I often get questions about how to get started with Booktok. Personal questions like how did I begin my own channel: where my main focus is Dutch literature and young adult books, aswell as more general questions. In this blog post I will share my best advice on how to get started with Booktok. In my opinion, the most important thing is staying true to yourself.
#1 Now is the best time to get started on Booktok
I started on Booktok during one of the first lockdowns during COVID-19. Tiktok was at his highest peak and everyone needed to stay inside most of the time due to quarantine. We all know what happened then: people started picking up new hobbies. And for a lot of people that was reading. I was lucky at the time when I started my channel: it was the perfect time. But because we can’t turn back time (thankfully, when we look at Covid times), the best advice about how to get started with Booktok is: start now. The perfect time will not come, the only perfect time is now.
“The best advice about how to get started with booktok is: start now”
Create an account dedicated to books and start creating content. It’s scary, but if you want to start a Booktok account that’s the best, and first, step. Still a bit too scary at first? You can also start with videos where you don’t show your face yet. Once you’ve settled in a bit, you can make it more personal. It’s your channel and it’s your choice.
#2 – Stay true to yourself
One of the biggest pitfalls of novice Booktokers is that they only make videos about the most popular titles. And that makes sense, because videos about Twisted Love and It Ends With Us will probably also fill your own For You page. Booktokers get a lot of likes with those types of videos.
Still, my best advice is to stay true to yourself. Share what you really read, look at titles that you don’t often see online and make a video about them. I have noticed that people really appreciate it when you recommend books that you genuinely are enthusiastic about, even if they don’t know that specific book yet. They get to know it through you! And because of all your original tips (and enthusiasm about it), they will start following you. TikTok is about personal connections and if people trust you and like your taste in books, they will come to you.
#3 – Find your own niche on Booktok and interact
Let’s be real: nothing is more fun than receiving an original book recommendation instead of yet another lyrical video about the most popular fantasy book of the moment. Although combining both is perfectly fine, my personal favorite Booktokers are people that will share original titles and have their own taste. I also love to explore niches like Booktokers who read literary fiction, because yes: literary fiction is also a part of Booktok.
“Interact with smaller accounts, help each other grow and just have fun”
My advice? Dive into Booktok before and as you start your Booktok account. Find Booktokers who read the same books as you. That’s how you can find your niche, from fantasy to thrillers or manga – everything is on Booktok. If it’s not on your FYP yet, it’s time for another deep dive! Interact with smaller accounts, help each other grow and just have fun. Niche-ing down doesn’t mean you can’t post about manga if you normally post about romance books, it’s about finding out what you stand for. I personally combine YA and Dutch literature on my account and that works well. If you are someone who reads manga and romance, make your channel about both genres and put this in your bio. On Booktok there are so many accounts, it’s nice to have an account where it’s clear what to expect.
#4 – Try different forms of content
First it was all about short videos on TikTok, nowadays gallery posts and longer videos are also popular. When you start, it’s important to try different forms of content. Try things out and find out what feels good for you and what works. A combination of gallery posts and videos is a good thing to start with! For longer videos it’s important that you are strict with editing and make it worth watching. A long talking video or vlog can be fine, as long as you cut out the parts where you might talk too long about the book. Keep in mind: would I watch this kind of video if this was on my FYP? Keep it catchy.
#5 – Quality over quantity
When I see Booktokers talk about their ways of how to get started on Booktok, it’s always about posting every day or multiple times a day. They say that will help you grow. I think that’s a misconception. It’s way better to have one video of high quality than 10 videos where you just jump on a trend or use a popular Capcut template. Remember that you don’t have to post all the time. Have fun on TikTok, make a video whenever you want. 2 to 3 times a week is fine if you are just getting started, just make sure that the video screams what you want to express with your account.
Sprayed edges, endearingly referred to as ‘spredges’, represent a design feature where the edges of a book are adorned through techniques such as painting, spraying, or stenciling. These embellishments span from solid color blocks, to intricate designs that add a touch of artistry to the book’s presentation.
Why do books have sprayed edges?
