TikTok has over 1.5 billion users worldwide. There are many subpages available that focus on various niches, such as fashion, lifestyle, entertainment, and more. One such page that has had hundreds of billions of views is BookTok. In fact, the book-publishing industry had reportedly been revived in large part due to this page on the TikTok platform.
Authors who want to connect with readers, promote their novels and (hopefully) boost sales will want to be active on BookTok. When viewing this page, you might typically see readers recommending books or even acting out scenes in their favorite stories. Many classics have made comebacks after being featured on the page. It’s also a great way to get the word out about lesser-known titles and authors.
How authors can use BookTok as a marketing tool
While many publishing companies agree to launch promotional campaigns to market their clients’ books, authors themselves must take the reins if they hope to reach as many consumers as possible. Here are several ways you can use BookTok to promote your next novel:
- Set up a TikTok account. This platform is known for being one of the best to increase organic reach, which means unique viewers of your content without advertising.
- You can access BookTok from TikTok without creating a separate profile for that page; however, if you’re using it as a marketing tool, it’s best to do so.
- Create an introduction video, telling who you are, what types of books you write, etc., then pin the video to your TikTok profile.
- Start uploading more videos that feature your books. Be creative.
- Use the hashtag #booktok, as well as other hashes that are relevant to your niche.
- Participate in some of the subculture traditions that many viewers use, such as wearing a crown in your videos or displaying bookshelves in the background. You can also use video styles like duetting or stitching to enhance the entertainment value of your videos. If you’re not sure what that means, you can learn more about it here.
One author stated that he gained over 1,000 subscribers after using TikTok and BookTok for just a few weeks. He also said he noticed a “measurable increase” in his book sales and new subscribers to his newsletter.
How much of your page should be promotional?
When it comes to using social media to market your books, there’s a good rule of thumb to follow. Make sure that at least 20% of your content is promotional, while the other 80% is geared toward engagement with your target audience. If you’re able to get a post to go viral, you might enjoy a substantial increase in book sales.
