, writing craft, marketing advice, advertising strategies and expert guest interviews.
Listen and subscribe on your favorite podcast app (just search SPA Girls Podcast) or watch the fun on their popular YouTube channel
Trudi Jaye writes urban fantasy and young adult fiction. She’s a trained journalist, communications specialist and martial arts enthusiast. Her urban fantasy series Dragon Rising is set in an alternate universe that looks just like ours – except with dragon shifters and a kick butt heroine…
Learn more about Trudi at:
Cheryl is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author from beautiful Auckland, New Zealand with two alter egos: C.A. Phipps writes cozy mysteries, and Cheryl Phipps writes contemporary romance.
She loves stories filled with feisty heroines, suave heroes and wonderful small towns, and crafting her own heart-warming tales of strong family ties, mixed in with a little romance, humor, and delicious baking!
Find out more about Cheryl at:
Shar Barratt is a marketing specialist by day and writer by night. Her clients include top entertainment brands, international retailers and NYT and USA Today bestselling authors. She’s got more how-to books than any person should have, and is currently working on a cozy mystery series under a secret penname that shall never be revealed (but she’s open to bribery-by-chocolate).
Shar blogs via images on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sharbarratt/
Wendy Vella is a USA Today bestselling author of historical and contemporary romances. With more than two million books sold, over 40 books published, and having been an Amazon bestseller many times, Wendy absolutely loves being an indie author (she started in traditional publishing, then soon saw the light!).
Her extraordinarily popular Regency romances include: The Langley Sisters series, Sinclair & Raven series, Lords of Night Street series, Deville Brothers series. Her sizzling small-town romance series include the Lake Howling series and Ryker Falls series.
Find out more about Wendy at : www.wendyvella.com
