The power of social media – Post 3 of 12

PART 3 – The Importance of Post Consistency.

tap – scroll – swipe – swipe – swipe – tap – swipe…

In the previous posts, we discussed the importance of knowing your audience and its importance when creating compelling posts. There is no doubt in my mind that knowing your target audience is vital when creating content. However, no matter how well-made the content is, if your posts aren’t being seen, they cant work. And even if they are being seen, if they aren’t inspiring organic interaction, it’s not possible for them to be effective. 

The average time a viewer spends looking at social media posts can vary due to factors such as the platform, content type, user behavior, and context. On platforms like Facebook and Instagram, where users spend more time scrolling through feeds, engagement with posts can be longer compared to platforms like Twitter or TikTok, known for quick consumption. Videos tend to have higher engagement and longer viewing times than static images or text-based posts. User behavior and individual interest also play a role, with viewers more likely to spend more time on content that aligns with their interests. Mobile device usage may result in shorter attention spans. Capturing attention quickly and providing relevant, valuable content is essential for maximizing engagement. While there is no specific average time, creating compelling content that resonates with your target audience increases the chances of capturing and retaining viewers’ attention. The same can be said for post consistency.

Posting regularly on social media platforms maintains visibility and builds an active presence within the reader community. Regularly share updates about your book, upcoming events, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and other relevant content to keep your audience engaged. So, let’s discuss this more…

Consistency is key when utilizing social media posts to generate organic clicks and increase book sales. By consistently delivering valuable content, engaging with your audience, and strategically promoting your books, you can attract readers, build relationships, and ultimately drive more sales.

This ad took me 2 minutes to make. I already had the background image, and all I added on Canva were three screenshots of Verified Purchase Amazon Reviews. In the post, I would add the sales link so people could purchase their own copy. “Click on your country’s link to purchase a DAZED Designs author journal  US AU UK“

1. Frequency: Establish a consistent posting schedule that aligns with your audience’s preferences and platform algorithms (which you should know if you’ve researched your target audience – as discussed in Post 1). Regularly posting content ensures that you remain visible in your followers’ feeds and increases the chances of your posts reaching a wider audience. Consistency demonstrates your commitment to engaging with your readers.  Consider your own capacity to consistently create content. It’s better to establish a realistic posting schedule that you can maintain over time rather than overcommitting and struggling to keep up. Consistency is more important than posting too frequently and then abruptly stopping. Remember, establishing a regular rhythm that aligns with your capacity to create content and your audience’s expectations will help your readers trust your authenticity and professionalism.
2. Quality over Quantity: Focus on delivering high-quality content rather than simply aiming for a high frequency of posts. It’s better to have fewer posts that provide value, spark engagement, and showcase your expertise than to flood your audience’s feed with mediocre content. Strive for a balanced mix of content types and make sure to include updates on your writing progress, behind-the-scenes insights, book recommendations, writing tips, interactive polls or quizzes, and engaging visuals. 
3. Diverse and Engaging Content: As discussed in Post 2, variety can be vital to developing and maintaining a decent online presence. By providing a variety of content you keep your audience interested and engaged. Share updates on your writing progress, behind-the-scenes glimpses, book recommendations, writing tips, or insights into your genre. Incorporate engaging visuals, videos, and interactive elements to capture attention and encourage interaction. Experiment with different content formats to discover what resonates best with your audience, but remember to stay true to your brand. Read Post 2 for more.
4. Platform Considerations: Different social media platforms have different posting norms. For example, Twitter typically has a faster-paced environment that benefits from more frequent posting, while on Facebook or Instagram, a few well-crafted posts per week may be more effective. Adapt your posting frequency to the platform’s dynamics and user behavior. I plan on doing more on post-frequency in the future. This is something that confuses most people, myself included… so I need to do a lot more research on this before I comment on specifics. 
5. Audience Engagement: Pay attention to your audience’s response and engagement with your posts. Monitor metrics such as likes, comments, shares, and click-through rates. If you notice a decline in engagement, it may indicate a need to adjust your posting frequency or content strategy. Stay attentive to your audience’s feedback and preferences. Analyze which types of posts generate the most engagement and adjust your content strategy accordingly. Experiment with different posting frequencies and observe the impact on engagement levels. Also, don’t underestimate the power of a good old Google search. “Peak times to post on TikTok for USA viewer interaction” for example.