Sprayed edges are far from a new phenomenon. Since the 10th Century, books have had their edges painted with intricate artwork in a practice called fore-edge-painting. Although these paintings have grown out of style, the previously dying practice has since had a modern revival. Book subscription boxes, such as Fairyloot, Owlcrate, and Illumicrate, have been producing stunning special editions with alternate cover art, signatures from the author, bonus content, and/or sprayed edges for years. Much of their subscriber-base has been built on the exclusivity of their special editions with sprayed edges. There is even a waiting list to subscribe for some boxes. In short, spredges have always held an association with a special edition of a book.
Book stores and sprayed edges
Despite the already well-established presence of sprayed edges in the book community, there has been a shift in the publishing world, making these ‘special’ editions more widespread and accessible than ever before. Barnes and Noble has recently added a “Judge a Book by Its Edges” section to its website. Additionally, Barnes and Noble – as well as the U.K.’s Waterstones and Canada’s Indigo – are releasing their own store exclusive editions with sprayed edges. Even stores like Walmart and Target, which do not exclusively sell books, are selling titles with sprayed edges. So – how did a book’s spredges evolve from a coveted specialty item to a commodity available so widely? As a reader and influencer, myself, I’d like to think that this evolution largely began with the publication and subsequent social media craze of Rebecca Yarros’ romantasy powerhouse, Fourth Wing.
Fourth Wing and the re-branding of sprayed edges.
For the first print run of Fourth Wing, Red Tower Books included a dragon design on the edges. Upon Fourth Wing’s release, users on BookTok and Bookstagram did what they do best, and soon enough, nearly every reader was trying to get their hands on this special edition. That printing run sold out soon after. Having worked at a bookstore at the time of Fourth Wing’s initial publication, I experienced this craze first-hand. Customers came into the store and asked for the spredges up to two months after it had sold out. After I explained to them why that edition is no longer in stock here or anywhere else, the look on their face was one of disappointment – and in some cases – anger. Readers really wanted their dragon-designed edges.
Continuing the sprayed edges trend
In my opinion, the initial selling point for many readers was the stunning design on the book’s edges, and this undoubtedly contributed to the record-number of sales and social media hype. When Fourth Wing’s first run special edition sold out, Red Tower Books knew they had done something right. So, for the next installment in the series, Iron Flame, they also implemented an exclusive first-printing run of black sprayed edges – no dragons, though. Despite this, readers didn’t want to miss out, and many of us flocked to our local bookstores to pre-order. A lot of bookstores sold out of Iron Flame just as the release date of November 7th, 2023, approached. I think that they will likely continue this marketing tactic for the remaining three books in the Empyrean series upon their publications.
After the Empyrean
Red Tower Books took the same technique, and applied it to, well, practically every subsequent release. As of the writing of this post, Assistant to the Villain (Hannah Nicole Maehrer) and Sanctuary of the Shadow (Aurora Ascher) have been published with first printing runs of spredges. Upcoming 2024 releases with confirmed first-run spredges include The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall, Cecy Robson’s Bloodguard, and Apprentice to the Villain, the sequel to Hannah Nicole Maehrer’s Assistant to the Villain.
But how special are these ‘special editions’?
Heavenbreaker
Let’s take a look at Red Tower Book’s upcoming adult fantasy title, Heavenbreaker. Online bookstore listings say the following about its upcoming release on May 21st , 2024.
“Preorder now and receive the stunning DELUXE LIMITED EDITION while supplies last―featuring gorgeous sprayed edges with stenciled artwork, as well as exclusive endpapers and special design features.”
Aside from endpapers and the stunning sprayed edges, there isn’t really anything that ‘special’ or ‘deluxe’ about this particular edition. It’s not signed by the author, it’s not a part of a hand numbered limited release, and there aren’t any exclusive notes or annotations from the author. There are no bonus chapters, alternative chapters written in another POV, or extended epilogues. In other words, the ‘specialness’ of this deluxe edition is purely aesthetic. While the artwork and spredges are undoubtedly beautiful, I can’t help but feel that something feels missing.
The Pairing
Let’s take a look at another example, this time, outside of the heavily populated fantasy realm of spredges. Author of Red, White, and Royal Blue, Casey McQuiston’s upcoming title, The Pairing, is slated to release August 6th , 2024. The book is a romance novel that follows two bisexual exes who accidentally book the same tour on their European vacations. For its first print run, book retailers have a listing that reads:
“LIMITED FIRST PRINT RUN–featuring spray-painted edges with a stenciled script design. Only available for a limited time and while supplies last.”
