Being An Author on TikTok to Sell Your Novel

Did you know being an author on TikTok can help you sell more books? Here are my tips and recommendations for navigating BookTok as an author.

TikTok has been around since 2016 and according to backlinko, about 1 billion of the world’s population is actively using it. That’s pretty crazy. From what I know, much of that popularity exploded during the recent pandemic as people sought a new way to connect, giving rise to BookTok.

For me, the idea of capturing myself in short video clips doesn’t appeal (introverts represent). It took enough energy to present myself calmly and collected for my course and masterclass recordings. That said, for those that like to perform and share themselves on camera, TikTok can be an excellent tool for marketing yourself as an author.

A Guide to Navigating BookTok as an Author

A Place to Connect

If you aren’t aware of it, TikTok is a neat social app where users can make short-form videos about anything. You get 15 seconds to make your mark, which forces a lot of folks to get creative with how they use it.

A large part of it is seizing trending soundbites from popular songs, memes, and other sound effects to ensure your content gets seen. So, as an author, it can become a valuable asset where you can build a rapport and connect with and grow your fanbase.

That, in turn, can likely boost your sales. How you go about it is up to you and your talents or interests, but it’s relatively flexible.

Authors Are People Too

One of the ways some of the most-followed TikTok authors, like NYT bestsellers Sabaa Tahir and Colleen Hoover, reach their fans is by giving insights into their lives. When you’ve got that level of success, fans like to know that the famous are just like them (which they are, mostly!).

It breaks down certain barriers and makes their idols relatable. And some people are really into seeing how others live their lives. It’s up to you what to share, but you can provide personal anecdotes (like I did above).

Or share the content you’re into, like the latest shows, comics, books, and such. If you’re really into food, share your meal prep. Whatever it is, it’s recommended you find a niche that speaks to you and stick to it instead of attempting to be everything all at once.

A Peek Behind the Wizard’s Curtain

“How do you do it?!” For non-writers, bringing words to the page seems mystical. Via TikTok, you can share your process, talk about how you got into writing, what inspired your first novel, why that title, and those sorts of things.

Talk about good writing days and what was working, or be open when you have bad days and how things got in the way. It all helps to keep you relatable to new and existing fans, can even inspire other aspiring authors, and is a less in-your-face way to market your book while you’re at it.

Putting on a Show

Entertainment is a big reason people scroll through most social media. If you like that kind of attention, there are many fun ways to interact with your audience on TikTok. I’ve read that Penelope Douglas reenacts scenes from her novel, much to her fans’ delight, which could be fun.

You can share books you like in this way as well. Maybe roll some of your craft work into this, like sharing your use of writing prompts or brainstorming methods and sharing the process and results in entertaining ways.

People love to watch people fail, especially if they can laugh at themselves while doing it. But at the same time, many want to see folks succeed, too. While showmanship doesn’t seem obvious for an author at first blush, there are some creative ways you could go about it.

Playing the Game

One of the crucial bits to keep in mind on TikTok is the trends. To stay relevant, you need to know what songs and sound samples are popular and integrate them into your content. But not too much! Moderation is key here. Enough to draw eyes but not so much to turn folks away as they see all the same stuff everywhere.

Also, hashtags are integral to being found on TikTok, so be sure you use them in your content. And, of course, promote your book! But again, not too much. The unspoken rule is to promote 20% of the time, or you’ll become too salesy. When all people hear is “buy my book, please,” they’re going to get annoyed with your one-dimensional content.

It’s clear that TikTok is here to stay, so establishing yourself on it is a good idea. I hope this guide was helpful to you in navigating BookTok as an author. With any marketing plan, you need to work with the tools you feel comfortable using. If TikTok holds an appeal, try some of the things I’ve suggested and work to find your own spin on it.

If you can build a solid following, you already have people who will likely buy your book. If you play your cards right, you can make reading lists on BookTok! Speaking of social media, you can track me down online for consistent updates or reach me more directly by emailing me at jsims@jairesims.com.