Monday, April 7, 2014

Social Media and Sales



Does Social Media participation translate into sales?

If you have any doubts, look at the number of authors, celebrities, political figures, etc. on Facebook, Twitter, and other venues. What advantages does Social Media provide?

1.  Visibility - If people don't know about us and our books, how can they make a decision to purchase? They're no longer limited to print/radio/TV advertising. The Internet has made it possible to reach a bigger audience than any other time in history.

2.  Relationship -  I like getting to know other authors. When I was a baseball fan, hearing about an athlete's family and faith made me care about his performance on the field and the team's progress toward the World Series. As I've entered the publishing world, the friendships and successes of others inspire me to read their works.

Numerous people have said they purchased my books because they know me. Of course, I'd better deliver a good read if I want their continued support.

3.  Interaction - Social Media has not only made it possible to follow other authors, but also to interact with them. I can comment on their posts, ask them questions, and pray for them when they're going through tough times.

Recently, a fellow author and reader contacted me and said she purchased all 3 of my books on Amazon as a result of my Facebook posts. Others rely on my author page for news about releases and upcoming projects.

Does Social Media participation translate into sales? You bet it does!

Writers and Readers: How has Social Media impacted your career/book-buying decisions?

Photo Credit:  cieleke

5 comments:

Jeanette Levellie said...

Social Media is one of the major factors that influences me on what books to buy, especially if the author is warm and personal in their interaction online, not simply trying to push their books.

I believe it's helped me sell my book, too. Relationship is the key.

Karen Lange said...

Social media has influenced my decision to buy books. I believe it has also been a factor in sales for my book as well. Good post! :)

Ruth Schiffmann said...

Social media has definitely influenced my book buying. I often by the books of my blogging friends. But, oh my, do I have a lot of reading to do!

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Jen - Yes, there's nothing more boring than one long-running commercial.

Hi Karen - I wonder if anyone's done a survey on this subject.

Hi Ruth - There are so many good books available that it's hard to keep up. Some of my favorite authors are so prolific, producing 3 and 4 books per year.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Terri Tiffany said...

I buy books from getting to know the author. I quit buying then when they stop interacting and care only about sales.