In this case, there aren’t even any endpapers or artwork. The only thing that makes this book a ‘collector’s item’ are the beautiful, sprayed edges.
Ruthless Vows
Now, let’s examine a Fairyloot exclusive with sprayed edges; Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross. This is the sequel to the young adult romance/fantasy/historical fiction smash hit, Divine Rivals. In the original announcement, Fairyloot designates the special features of their exclusive edition, including:
“✨ EXCLUSIVE REDESIGNED COVER by @kelley.mcmorris.art ✨ DIGITALLY SPRAYED EDGE with a block sprayed top and bottom edge ✨ FOILED CHARACTER ARTWORK ON THE ENDPAPERS by @hachandraws ✨ FOIL ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE HARDCOVER ✨ BONUS CONTENT This book will feature a digital signature.”
This edition was available exclusively at Fairyloot’s online storefront, The Fairy Trove, and went on sale January 18th , 2024. The title is not expected to ship to lucky customers until June or July 2024. As expected, the edition sold out almost immediately after going live on The Fairy Trove, as there was only a limited – though undisclosed – number of copies available for purchase. Disappointed readers have since flocked to second-hand sources, such as eBay, to purchase the edition at a high resale value. One listing hosted a bidding war with 33 bids, that ultimately sold for $290 USD on February 7th , 2024. A far cry from Fairyloot’s selling price of £23 GBP / $31 USD + shipping. Fairyloot editions are admittedly difficult to get. They’re coveted possessions, and once a reader has one of their exclusive books in their grasp, it’s rare that they let it go. (Excluding the aforementioned scalper who purchased the book just to sell it later on at a higher price).
Not just a pretty face
In my opinion, Fairyloot books with spredges live up to their classification of a special edition. And much more so than the books with first-print run spredges. To really make my point, let’s look at one more so-called special edition. Specifically, another one of author Casey McQuiston’s books. This time, though, we’re looking at a special edition of a previously published title; One Last Stop. Marketed as a Collector’s Edition, the listing for McQuiston’s sophomore novel reads the following:
“The special hardcover collector’s edition of Casey McQuiston’s beloved bestselling novel, featuring illustrated endpapers, bonus content, and more!”
By more, they mean alternate cover art and a signature from Casey McQuiston herself. Oh, and sprayed edges, of course.
Readers have been able to get their hands on this collector’s edition since its release in November 2023. It’s less limited than a Fairyloot edition, but still has more special features than one of the aforementioned first printing editions with spredges.
Why sprayed edges matter
What readers now know as spredges have almost always been a part of the book community, one way or the other. The context of them, however, has recently evolved from being a signifier of an exclusive, special edition to a marketing tactic used by publishers to garner demand for a book’s first printing. Recently, I have seen some BookTokers comment on this, with some believing that spredges have ‘lost their meaning’ or, alternatively, that the more spredges, the better. I have also seen some readers in heated debate over spredges being pointless in the first place, because they don’t care for the physical appearance of a book. As for me, I’m neither for nor against spredges. Have I noticed a change in the implementation of sprayed edges in the publishing industry? Of course, I’m an observant reader immersed in the book community and with an interest in publishing. That being said, I do not fall into a specific camp on the spredges debate. Ultimately, I am going to buy, read, and collect the books that I want to – whether they be extremely limited editions or merely a first printing run of spredges – and I think that other readers should do the same. Do what makes you happy and have fun with your hobby.
About the Guest Author:
Born in Toronto, Canada, Jordan Murray is the Amazon best-selling author of three books, including her debut suspense novel, I Did It For You. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s probably buying & collecting books – which is a completely different hobby, thank you very much – or obsessing over videos of dogs on the internet. You can find her books on Amazon.
Last year we organized a campaign with two books by Dutch author Anne van Zwieten. Anne was also just starting on TikTok herself, we spoke to her about that process, influencer marketing and finding her audience online.
As we launched the campaign, you were just starting on TikTok. How did you feel about starting on TikTok?