OK, but you may be asking “How do I put this into practice in the real world? I don’t have all day just to sit on social media…”

Facebook Example

Imagine you’re an author running a Facebook group for fans of your steamy romance novels. To encourage organic clicks and interactions, you apply the guidelines mentioned:

1. Frequency: You post once per day in your Facebook group to maintain an active presence and provide consistent content for your members.
2. Quality over Quantity: Rather than posting numerous times a day with generic updates, you focus on crafting high-quality posts that resonate with your audience.
   For instance:
   – Monday: You share a teaser excerpt from your upcoming book, creating anticipation and sparking curiosity among your group members.

   – Tuesday: You ask a thought-provoking question related to the Steamy Romance genre, encouraging members to share their favorite kinks, characters, or tropes.

   – Wednesday: You share a behind-the-scenes photo or insight about your writing process, providing an exclusive glimpse into your work and making your readers feel connected to your creative journey.

   – Thursday: You recommend a classic Romance novel or share a review of a recently read book, encouraging discussions about beloved authors and engaging your members in a conversation about their reading experiences.

   – Friday: You run a contest where members can guess the big reveal secret of the main character in one of your previous books, offering a prize to the first member who gets it right. This fosters engagement, excitement, and healthy competition among your group members.

   – Saturday: You post a writing tip or advice for aspiring authors interested in the Steamy Romance genre, showcasing your expertise and offering value to your members.

   – Sunday: You engage in a live Q&A session, allowing members to ask questions about your books, writing process, or upcoming projects. This interactive session builds a sense of community and encourages direct engagement with your readers.

   NOTE: If things like “lives” take up too much time, just do one a month. Substitute the lives for short skit videos, competitions where readers challenge each other to ask you the dirtiest question they can, and the winner (selected by you) can send you a written interview which you will answer and publish on your website or FB page. This allows you to answer the questions when you have time.

3. Diverse and Engaging Content: By offering a mix of content types throughout the week, such as teasers, questions, behind-the-scenes insights, recommendations, contests, writing tips, and live Q&As, you keep the group dynamic and cater to different interests within the mystery genre.
4. Platform Considerations: Here is where your research comes into play. You analyze your group insights and schedule your posts to align with the times when your group members are most active. This increases the likelihood of your posts being seen and encourages timely engagement. You also ensure that the content you share is relevant to the Steamy Romance genre, providing valuable and engaging information that resonates with your audience.
5. Audience Engagement
   – Monitoring Engagement: You regularly monitor the engagement metrics of your posts, including likes, comments, shares, and reach. By paying attention to these metrics, you can gauge the effectiveness of your content and adjust your posting strategy if needed. For example, if a particular type of post generates high engagement, you may consider incorporating more of that content into your schedule.

   – Interacting and Responding: You actively engage with your group members by responding to their comments, answering their questions, and participating in discussions. By interacting with your readers, you foster a sense of community and create a space where members feel valued and connected.

By providing something unique and valuable, like a free short story, or chapter excerpt from your best-selling book, you can motivate readers to click and interact with your post.

By implementing these strategies, you maintain an active presence in your Facebook group, provide valuable content that resonates with your audience, encourage organic clicks, and foster meaningful interactions among your group members.

