Social Media for Authors: August 2023 Marketing Tips to Boost Engagement and Reach

Planning your social media content can feel like a lot. But when you’re ahead of the game, it’s much easier! With August around the corner, it’s time to get ready to engage readers with creative, fresh, and relevant content ideas. Whether you’re a seasoned indie author or just starting out, the tips below offer something for everyone.

Check out the video for more details and watch it whenever you need an extra boost:

Theme of the Month: Romance and Family

August brings two standout themes – Romance Awareness Month and Family Fun Month. Romance Awareness Month is perfect for romance writers, but even if your genre is different, there’s room to make it work. Family Fun Month encourages readers of all ages to connect through books. It’s a perfect excuse to suggest family reading nights.

Pro tip: Recommend a read-then-watch combo like Harry Potter to engage families. Books followed by their movie counterparts can create lasting memories.

Creative Daily Themes and Holidays

August offers plenty of fun daily holidays to build content around. Use holidayinsights.com (link in the video description) to find more! Here are a few notable ones:

• National Girlfriend Day (Aug 1): It’s not limited to romantic relationships. Use this day to promote women’s fiction or thoughtful book gift ideas.
• Book Lovers Day (Aug 9): A big day for authors! Create a week-long celebration leading up to it. Share your book recs or run polls on favorite genres.
• Lazy Day (Aug 10): Highlight books that are perfect for lazy weekends.
• National S’mores Day (Aug 10): Share marshmallow-themed books or cozy summer evening reads.
• Left-Handers Day (Aug 13): A quirky day to ask readers if they’re lefties and engage them in fun comments.

These themes can inspire social posts, reader challenges, or even email newsletters!

Back-to-School Promotions

August isn’t just about summer’s end; it’s also about preparing for back-to-school season. Here’s how you can tie this into your marketing:

• Create family reading lists for parents looking to keep their kids engaged.
• Run promotions centered around “starting a new chapter” as kids head back to class.
• Suggest books to help readers reset before fall routines kick in.

Back-to-school vibes also mean people are settling into routines. Now’s the time to suggest their next binge-worthy series!

Staying Consistent and Engaging

Consistency is key to good marketing. But you don’t have to be everywhere. Are you comfortable on TikTok? Great, focus there. Don’t feel like Twitter is your thing? That’s okay too.

Meet your readers where they already are. For YA authors, this might mean TikTok or Discord. For other genres, it could be Facebook groups or Instagram. Engage where you feel natural, or hire help if needed. Your authenticity matters!

Speaking of help, Mandy and Bonnie swear by outsourcing when needed. Hiring a virtual assistant for social media can free up your time. It also ensures you’re present where it counts.

Thinking Outside the Box

Creativity doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here are ideas to mix up your promotions:

• Partner with authors to create theme-based promotions. For example:
  • Books with lighthouse covers for National Lighthouse Day (Aug 7).
  • Blue-covered books or Peridot-themed reads tied to August’s birthstone.
• Share behind-the-scenes of writing your books or build a “day in the life” video for TikTok or Reels.
• Create a “Summer’s Ending Reading Challenge” for your audience.

You don’t need flashy giveaways to make an impact. The goal is connection and visibility.

Featured Resource: Author Helper Suite

One tool both Bonnie and Mandy can’t live without is Author Helper Suite. If you’re serious about streamlining your marketing, this is a must-have. Previously known as ReaderLinks, it helps track your ad performance, manage your reader team, and so much more.

Some highlights include:

• Geo-links: Understand ad performance based on region.
• Back matter click tracking: Learn how many readers are moving to your next book.
• Reader team management: Keep communication organized without relying on fragmented systems.

The best part? You can try it free for 30 days. After that, explore all the features and see how it improves your author business.

Wrapping It All Up

August is almost here, and it’s buzzing with possibilities. From Romance Awareness to Book Lovers Day, there’s no shortage of inspiration. Take these ideas and make them your own. Remember, your main goal is connection – with your current readers and new ones.

Have fun with your marketing, try something new, and don’t forget to plan ahead. Strong engagement now can set the tone for your next quarter.

Finally, share this post with a fellow author and subscribe to our updates. After all, success is even sweeter when shared with friends!