I thought of it as a fun challenge. I was a bit afraid that I would be too old for the target group and that there would, therefore, not be much interest in my work, but nothing could be further from the truth. I actually quite enjoy making my own videos, although I do feel very old among all those young faces sometimes!
I find it interesting how younger people view my work. Not only in terms of content but also in terms of execution, such as the cover of the book. I enjoy learning from this feedback. It is really a misconception that the younger generation only reads thrillers or feelgood. I feel honored and proud that my books are so embraced.
What advice would you give to other authors who also thinking about starting on TikTok?
Just do it. I really liked working with with bookinfluencers.com because it immediately allowed me to reach a large audience of readers and influencers. So I’d definitely suggest that to other authors.
What do you enjoy most about working with influencers who have read your books?
Their vision on content and design. I prefer substantiated reviews. Not only: read this book, but also: why. That can also help me a lot with my upcoming books. It’s also very heart-warming to see the videos where the influencers opening up the package with my two books. It is so funny to see them open it, because I packed everything myself and then see my personal text in the book with their name above it. Writing is a lonely profession. With the influencers and readers it feels more like a joint project.
Why do you think it is important to profile yourself online as an author and be in touch with your readers?
Besides the fact that I really enjoy building relationships with my readers, it is simply a necessity to present yourself online as an author. We live in a digital world. There are so many writers that not everyone is able to sell their books in a traditional bookstore. New authors hardly get a chance, the same books are everywhere while there are so many more books out there. Online platforms like Amazon and the Dutch bol.com determine the market a lot, together they sell many more books than all bookstores combined, so you have to be digitally visible.
Recently, we invited our community to take part in a survey. We want to hear feedback about our communication skills and platform. As well as this, we want to hear thoughts about book tours and brand campaigns we organised in 2023. Are our community satisfied with the books they had received? Were they happy with the incentives that were offered? Would they read a book if there was no promise of any incentive?
The survey was completed by 351 creators. They answered 15 questions. We will highlight the ones that will give valuable insights to anyone in the book community, specifically on the topic of incentives.
Question 1: What motivates you to register for a book tour (multiple answers allowed)
The community stated clearly that the blurb of the book is most important to them (90.6%), followed by the book cover (71.5%). We all know the saying ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’, but honestly, we do. At Bookinfluencers.com, we receive requests for new book tours daily. If the book cover is of poor quality, we deny the collaboration. Although tastes differ, one can recognize whether a book cover is of good quality.
The next two motivations scored almost evenly. ‘Hearing others talk about the book’ scored 38.2% and an incentivized tour scored 39.6%. Interestingly, 5.4% of people gave the same free-type answer of registering because they like the author. This blog post is a great example of this.
Let’s dive a bit further into that interesting topic of incentivized tours!
Question 2: Do you feel that book tours should be incentivized?
This topic split the responses. 57.9% of the respondents said ‘yes’, 41.1% of the respondents answered ‘no’. Most of the ‘yes’ responses said: ‘Book influencers should be treated the same as influencers in other industries’ (45.3%). A smaller group said: ‘I put in a lot of time and effort and feel like compensation is needed’ (13.4%). Of the people that answered ‘no’, most agreed with: ‘Receiving a book for free is enough for me’ (35.6%). Only a small group said: ‘Compensation leads to dishonest book recommendations’ (5.7%).
It’s difficult to get a book to the top of a creator’s TBR. Our experience after over 500 book tours is that only publishers and authors that publish a highly anticipated new release can get away with offering the book only. Offering incentives doesn’t mean you always have to have financial rewards (although we see that the community often highly appreciates these). PR boxes are a great way to incentivize too and make great content such as unboxing videos. We also had publishers offering an extra book from their imprint as a bonus. There are various ways to show your appreciation for a creator’s work and to acknowledge them as just as important as an influencer from any other industry.
Question 3: Would you register for a book tour of a book that doesn’t really interest you, just because the tour offers incentives?
Happily, the majority of the community, 92.3%, said ‘no’. This tells us that most creators won’t be bribed into reading and promoting books they aren’t interested in.
