Posted on June 23, 2023 at 11:00 AM by Guest Author
The BookTok community on TikTok is a worthwhile place for authors. Discover the value of BookTok for authors and practical tips for using it effectively.
Table of Contents
What Is BookTok?
BookTok is a community within TikTok — the short-form mobile video platform now boasting more than one billion monthly active users. It took off in 2020 and has grown significantly since then, with posts using the hashtag #BookTok gathering tens of billions of views.
Essentially, BookTok is a special interest group bringing together readers, authors, publishers, booksellers, and bibliophiles.
By applying the hashtag, users can share relevant content that appeals to the community, including the following:
-
Book recommendations
-
Book reviews
-
Writing tips
-
Industry news
-
Literary discussions
-
TBR piles
-
Author Q&As
-
Library/bookstore tours
In short, if it’s related to books, chances are you’ll see it on BookTok. That’s why the use of BookTok for authors is too important to overlook — as long as the app remains in use.
What Is the Value of BookTok for Authors?
Although BookTok started out as a space for readers to share and discuss their reads, it’s become a valuable channel for authors as well. And it makes sense. After all, the first rule of book marketing is to go where your readers are.
Authors and social media go together well because communities like BookTok are full of potential fans. And by using it to your advantage, you can reach those most likely to find interest in your work. If you’re an author whose readership leans toward young women, BookTok is especially worthwhile.
Here are some of the specific benefits of BookTok for authors like you:
It gives you the opportunity to capture readers’ attention.
BookTok (and TikTok as a whole) is great for authors because it offers an effective way to reach readers. It’s not always easy to grab and keep the attention of your audience. But research has shown that bite-sized visual content can help you do that. According to HubSpot, short-form videos are watched at least 40% of the way through.
It allows you to monetize your content.
TikTok offers different ways to monetize your content, which any author can appreciate. There’s the obvious way of promoting your books via BookTok. But once you build up your following, you can also sign up for Creator Next. This allows you to be rewarded for creating great videos and more.
It provides a way to increase your book’s visibility.
It can be tough to get your book to stand out, especially if you’re handling marketing yourself. But BookTok can help you enhance your book’s visibility among your target audience. It may take some time and effort at the beginning, but developing a presence in the community can go a long way toward getting your book seen.
It can position you for recognition in the form of awards.
Winning an award for your work can provide you with recognition and make you appear credible in readers’ eyes. And TikTok is launching its own, starting with the community in the UK and Ireland. The platform recently introduced the TikTok Book Awards UK and Ireland 2023 and will announce the winners in August.
It makes it easy to drive traffic to your website or sales page.
Whether you want to encourage BookTok viewers to visit your website, follow you on other social media platforms, or buy your book, you can do that with ease. You can drive traffic to specific places by including a link in your TikTok profile. To avoid limiting where you can send people, you can even set up a multi-link landing page.
It offers you the chance to connect with fellow authors.
With BookTok, you can not only connect with readers but also form relationships with fellow authors. Many writers have started leveraging the community, so you can follow, learn from, and even collaborate with others. These relationships can prove beneficial down the road.
How to Get Started on BookTok
Note: As of June 2023, TikTok has been banned in a few places, including India. Other countries have prohibited the use of the app on official devices. Additionally, many colleges in the U.S. have blocked the use of the app on campus Wi-Fi networks. And earlier this year, Montana passed a ban on TikTok that will go into effect in January 2024. This will prevent app stores from offering the app and new users from downloading it, though TikTok has filed a lawsuit.
Although the future of TikTok is still up in the air, it’s worth getting involved in BookTok if you haven’t already. As of now, the community is still going strong, and you can use it to develop a stronger online presence.
Here’s a quick guide to getting started:
Decide what goals you want to achieve.
Before you do anything, decide what goals you want to achieve. There are many benefits of BookTok for authors, but only if it’s approached the right way. You need to have a firm grasp of what you’re trying to accomplish and how you’ll do it.
Sign up for a TikTok account.
If you don’t already have a TikTok account — or want a separate one for professional use — sign up. It only takes a few minutes to do.
Create an attention-grabbing bio.
Having a strong bio is important if you want to stand out on BookTok. So, make those 80 characters count. Highlight who you are and hint at what followers can expect from you.
Tip: You can also add emojis and hashtags to your bio if desired. These can help extend your reach and make you seem more approachable.
Browse BookTok to get ideas.
If you haven’t spent much time in the BookTok community, take some time to look around. Browse posts from other creators to get ideas for your own. Seeing what is popular and drives engagement can help you brainstorm.
Set a posting schedule.
Regular participation in BookTok is essential. So, set a posting schedule for yourself. To keep things organized, you can create a calendar with the types of content you’ll be sharing and when.
