Using Facebook and Twitter Hashtags for Book promotions.
Hashtag is a new word that was developed by the millennial generation. It is also a very powerful, up-to-the-minute, news feeding media platform.
Definition: The # symbol, called a hashtag, is used to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet or posts. It was created organically by Twitter users as a way to categorize messages, and has broadened to other networks such as Facebook, Google+ and Instagram.
Hashtags (#) make it possible to group messages in any of these specific networks (Twitter, Facebook, Google+ & Instagram), and anyone can search for the hashtag and get the recent set of messages that was recently published with it. Tweets and Facebook Posts may be tagged by putting "#" before, within, or at the end of a sentence (preferably one with a link to your published book). Here is an example, even though LinkedIn doesn't support the hashtag system as of yet:
"LinkedIn please add #LinkedIn to your network so authors may use it as well."
You will see that the hashtag (#LinkedIn) was included in the sentence above, and will thereby stream as one of the results in twitter (and other networks) if it was tweeted.
Using hashtags to categorize Tweets by keyword:
- People use the hashtag symbol # before a relevant keyword or phrase (no spaces) in their Tweet to categorize those Tweets and help them show more easily in Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram Searches.
- Clicking on a hashtagged word in any message shows you all other Tweets & Posts marked with that keyword.
- Hashtags can occur anywhere in the Tweet – at the beginning, middle, or end.
- Hashtagged words that become very popular are often Trending Topics.
- If you Tweet or post with a hashtag on a public account, anyone who does a search for that hashtag may find your Tweet
- Don't over-tag a single Tweet. Recommend using no more than 2 hashtags per Tweet.
- Use hashtags only on tweets, posts, and messages relevant to the topic.
Now that you have gotten the full gist of hashtags and its global system, I will now show you how you can use it to promote your books to the worldwide readers.
The list of literary-related hashtags below will tremendously help any author with their book sales if they use them sparingly with their Facebook posts and Twitter tweets.
- #amwriting: Useful on both Facebook (www.facebook.com/hashtag/amwriting) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting), this hashtag is designed specifically for writers who are experiencing writers block and just want to relieve the anxiety.
- #AmazonCart: The latest innovative thinking brought about by twitter and amazon, in a joint agreement. The hashtag is useful on both Facebook (www.facebook.com/hashtag/AmazonCart) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/hashtag/AmazonCart), and the ability to log into your amazon account with twitter gives it a fine tone for a great e-commerce partnership, one that will guarantee more book sales and free promotions for authors.
- #eBook: Is useful on both Facebook (www.facebook.com/hashtag/eBook) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/hashtag/ebook), and gives the latest posts, accordingly.
- #Books: Same use as the previous hashtag. Useful on both Facebook (www.facebook.com/hashtag/Books) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/hashtag/books), and gives the latest posts, accordingly.
- #Reading: Same use as the previous two. This hashtag is dominated by GoodReads users who are also on Twitter (www.twitter.com/hashtag/reading).
- #Nook: Useful on both Facebook (www.facebook.com/hashtag/Nook) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/hashtag/Nook), and gives the latest posts according to Nook published books.
- #ePub: Created specifically for independently published authors, this hashtag platform promotes eBooks published on Smashwords, Kobo, iTunes, Nook etc. Useful on both Facebook (www.facebook.com/hashtag/ePub) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/hashtag/epub).
- #Amazon: Considered the mother of all tweets. Here you can find everything Amazon related, most particularly books. Useful on both Facebook (www.facebook.com/hashtag/Amazon) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/hashtag/Amazon).
- #AmazonKindle: Same as the one above, but more useful for sale of Kindle Devices and eBooks. Useful on both Facebook (www.facebook.com/hashtag/AmazoKindle) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/hashtag/AmazonKindle).
- #KindleUnlimited: If your book is enrolled in the KDP Select program, then this hashtag is for you. It is where thousands of Kindle owners browse every hour in search of their next free book to download. As part of the new Kindle Unlimited program, anyone may now sign up to download free and unlimited amount of Kindle eBook for only $6.99 a month. #KindleUnlimited is, therefore, the most active book tweeting platform for readers and writers, and you can get involve too. Useful on both Facebook (www.facebook.com/hashtag/KindleUnlimited) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/hashtag/KindleUnlimited).
- #IndieWriterSupp: Created by the @IndieWriterSupp twitter account, this hashtag is quickly catching on fire as far as free book promotions go for indie writers, because the #IndieWriterSupp tweets automatically streams on ReadersBooks.info, IndieWriterSupport.com, IndieWriterSupport.org, and WorldsBestsellingBooks.com instantly, thereby generating hundreds of free views every day.
- #Askagent: Literary agents are very busy people. Many of them are aware of this hashtag tweet and sometimes uses it. If you want to converse with one or query them via Twitter, you may use it as well, even if it is only to ask book related questions.
- #readwomen2014: Created by writer Joanna Walsh (@badaude), this is a place for people to talk about the books they are reading, the authors they admire, link to relevant essays and articles and even share quotes from some of the books. It’s great to have a hashtag (and a Twitter handle) that encourages people to read more books by female writers.
- #indiebooksbeseen: Useful on Twitter only, this hashtag is also catching fire among indie writers online.
- #WeNeedDiverseBooks: We Need Diverse Books “is a grassroots organization created to address the lack of diverse, non-majority narratives in children’s literature.” Writers and publishing professionals have teamed up to tackle an important issue. The best part of this hashtag is that the movement started on Twitter. It just goes to show how conversations between a few people can lead to an actual movement. Useful on both Facebook (www.facebook.com/hashtag/WeNeedDiverseBooks) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/hashtag/WeNeedDiverseBooks).
- #Fridayreads: One of the most popular literary hashtags of all time on twitter. It even generated a global trend at one period of a time. Started by writer and book critic Bethanne Patrick several years ago, it is still one of the best ways to find out about good books. Useful on both Facebook (www.facebook.com/hashtag/fridayreads) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/hashtag/fridayreads).
- #writingprompt: Sometimes a 140 word or less prompt is all that you need to nudge you back into your writing action, and there is a community of writers here for you. Useful on both Facebook (www.facebook.com/hashtag/writingprompt) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/hashtag/writingprompt).
Comments
Now, this is what I consider a very useful blog! I am going to print this out so I can refer to it to use the correct hashtags. Thanks!!