One of the respondents said: “It’s easy to feel pressured to not hurt authors. Only giving 4-5 stars or we don’t feel deserving of compensation”. This is interesting and shows that there’s another side to bribing. Incentivizing a book tour doesn’t mean that the publisher or author should expect 4 or 5 star reviews only. Of course, no one wants to see negative reviews as a result of a book tour. Our policy is that the bookstagrammer or booktoker should talk to the person in charge of the tour. They can then discuss with the campaign manager or author/publisher whether or not to post the review. However, we believe it would be unfair to not pay a creator when they have already spent time and energy on the book.
Does incentivizing help in getting people on board? Definitely! Ultimately, we all have more books to read than time to read them. One can hardly blame a creator for prioritizing an incentivized read over an unincentivized read if the books are equally appealing.
Since 2019, TikTok has emerged as one of the most influential platforms for book recommendations and reviews. Millions of users create content daily, sharing their monthly reads and favorite titles. The #BookTok hashtag has experienced phenomenal growth, surging over 160% and accumulating an impressive 138 billion views in just the past year. This rise in BookTok activity has also translated to real-world impact: book retailers such as Barnes & Noble have reported a 27.8% increase in adult fiction sales and a 35.6% growth in Young Adult (YA) fiction sales over the same period.
How BookTokEmbraces every reader
Within the BookTok diverse and wide community, there’s a corner for every type of reader. Whether you’re into mystery or romance; fantasy or nonfiction, the platform offers a space for bookworms to share their passion for books from all genres of the literary world. The result is a rich variety of recommendations waiting to be discovered. So fret not if you haven’t discovered your literary niche yet. As bookworms would often say- the only reason you haven’t fallen in love with reading yet is simply because you haven’t found the right genre for you!
Besides book recommendations, the platform offers a place for creative trends, book-related challenges, short-form reviews, book clubs and others. The various forms of media fosters a sense of community among readers with different tastes and interests. Readers are no strangers to taking trends up a notch and implementing a certain lifestyle into their daily lives inspired by fictional characters and iconic books. As the temperature warms, we will soon we bid temporary farewell to the Dark Academia aesthetic. The sub genre has dominated the platform during the fall and winter months with notable titles such as Donna Tartt’s brilliant 1992 novel The Secret History and recent releases like Rebecca F Kuang’s triumph Babel.
Now, we are already witnessing influencers hastily preparing their spring to-be-read lists featuring the latest anticipated romance reads. And is it even properly warmer weather without an Emily Henry book in hand? Good thing she has us covered with her upcoming release, Funny Story, set to dominate the reading space in April.
TikTok’s Bold Entry into Literary Recognition
In 2023, TikTok achieved a significant milestone in the literary world as it launched its first ever Book Awards. This set a new precedent alongside established awards like the Booker and the Nobel award for Literature. As a powerhouse in shaping trends, TikTok aims to recognize the impact of BookTok where users share book reviews and recommendations. The awards featured nine categories, including BookTok Book Of The Year, BookTok Author Of The Year, Best BookTok Revival, etc. It showcases TikTok’s commitment to celebrating the vast literary community it has fostered. The awards also paid homage to the very reason behind BookTok’s massive success – its creators. Selected individuals were honoured with a special category for BookTok Creator Of The Year. Last but not least, recognition was also given to indie bookstores in the UK and Ireland with their dedicated category for Indie Bookshop Of The Year.
How BookTokEmpowers Indie Authors on a Global Stage
If there’s one thing that BookTok does best it is levelling the playing field for indie authors. The algorithm doesn’t discriminate based on whether you have a deal with a traditional publishing house. On the contrary, by word of mouth, indie books sometimes skyrocket in popularity, with readers enthusiastically sharing hidden gems online.
We’ve seen TikTok’s power to transform self-published authors into literary sensations. It is tool that creates a pathway for diverse voices to break through the barriers of traditional publishing.
This authentic interest in books often results in attracting the attention of major publishing houses thus resulting in long-term deals. Bloom Books, the new imprint of Sourcebooks, has become the powerhouse for indie authors and represents notable names such as Ana Huang, Lucy Score, Kennedy Ryan, Elsie Silver, Raven Kennedy, and more. From romance to fantasy, the imprint currently publishes new and older titles which received major interest over TikTok.
