Shubhi Saran

What are the top social media platforms available in India and the USA for book promotions?

The top social media platforms available for book promotions would be: No. 1, I think is definitely Instagram and YouTube as they give you a more global-level approach. However, for that you have to start building up your audience in advance. In India, there are also some great publishing houses that’ll agree to promote your book if it has what they demand. To name a few, Xpress Publishing, Gamahouse Publishers and Edioak.

At what stage of my book publishing journey should I consider social media promotions? Pre publishing or post and How?

In my opinion, social media promotions should be taken up when you build a stable community as in you know you have a group of people or a stable audience whom you engage with and have communication with. That I think is a good time to go for promotions.

What are the 5 most effective ways to promote books on social media?

• You could start off by contacting Book reviewers and book related social channels and know if they’d be interested in receiving a copy and review it. 
• You could run advertisements and promotions on YouTube and Instagram.
• You could even ask book reviewers to review your books on Amazon, which I think is a great way to promote your book.
• Contacting publishing houses on social media and having them promote your book is also a great option.
• I would say try out different things yourself as well. Try making a variety of content with your book. Don’t be too closed off, let people know what the book actually talks about.

What are the common mistakes made by first-time authors while promoting the book on social media?

One common mistake that I encounter frequently is authors DM-ing me and blandly asking me to review their book, without even knowing me or properly having a conversation. This really puts a person off and also, free reviews. Do not do that. Its great if a reviewer is okay with it but always asks.

What kind of post engagement is received on social media while promoting books? What is the percentage of clicks, likes, and comments?

There can’t be just one answer to that I feel. It depends on how large or small your audience is. The way you’re promoting your book and how many people it interests. It honestly depends on the author.

How much money should I spend on social media promotions for my book and some things to keep in mind?

Again, it’s for you to decide. I don’t think first-time authors should go out of their way to spend on promotions. Try to grow organically. The book community on social media is great and very friendly and I am sure you’ll get all the support.

How to find the perfect hashtags and time to post my book promotions on social media?

Ans: For hashtags, one thing to avoid is- using random unrelated hashtags that are just trending. Use the hashtags that are relevant, look what other big channels are using. Don’t over-do it. Don’t use like 30-40 hashtags, keep a good mix of 15-20 hashtags that cater to your niche, your book or account.

What are the things an author should be cautious about before finalizing a social media handle (page) for promoting their book?

In my opinion, you should first decide what part of the community you are catering to, the age group, the cultural aspect and things like that. Plan out these things first and then decide what social media handle you should go for. Usernames matter, your @ should represent your page. Describe yourself in 2-3 lines, that will give your audience an idea about what your page talks about.

Please give a bit of a background about your social media handle, its Vision & Mission, Top management, the Kind of books you promote, and your biggest strength as a book influencer, popular authors promoted so far, years of experience, any testimonials, etc.

I run a Bookstagram account @readers.shack. As the name suggests, it’s all about a reader’s life. Being an avid reader, I love to share my opinions on everything related to books. I mostly post book reviews and book photography posts.

I promote fiction books as I am yet to divulge into non-fiction. My top genres are Mystery, Crime, Thrillers, Fantasy, and Magical Realism. However, it’s not only limited to that, I love trying out new and different genres.

I have been on Bookstagram for just over a year. My biggest strength as a book influencer on Instagram is the kind of pictures I take and the kind of community I have built. I have been on Bookstagram for just over a year. 

At Sharing Stories, we have an ongoing campaign ‘Let’s Empower Our Kids’. Please suggest some books that you think every child should read before the age of 15 (mostly the character-defining age), teaching them life lessons. Things like empathy, sympathy, relationships, etc.

Some amazing books that I read as a child which helped me shape my life are-

-The Alchemist

-Famous Five books

-Roald Dahl’s books

-Agatha Christie books.

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