by Katie Keridan

Over the last decade, my usage of social media has definitely increased, and since becoming an indie author, I’ve learned a lot about using online platforms for business as well as pleasure. So, I’m sharing what I’ve found helpful and what I wish I’d known sooner.

Authors often view social media as a necessary evil, something that takes time away from writing but has to be done to drive sales. Being online can start to feel like a performance, like we’re just putting up posts and waiting for likes, which is neither fun nor rewarding and not likely to be sustainable.

But social media can be more than just a marketing tool, and you don’t need to be anyone other than exactly who you are to establish an engaging online presence.

Here are four easy-to-follow tips for showing up authentically online so you never dread opening a social media app.

Pick Your Platform

Some authors have a presence on every social media platform in existence, and that works great for them. I tried this but ultimately felt like I was devoting more time to formatting and posting than connecting.

So, I chose a primary platform (Instagram) where I’m most consistent with posting, and then if I feel like it, I post to a secondary platform (TikTok or Facebook).

Everyone will have different “rules” and suggestions when it comes to their preferred platform(s), but for me it was trial and error and finding the people I connected best with. Wanting to go viral is very different from wanting to develop a community, so think about your goals when choosing where you want to show up online.

Set Your Schedule

Some authors post on social media every day or multiple times a day, while other authors only post once or twice a week. Some authors post creative reels that could be mini movies, while others only post a picture.

Being on social media isn’t about what everyone else is doing…it’s about what works for you.

Unless I’m at a book event, I only post once a day, Monday through Friday (I also let myself break this schedule as needed when life shows up). I purposefully take a break from social media on the weekends to focus on family, friends, and other hobbies or projects, which has allowed me to retain some semblance of sanity.

Choose Your Content

As an author, you’re naturally going to post about your books, and that’s perfectly fine. However, I don’t tend to engage much with accounts that feature nothing but book promotions. I like seeing the person behind the stories.

To keep things simple, think of two or three interests outside your books and post about those as well.

I regularly post about:

• mental health (I was a pediatric neuropsychologist before becoming an author)
• being an eldest Millennial daughter
• astrology (proud Capricorn here)
• my pets
• animal rescue organizations I support

It’s an odd Venn diagram—but it’s mine. And that’s the point.

Showing up authentically means showing up as yourself. Don’t worry if your interests feel niche, obscure, or even a little weird. I guarantee there are more people than you’d expect who care about the same things. The ability to connect over shared interests regardless of location is one of the truly wonderful parts of social media.

Applaud Other Authors

It costs absolutely nothing to support a fellow author online. You can share or repost with a click or two, and highlighting another person’s accomplishment in no way diminishes your own.

Celebrate other authors’ wins, cheer as they meet their writing goals, and encourage them on the days when words don’t make sense.

Every author is on a different writing journey with a different timeline, and even though it might feel like it, it’s not a competition. There are more than enough readers for everyone.

I value community and collaboration above competition, and cheering on another author reminds me that I’m not in this alone.

Final Thoughts

Managing social media while being an author can feel daunting on the best of days, but a few simple steps can make it less daunting and even, dare I say, fun:

• Pick your platform
• Set your schedule
• Choose your content
• Applaud other authors
  

I love the community I’ve built online, and I find so much strength and support connecting with and learning from other authors.

Happy creating, and here’s to the stories that touch hearts and inspire imaginations!
~ Katie

Author Bio

Katie Keridan has always loved to write, whether she was stapling paper together to make her own childhood books or sharing the results of research trials in scientific journals as a Johns Hopkins-trained pediatric neuropsychologist. While Katie enjoyed contributing to cancer research, she enjoyed creating her own stories more and slowly moved from facts to the fantastical.

She is the author of the award-winning young adult romantasy trilogy, The Felserpent Chronicles, and a faculty member at Boyds Mills/Highlights Foundation.