This increased popularity of self-published literature on TikTok also has shifted accessibility on a local scale. Libraries and bookstores previously hesitant to feature indie books due to concerns about “marketability” now proudly host special ‘BookTok’ tables. The dedicated sections offer space for both traditional and self-published books. And we often see readers travelling to different cities just to purchase a signed copy by their favourite indie author.
Thank you BookTok
As we turn the page onto the next chapter, one thing is certain- readers would continue to discover and share their favourite books in the digital space, creating trends and dictating the next bestselling novel. So whether you are a bookworm or just embarking on your reading journey, BookTok invites you to explore, connect and delve into the ever-expanding universe of literature. Your new favourite book is just a video away- Happy reading!
If you’re interested in reading more about how TikTok has impacted the literary scene, check out our blog here
“The relationships I made through social media is critical, using platforms and services like BookInfluencers is important for forming those relationships. I love the connections I’ve made and it’s so nice finding your community of people.”
Nicholas Williams, author of Had me at Halo
One of the most successful book tours of 2023 was for Had Me at Halo by Nicholas Williams, attracting over 250 book influencers eager to read and promote the story. As a campaign manager, seeing such enthusiasm was incredibly exciting. The success of this book influencer campaign came from strong collaboration and clear communication between the author, campaign managers, and participating influencers. Keep reading to discover more about Nicholas Williams’ writing process and insights from this highly successful book tour.
Hi Nick, we wanted to hear more about where the idea of Had Me at Halo started. The story follows a man who travels back in time to reclaim his lost love, but the unexpected connection with his guardian angel gets in the way of his original plans.
Nick: The idea of the Afterlife always fascinated me, but I wanted to subvert the Eurocentric and Religious assumptions we usually make about it. The Afterlife depicted in Had Me at Halo is not specific to any religion. I made up my own Gods. Angels have a pronoun system and are more fluid in gender. The Afterlife is bloated with bureaucracy and angels are expected to be as perfect as possible. I also wanted to tell a story that explored how soul mates could interact with the concept of eternity. What does heaven look like when two soul mates are complete opposites? What does love look like when it is forbidden? Had Me at Halo was so much fun to write and many readers love the unique interpretation of Happily Ever After.
Tell us more about the cover. How did you find the right design?
Nick: The cover was tough! Had Me at Halo has a mainstream feel, but doesn’t fit squarely in a single genre. I did my best to fuse several components together in order to capture the unique reading experience of the book itself. I was mostly inspired by cover designs for Under the Whispering Door and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. To capture a lighthearted Contemporary Fantasy, I wanted to showcase the modern cityscape with vivid colors and, of course, an angel staring over the horizon.
The tough part about making a book cover is that we sometimes get too obsessed with the little details and lose track of the big picture. Keep focus on the vibe and genre, and make sure that’s perfect first. A good way to test if your cover is working is by showing the cover to other people, but don’t tell them what the book is about; let them tell you what the book would be like.
How did you get your book out into the world, and especially into the hands of the right readers?
Nick: Beta readers are so critical, and I consider them mandatory: I had four rounds of beta readers. As well as this, I hired a developmental editor who helped me fine-tune the story even further.
I also worked with a lot of readers on TikTok, making quite a few connections. I gave away PR boxes to influencers and readers in the fantasy genre which helped to share the awareness and the hype of the novel.
The relationships I made through social media is critical, using platforms and services like BookInfluencers is important for forming those relationships. I love the connections I’ve made and it’s so nice finding your community of people.
Rebecca shares the beautiful PR box that a selection of influencers received as part of the campaign.
What is the most rewarding part of seeing your story out in the world?
Nick: I love when people tell me how much they were smiling as they read Had Me at Halo. It’s meant to be fun, humorous, emotional and exciting, and it’s really nice to hear when readers feel that. To be honest, I mostly write for the enjoyment of others. So when I hear the positive feedback, it really makes my day.
What advice do you have for upcoming or new authors who are just starting out?
Nick: First, make sure the books you write are at professional standards. Then, keep pushing that book. Everyone succeeds in different ways, find what works for you and keep pushing that way. Be creative in connecting with your target audiences and building genuine relationships with them.
