Twitter Tips

The social media site Twitter has made waves among populations worldwide, allowing users to send out brief posts containing a maximum of 140 characters. People with accounts can share their thoughts, spark conversation, and connect with others through the implementation of hashtags (a # symbol with a specific term or phrase after it). Famous musicians, actors, authors, and the like have been able to interact with their followers and fans more closely and quickly than ever before. Self-published authors can take advantage of this platform in the same way—connecting with fans of their work, building a larger readership, and letting the world know what it can expect next.

While Twitter can act simply as a communication method, it can also be a great way to market your work and your personal brand as an author. Here are some tips on making the most of your professional Twitter account:

  • You only have 140 characters; use them wisely! Make sure that your posts are brief and to the point. You can even hire someone to create tweets for you!
    • Helpful hint: The most commonly retweeted (or reposted) content is motivational; use that to your advantage! Find and share quotes that inspire you—just be sure to give credit where it is due!
  • Follow other users in your field. This can include writers, editors, and publishing companies. You can also use the search bar to look through a hashtag and follow other accounts that are using that hashtag.
  • Make sure your Twitter handle (aka username) includes your name in some variation. For example, the author Jane Doe might create the handle, “AuthorJaneDoe1” for herself. It will appear to others as “@AuthorJaneDoe1,” so that others are able to search for her.
  • Interact with others! You can use retweets, favorites, or mentions to show your followers and other users that you are paying attention to their content. This can be a great way to gain followers.
    • Retweets are a way to re-post what someone else has already written.
    • Favorites can be made by clicking on the star icon under a user’s post. This lets the user know that you enjoyed their post—similar to how Facebook users “like” content.
    • Mentions are the best way to directly speak to a user on Twitter. Simply use the @ symbol, attached to the person’s Twitter handle, and write a brief message to the person!

Once you create your own Twitter account, make sure to follow us! Look up @troybookmaker in your Twitter search bar!