Keep post restrictions in mind.
TikTok has specific guidelines for posting, so make sure to stick to them. You can record 15-second, 30-second, 60-second, and 3-minute videos in the platform. However, longer videos (up to 10 minutes) must be prerecorded and uploaded.
Also, you can include captions of up to 2,200 characters, but links and stylized text can’t be used.
Follow other authors and influencers.
To start forming relationships within BookTok, follow other authors and influencers. In addition to giving you ideas, this can show that you truly want to be a part of the community. Of course, you can choose to keep your followed accounts private if you want.
8 Tips on Using BookTok for Authors
If you want to make the most of BookTok, it helps to have some guidance upfront. Fortunately, there are plenty of tips available for trying TikTok as an author. For example, you should research other relevant hashtags to apply in addition to #BookTok. Also, be sure to vary the content you share (no one likes a creator who promotes all the time).
Here are some additional tips on using BookTok for authors:
HOOK VIEWERS IMMEDIATELY IN VIDEOS.
It may take some practice, but your goal should be to hook viewers immediately. Avoid hemming and hawing. Instead, start off strong in each video by posing a question, sharing a thought, or introducing the topic you’re going to discuss.
Remember that BookTok is popular primarily because it allows book lovers to watch and share short-form content. Even then, people won’t waste 15, 30, or 60 seconds on a video that doesn’t pique their interest right away.
ENGAGE AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.
You don’t just want potential fans and collaborators to watch your videos. You also want them to engage. So, encourage viewers to share their thoughts. Pose questions they can answer in the comments. Ask them for their input on your content or the topic you’ve discussed.
You can also engage with other BookTokers by “stiching” videos (i.e., filming your response to a clip of someone else’s video and using the #StitchThis hashtag). This shows you’re paying attention to what’s going on in the community. Also, if it’s about a topic you’re well versed in, you can demonstrate your knowledge.
DON’T FORGET TO INTERACT IN THE COMMENTS.
BookTok isn’t a place for you to talk at followers. You want to converse with them. That’s why you shouldn’t forget to interact in the comments.
Keep an eye on the comments you receive in your posts. Make sure to answer questions — either directly or in a follow-up video — and address feedback. Show people that you’re watching and listening.
Additionally, don’t be afraid to leave your own comments on other creators’ videos. You want to be part of the community, after all.
MAKE IT EASY FOR READERS TO CONNECT ELSEWHERE.
If you make a video promoting your book, an event, a newsletter, etc., tell people exactly what to do next. Simplify the process of connecting with you elsewhere or buying your book. As mentioned above, you can include a single link in your bio leading to a multi-link landing page. This is often the most convenient option if you’ll be directing traffic to different places.
LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO HOP ON TRENDS.
The average life span of a post on TikTok is incredibly short. In fact, posts experience an almost immediate decay. So, it's worth hopping on trends to increase the likelihood of your videos being seen.
You can use trending…
-
Sounds
-
Hashtags
-
Tropes
…to boost views.
Of course, you don’t need to do this all the time. But if you take advantage of trends or challenges, you can bring in more views. And with any luck, those who see your video will click on your profile and follow you.
PARTNER WITH CREATORS FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT.
When you’re just getting started, consider partnering with other creators. Those who are already well-known in the BookTok community can help you reach a wider audience. In some cases, you may need to pay for such a collaboration, but it can be highly effective.
So, reach out to those who have posted about your genre and see if they would be willing to review your book.
SIGN UP FOR TIKTOK CREATOR NEXT.
As you start building a following in the BookTok community, it may be worth it to sign up for Creator Next so you can monetize your content. By participating in the TikTok Creator Fund, you can earn money based on video views and engagement.
To be eligible for this program, you must meet certain requirements, such as the following:
-
Be 18 years of age or older
-
Be located in the U.S., UK, Germany, Italy, France, or Spain
-
Meet the minimum follower count
-
Meet the minimum number of authentic video views in the last 30 days
Taking this step allows you to get more out of your participation in BookTok. Of course, you want to widen your fan base, but in the meantime, you can get rewarded for your content.
REVIEW YOUR ANALYTICS IN TIKTOK.
As with all types of marketing, analyzing the data is crucial. So, be sure to review the analytics in your TikTok account to see how well your posts in BookTok are performing. That way, you can get a sense of what content to do more or less of to improve your results.
Takeaway
The BookTok community on TikTok remains a popular place for book lovers. So, if you want to get more eyes on your work, build up your online presence, and connect with others, it’s worth jumping in. The potential of BookTok for authors is significant, and you may be missing out on some great opportunities.
(Looking for another way to reach new readers? Promote your free ebook with The Fussy Librarian and put your work in front of 600,000+ potential fans!)
Categories: Behind the scenes