TikTok Example

Imagine you’re an author leveraging TikTok to engage with your target audience and encourage organic clicks and interactions. Based on the guidelines mentioned, you implement the following strategies:

1. Consistency: You decide to post on TikTok three times per day to maintain an active presence and keep your audience engaged. You choose specific time slots that align with your target audience’s active hours on the platform (again… GOOGLE).
2. Quality over Quantity: Instead of hastily producing multiple TikToks per day, you focus on creating high-quality and engaging videos that can be utilized for several days. For example:
   – TikTok 1: You create a book recommendation video where you showcase and discuss a must-read novel in your genre. You provide a captivating description, share your personal insights, and encourage viewers to engage in the comments by sharing their own recommendations or thoughts on the book – create one video per book, choosing to section the review on different features and alternative aspects of the book. Select to split the video using TikToks built-in feature. This way, you’ve made one video into three or more which can be released on different days.
   – TikTok 2: You create a behind-the-scenes video, showing snippets of your writing process or research journey for your latest book. You use creative transitions, captions, and music to make the video visually appealing and engaging. This gives viewers an exclusive look into your work and invites them to connect with you on a more personal level. Again, make the most of your time, one video into multiple TikToks. Record a video that can be split into multiple 5-second snippets. People just want to see you, they don’t mind if you have a messy bun, smudged glasses, and sweats on… they just want to get to know you.
   – TikTok 3: You participate in a popular TikTok trend related to books or writing. You put your unique spin on the trend, showcasing your creativity and sense of humor. This allows you to tap into the existing momentum of the trend and reach a wider audience, increasing the chances of organic clicks and interactions. PLEASE utilize duets for this. Make other Creators do the work for you. Jump on that bandwagon! These duets can take as little as 30 seconds to create and tap into. Time well spent. 
3. Audience Engagement: You actively monitor the engagement metrics of your TikToks, such as views, likes, comments, and shares. Based on the feedback from your audience, you identify the types of content that generate the most engagement and adapt your strategy accordingly. For example, if you notice that videos discussing writing tips receive a higher number of comments, you may incorporate more of such content into your posting schedule. 
4. Content Variation: You offer a variety of content to cater to different interests within your target audience. Alongside book recommendations and behind-the-scenes videos, you also experiment with other TikTok formats, such as dramatic readings of captivating excerpts from your books, quick writing hacks or tricks, or even interactive polls or quizzes related to your genre. This variety keeps your content fresh, appeals to a broader audience, and encourages interactions.
5. Timing and Trend Relevance: You pay attention to TikTok trends and incorporate relevant ones into your content strategy. If there’s a trending challenge or hashtag related to your genre or the writing process, you participate and create content that aligns with it. This increases the likelihood of your videos being discovered and shared, leading to more organic clicks and interactions from viewers who are actively engaging with the trend. #booktok that shiznik!
6. Engage with Comments: You make it a point to actively respond to comments on your TikTok videos. By engaging with viewers and creating conversations, you foster a sense of community and make viewers feel valued. This encourages further interactions, encourages more organic clicks, and strengthens your relationship with your audience.

By implementing these strategies, you maintain an active presence on TikTok, create high-quality and engaging content, encourage organic clicks, and foster meaningful interactions with your target audience. Remember to continually analyze engagement metrics, adapt your strategy based on audience response, and focus on delivering TikToks that captivate and resonate with your viewers.

By providing examples of WIPs, like abstract art images, process videos, or teaser excerpts, you can motivate readers to click and interact with your post and increases the chance they engage in future posts as well. Check out my TikTok. I’m very new to the platform, but I have a lot more planned https://www.tiktok.com/@tashdazeddesigns 

Ultimately, finding the right posting frequency for your social media accounts requires a balance between providing consistent, high-quality content and respecting your own limitations as an independent author. Regularly evaluate and adapt your posting strategy based on audience response and engagement metrics to keep reader engagement fresh and maintain a strong presence on social media.

NOTE: These are just my personal opinions and are meant to be used to help you, not as a definite instruction manual. The opinions or views expressed here are not intended to treat or diagnose issues; nor are they meant to replace the treatment and care that you may be receiving from a licensed professional. Neither I nor Patreon is not responsible for the outcome or results of following any advice in any given situation. You, and only you, are completely responsible for your actions.

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