We know our influencers loved Nick’s story and the characters from Had Me at Halo. Of course, we had to ask what’s in store for the readers.
Nick: Sienna was a fan favorite from Had Me at Halo, so I’m halfway through her story, which will be a standalone. The book will be set entirely in the Afterlife and focuses on a Bake-Off, similar to the Great British Bake-Off. Sienna is desperate to win, so she makes a deal with the Devil for a demonic whisk that gives her special baking powers.
Sienna’s book will also feature a Rivals-To-Lovers romance and will have even more banter than Had Me at Halo!
Finally, I love one-sentence pitches. They are a challenge yet so captivating and fun. How about checking out Had Me at Halo based on this one sentence from the author himself?
Nick: A man goes back in time to reclaim a lost love but develops forbidden feelings for his guardian angel along the way.
I had an amazing time working on the Had Me at Halo campaign together with the influencers and author Nick Williams. You can check out more from Nick Williams here: https://www.nwilliamsauthor.com/
Want to check out some of our other author interviews? Read our interview with Katie Keridan or Simone Warren
Are you a publisher or author looking to reach new audiences through Bookinfluencers.com? Contact contact@bookinfluencers.com, and we will help you out!
A key part of what we do at Bookinfluencers.com is managing our international TikTok book collectives. These collectives bring together local book creators who promote a wide range of titles through engaging and relatable content. By combining creative, bookish videos with collaborations from publishers and authors, our TikTok collectives help authors and publishers reach new and hard-to-reach readers, expanding their audience and boosting book visibility worldwide.
Swedish TikTok
The Swedish TikTok collective, Svenskabooktok, started in the spring of 2022. Since then, the account has become a staple in the Swedish booktok community – where readers can find new titles to read and rediscover a passion for reading. The creators offer a different level of authenticity and creativity in the industry that sets them apart from other agencies. Likewise, one thing TikTok has taught us, it is that organic and relatable content will always offer an authentic connection with the audience. While running the Swedish Collective, a significant focus has been creating lasting connections with audiences and publishers. We are proud of our collaboration with Sweden’s largest publisher, The Bonnier Group.
In 2023, the Swedish collective read and reviewed more than 25 titles from The Bonnier group. With genres varying from romance to mystery and everything in between. Our most popular recommendation was The American Dating Experiment by Elena Armas, where more than 60 people participated in the giveaway! The collective and Bonnier have together gifted 40 books to the Swedish Booktok community as part of various giveaways.
The creators of Svenskabooktok showcase a selection of content curated in collaboration with the various imprints of The Bonnier Group. As readers, the creators can provide relatable thoughts and authentic content that resonates with other readers.
While we proudly look back on a creative and successful year for Swedish content creation on Svenskabooktok, we also look forward to new projects in 2024. As part of our focus for the new year, we are turning our eyes towards SparkAds and the unique opportunities it gives brands to reach even wider audiences through user-generated content. User-generated content allows the brand to increase website clicks and exposure by building long-lasting relationships with audiences. We are excited to share more about SparkAds and TikTok options with all of you in the coming months.
Are you a Swedish publisher or author looking to reach new audiences through Tiktok? Contact maren@bookinfluencers.com, and we will help you out!
At the end of November, we hosted our very first TikTok book club, discussing Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score. Here’s a look at how it went and what we loved most about the event.
In collaboration with Dutch publisher Zomer & Keuning, we ran a BookTok book tour for the translated edition of Things We Never Got Over. Ten talented BookTok creators made engaging videos about the book and promoted the upcoming TikTok book club. To celebrate the conclusion of the book tour, we hosted a live book club discussion via our collective TikTok account @boektokkers, dedicated to showcasing Dutch books and connecting readers with authors.
Our first TikTok book club: how it went and what we loved
For the first 30 minutes of the live, two Dutch Booktokkers Sanne and Beatrijs joined to share their thoughts about Lucy’s book. We discussed the characters, how their past influenced their behavior and we talked about the themes that appeared in the story such as family ties, trauma and dealing with your past.
In the last 30 minutes Jacodine van de Velde, translator of the Dutch edition of Things We NeverGot Over, joined the live as well. Our community loved the conversation we had with her and they asked a lot of questions in the live chat. Jacodine told us about how she became a translator, how she makes choices during the translation process and translating spicy scenes with the right words.
