Tweets
about your novel are advertisements, plain and simple. We writers cringe to
think of "pushing" our novels, but facts are facts. In this day and
age, we can't crawl away in a corner and hide from the marketing monster.
The
real trick to advertising our books on Twitter or any other
blurb-posting-social-networking site, is finding the right 140 characters (or
whatever brevity the site demands) that won't sound like we're shouting, "Here comes a sales pitch!"
but will cause our followers to say, "Whoa!" and click a link.
I'm
sure I've written plenty of those "gag me" pitches myself. So what
kind of tweet might actually stir interest without being off-putting or just too
easy to mouse past?
There
are a few, but first, you have to realize that no matter how genius the tweet,
it isn't going to appeal to everyone, because not all your followers will be
drawn particularly to your kind of novel. Really, I read zero sci-fi. No matter
how perfectly crafted, startling, or mind-bending your tweet, I'm probably not
going to click through and investigate your novel even if I thought the tweet
snappy or clever.
The
same goes for some people who see my tweets. If inspirational or historical
novels don't interest them, it doesn't matter how fantastic my tweets are.
Those folks aren't my intended audience.
But,
for those who are, several things matter:
First,
does
the tweet offer them something enticing and different? There are a zillion
tweets about how "she is stalked by a killer". Well, that might be a
great book, but I'm a bit immune to that mention in a tweet because I see it so
often. Tell me something different. What makes her stalking unique? Or how can
you give me that same information without using the same worn-phrase. Think
smart adjectives or sharp verbs. (I believe tweeting is one place where
adjectives can be helpful.) Here are two such tweets I like from Nike Chillemi:
Cryptic
message cut out of newspaper headlines. Is the killer hunting reporter Kiera
Devane? PERILOUS SHADOWS http://is.gd/W2Hm2N
Second, include the
book title whenever possible like Nike did above. Studies show most readers
need repeated exposure to a book before they become interested. I think this is
especially true when they can't see the cover. In that case, they need to see
the title again, and again, and again. The repetition will hopefully create
some buzz. I would also suggest putting the title in ALL-CAPS. Here are two tweets by Barbara E. Brink that each employ a clever
play on words giving meaning to the title and definition to the genre:
Jael
plans to destroy the Bishop once & for all, but first she has to milk the
goat… SHUNNED http://ow.ly/eKaeR #vampires #Amish #humor #YA
Third, make the best
use of quotes from reviews and endorsements. Don't just say it's a 5-star
review. Give a powerful sample, some WOW words from the reviewer. If a reviewer
called it a delicious read or a ripping good adventure, use it! Reviews
are another place where adjectives can work in your favor. Also, if you're
going to quote a review, use the hashtags
#review or #reviewer, or else put the quote in actual quotation marks so you
don't sound like you're making up your own brag.
Lastly,
unless you truly don't have room, remember to include the title of the book, as
I said in point two above. Here's an example of great use of a review or
possibly it was used as a back cover endorsement. In it, I also like that
author Janalyn Voight gave the name of the reviewer. That lends credibility:
Fourth, be creative.
Come on! We're writers! Our blurb or tweet is the same thing as our elevator
pitch, and needs to pack the same punch. Put effort into it. Don't be dull. Offer
excitement, romance, adventure, intrigue, wit, fear, something that stirs our
emotional curiosity. Key words like those in the tweet above that provide
summary for the feel of the story are very important. Here's one of mine in
which I also played off the word "renovation" because the heroine is
a landscape architect:
And this one puts the plot in a nutshell:
Jesilyn
longs for her twin's fiancé, and he can't tell them apart. THE BLACK
ROSE http://ow.ly/h7Q6i #Historical #Women's#ChristFic
Fifth, Show, don't
tell. This advice isn't just for the actual story-telling. Use clips in your
tweet --you know -- novel hook lines. Include a hashtag like #novellines if you can fit it. The key
is to allow your fellow tweeters to enjoy a snapshot, a brief moment of
voyeurism into your book. In my opinion,
this is one of the single, best ways to capture interest for your novel.
NOTE: When you use a hook line, it's
very important that you step outside yourself as the author for a minute. Divorce
yourself from your masterpiece. Really look at the line you've selected from
the viewpoint of someone who knows zilch
about your story and ask yourself the tough questions: Just because it's a great line to me, because I know the plot and am
emotionally attached to the protagonist, would an outsider find it to be a
great line? Does it have the power to entice on its own?
140
characters minus the ones needed for the title, link, or a hashtag isn't much
room to entice a reader with a hook line, so don't use trite lines. Find
something simply smashing. Here are a couple I've liked from Tammy Doherty, one
from Marcy Dyer's new YA release, and several of my own I had fun digging up:
“He
wants me all to himself, Abby. That’s what he said. No more working here at the
saloon." CELTIC KNOT http://ow.ly/gO7MS #ChristFic #Kindle
“You
killed her David. You killed your wife and child. Surely they’ll hang you for
this.” CLADDAUGH #eBook #Christfichttp://ow.ly/feMuN
"Just
so we're clear," he whispered, "I don't have a girlfriend." Down
& Out http://ow.ly/gLgw6 #Christfic
#john316authors
"I like a
little fight in a gal, but that ain't what I'm payin' for tonight." THE
BLACK ROSE http://ow.ly/gi19A #ChristFic #HistFic
Sixth is a brief word
on hashtag diversity. Think outside the box when it comes to hashtags. Instead
of just using #novel, #HistFic, #romance etc. think of the how your novel
addresses those types of things. Does it deal with a former alcoholic anti-hero?
Tweet #alcoholism. In my novel The Black Rose, the protagonist is a twin, so I
hash-tagged #twins. My books are set in 1800s Wisconsin, so sometimes I use the
#WiHistory hashtag. Is your novel about a little old lady who knits away while
she solves mysteries? Maybe you can use a combination #knitting #reading
hashtag. Do a few searches on interesting hashtags and see what kind of tweets
they turn up. Don't make up a hashtag no one else uses, unless you're trying to
create a brand for one you hope will go viral.
Finally, you know those novel tweets you glaze
over when you're scolling down Twitter, the ones that make you yawn? Just pause
at them and ask yourself why. And then,
well... just don't tweet that way! :)
