{"id":1825,"date":"2026-02-13T10:34:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T10:34:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookinfluencers.com\/blog\/?p=1825"},"modified":"2026-02-13T10:36:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T10:36:26","slug":"authenticity-on-social-media-4-tips-for-authors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookinfluencers.com\/blog\/authenticity-on-social-media-4-tips-for-authors\/","title":{"rendered":"Authenticity on Social Media: 4 Tips for Authors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by Katie Keridan<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Over the last decade, my usage of social media<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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\u2019re just putting up posts and waiting for likes, which is neither fun nor rewarding and not likely to be sustainable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But social media can be more than just a marketing tool, and you don\u2019t need to be anyone other than exactly who you are to establish an engaging online presence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here are four easy-to-follow tips for showing up authentically online so you never dread opening a social media app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pick Your Platform<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So, I chose a primary platform (Instagram) where I\u2019m most consistent with posting, and then if I feel like it, I post to a secondary platform (TikTok or Facebook). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Everyone will have different \u201crules\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Set Your Schedule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Being on social media isn\u2019t about what everyone else is doing\u2026it\u2019s about what works for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Unless I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Choose Your Content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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As an author, you\u2019re naturally going to post about your books, and that\u2019s perfectly fine. However, I don\u2019t tend to engage much with accounts that feature nothing but book promotions. I like seeing the person behind the stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To keep things simple, think of two or three interests outside your books and post about those as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I regularly post about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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