This first book club was really successful with attendees from both our existing community as well as new faces.
What we want to achieve with our TikTok book club
Almost all book influencers that participated in the book tour also watched the live. One of our goals with our book club is to strengthen our reading community and reach new readers. We would like to reach many more people in addition to our existing book influencers to encourage others to buy the book and read with us. We also want everyone to feel connected to our platform and TikTok Collectives.
PR videos leading up to the event gained 39.2K views, 1186 likes, 146 comments and 30 saves. This first online book club lasted just over an hour and there were a total of 530 viewers (of which 447 were unique). The average viewing time was 2 minutes 39 seconds, but followers of the Boektokkers account watched an average of 9 minutes 2 seconds. On average, 29 people were watching at the same time and the booktokkers who had received the book were present on screen or in the chat and interacting with us. 5.8K likes were given out during the broadcast.
What I loved most about the online event and next steps
I personally loved the engagement with all the viewers that joined our TikTok book club. I was blown away by how much discussion there was during the book club in the chat and how many questions were asked to the translator.
In 2024 we are going to host more online book clubs. These will be hosted not only by me, but also by booktokkers Sanne from The Netherlands and Fem from Belgium. For the Dutch collective we plan to have a book club featuring a Dutch author where readers can ask them questions.
We’re really excited about our upcoming book clubs, watch this space for the next one!
A thriving community of readers on TikTok, known as BookTok, has become a revolutionary force in the literary world. In recent years, this vibrant online community has significantly influenced reading habits and book sales. From reviving long-forgotten classics to propelling new releases onto bestseller lists, BookTok is reshaping the way books are discovered and promoted. In this article, we explore how BookTok is transforming the book marketing landscape and its far-reaching cultural impact.
BookTok’s Direct Effect on Book Sales
Booktok has a significant and quantifiable impact on book sales. Popular posts on the platform frequently result in a spike in sales for the featured titles, demonstrating the platform’s ability to shape consumer behavior. For example, Madeline Miller’s book The Song of Achilles, was first published in 2011 with a small print run of 20,000 copies. By 2022, it had sold over 2 million copies. This resurgence and subsequent commercial success has been helped by Booktok’s enthusiastic endorsements. This doesn’t just apply to fiction though. Non-fiction works and literature that crosses genres also benefit from Booktok exposure.
Booktoker @lars.books made a tiktok about The Song of Achilles. The video has 621K views, 81K likes, 9K saves and over 900 comments (and counting)
Booktok has drawn the interest of both writers and publishers. Many have started adjusting their marketing tactics to interact with the Booktok community after seeing its marketing potential. (See below if you want to use Bookinfluencers.com to add Booktok to your marketing strategy!) Special edition releases, focused social media marketing, and partnerships with Booktok influencers are becoming more frequent, indicating the industry’s adjustment to this new digital environment.
How BookTok is Changing Reading Habits
Booktok has a huge impact on reading habits in addition to revenue figures. By elevating the voices of lesser-known writers and fostering a variety of genres, the platform has contributed to a wider range of literary options. Young Adult (YA) fiction is particularly popular on Booktok, which has resulted in a notable increase in the sales and visibility of the genre. Booktok also enables diversity in readers. It is easier to discover and promote diverse works that aren’t covered by the media. A more diverse reading culture and more inclusive reading lists have resulted from the democratization of book suggestions.
The Wider Cultural Impact of Booktok
Beyond only sales figures, Booktok has a huge positive influence on the development of a strong reading community and the advancement of literacy. It has developed into a gathering place for readers worldwide to interact, exchange stories, and have literary conversations. People are inspired to read more as a result of this sense of community and shared passion. This has had a good impact on literacy rates and reading habits.
Booktok’s impact on the book industry is evidence of how social media may shape cultural trends. Its importance in the book industry will probably increase as it develops further, completely changing how books are promoted, read, and enjoyed in our increasingly digital society.
This guest blog was written by Shahed Shahin from Bangladesh, whohasbeen a journalist for 17 years.
Interested in collaborating with booktokers? Contact us about our Tiktok book tours and Spark Ads options: contact@bookinfluencers.com
