BookTok For Authors: How To Sell More Books On TikTok

Disclaimer: TikTok is banned in India and restricted in other countries to protect the data and privacy of their citizens. Using banned websites is illegal. Reader discretion is advised.

Learn how book writers and authors can use TikTok’s book lover community, BookTok, to reach more readers and sell more books.

TikTok’s BookTok is a powerful platform for authors to promote their books and reach new readers.

With the right book promotion strategies, you can maximize your presence on BookTok to drive sales, boost the visibility of your books, and build your author brand.

In this article, we’ll explore some key TikTok marketing strategies that will help you make the most out of BookTok as an author.

These include creating engaging content, building a community, promoting your books effectively, leveraging influencers, and analyzing results from campaigns.

By implementing these steps, you’ll learn how to sell more books through TikTok’s BookTok.

Contents

What is BookTok?

BookTok is a TikTok sub-community devoted to books and literature. BookTok features videos by creators, or BookTokers, discussing and reviewing the books they loved — and hated.

BookToks are videos on TikTok featuring books recommended by TikTok users who use the hashtag #BookTok to identify their content as BookTok book recommendations.

Although the genres of these works are varied, many BookTok influencers favor young adult fiction, young adult fantasy, and romance.

How can BookTok help authors sell more books?

On TikTok, the hashtag #BookTok has over 61.9 billion views. TikTok videos of people recommending books have led to a significant increase in sales.

Indeed, many books mentioned in BookTok recommendations have made it onto The New York Times bestseller list as a result of TikTok videos that performed exceptionally well.

As a result of this phenomenon, websites such as Goodreads have also taken to publishing BookTok recommendations lists of the most popular books on TikTok.

Many Barnes & Noble locations around the United States have also set up BookTok tables displaying titles featured in BookTok recommendation lists.

As you can see, BookTok is a great platform for American authors to showcase their work, build an audience, and engage with readers. Authors can use TikTok’s features to create engaging videos that draw attention to their work.

By creating engaging content and using creative strategies to grow your audience, you can take full advantage of BookTok’s potential as an author and even get featured in BookTok lists of the most recommended books on TikTok.

BookTok also provides opportunities for collaboration with other writers or TikTok influencers who review books (called “BookTokers”) and may be interested in promoting a particular book or series of books.

How can authors get started on BookTok?

The first step to getting started on BookTok as an author is setting up your TikTok profile page in a way that accurately reflects your author brand.

In this TikTok Marketing Masterclass, you’ll learn how to create your account on TikTok, and post and upload your first video.

Add a profile picture and cover photo that are consistent with your style, and fill out any relevant information about yourself, such as your educational background or awards you’ve won related to writing and publishing.

In this podcast with Kaye Putnam, viral content creator Mike Draper shares his insights on how to start and grow your TikTok account, including how he picked his niche and the importance of visibility and consistency.

Once you’ve created your profile, start connecting with other BookTokers by following them and commenting on or liking the posts they make so that they become aware of you too.

Don’t forget to add relevant hashtags so that TikTok users searching for specific topics related to your book’s genre can find your content more easily.

How to create engaging content on BookTok

By creating engaging social media posts, you can establish a strong presence on BookTok and build an audience of passionate readers. So what types of content should authors post on BookTok?

To create compelling posts and ads on BookTok, start by understanding what resonates with your target audience.

Visuals are essential for grabbing attention and engaging viewers. Images, videos, and GIFs can be used to create compelling visuals that will draw in followers.
Optimize your book’s description and cover image on TikTok. Make sure that your book’s cover image is high-quality and eye-catching and that the description is clear and well-written.
Keep your post concise yet engaging, using “scroll-stopping” visuals. Use language that speaks directly to your ideal reader while also providing value or entertainment. Add creative captions or stories to your posts to engage them further.
Hashtags are a great way to reach a wider audience on TikTok and help your content get discovered by potential new followers. Use relevant hashtags to increase the visibility of your posts among BookTokers and make it easier for readers to discover your book.

TikTok content creation courses

These TikTok content creation courses will help you elevate your TikTok game and create amazing video content to get noticed on BookTok.

#1. TikTok Videography Masterclass

Learn how to turn your smartphone into a professional quality camera and start creating amazing videos in this Tiktok Videography Masterclass on videography and visual storytelling.

This course will also explore the technical aspects of shooting, adding effects, and editing smartphone videos. And finally, you’ll learn about apps and accessories that will help you best tell your story.

#2. TikTok Effects House Masterclass

In this Tiktok Effects House Masterclass you’ll learn how to create effects for TikTok pop-up videos. This course covers all the main features of TikTok’s effects, such as 2D features, 3D features, Augmented Reality Features, Light Features, Shadow Features, and more.

Learn how to create various famous and trending effects in Tiktok videos from beginning to end, using the simplest and most practical techniques.

#3. TikTok SEO: Rank your Videos on TikTok

Many people are flocking to TikTok for searches. The key to fast growth on Tik Tok is to have your videos seen. This TikTok SEO course will show you how to rank on Page One for your BookToks and TikTok ads.

You’ll learn step-by-step how to research, edit, and optimize your TikTok video so that it works with the latest SEO trends.

How to grow your audience on BookTok

Growing an audience on BookTok takes time and effort, but there are several strategies that authors can use to speed up the process.

Interacting with other TikTok users is one of the best ways to increase visibility, as it helps build relationships with others in your niche.

Following relevant BookTokers’ accounts is another good marketing strategy, as it will help you understand what sorts of posts resonate with your ideal audience and then replicate them in your own posts.

Creating content around trending topics or challenges is also a great way to get noticed quickly, as these tend to have higher engagement rates than regular posts due to their novelty factor.

In this TikTok Marketing Masterclass, you’ll learn essential TikTok marketing strategies to build your following, create viral content, and get millions of views.

You’ll learn the secrets to going viral on TikTok with a secret success formula, discover the secrets of the TikTok algorithm, and see how to structure and make viral videos on TikTok from scratch.

This TikTok Marketing Blueprint Course will show you how to go viral and achieve rapid growth on TikTok, along with live video examples and demonstrations.

As building a following on TikTok can be time-consuming, you can always hire a BookTok virtual assistant to help you with these tasks if you’d rather focus on writing books than building an audience.

How to boost engagement on BookTok

Once you’ve built a following on BookTok, it is important to keep your readers engaged so they don’t lose interest over time. Here are some ways to do that:

Create interactive content

Creating interactive content like polls and surveys is one way authors can encourage interaction with their followers or get valuable feedback from readers to understand what sort of books they’re interested in.

You can also use a lead-generating quiz to grow your audience, boost subscribers, and generate leads in a way that is enjoyable and natural to both you and them.

Another idea is to host an AMA (Ask Me Anything) session where you can invite readers to send you questions about upcoming books and then answer them in a series of videos.

Host contests & giveaways

Hosting giveaways, such as free Kindle promotions, or contests is a very effective book promotion tactic to generate buzz, increase engagement, and attract new readers.

You can experiment with different offers using the UpViral Rewards System, a tool that helps you create incredible viral campaigns and enjoy endless referrals by delivering unique prizes.

UpViral will help you keep your participants hyper-motivated with referral milestones that automatically reward them for every 3, 5, 10, or more referrals they bring.

You can also use contests and giveaways to build an email list of readers and potential buyers so you can grow a loyal community of readers independent of social media networks.

Respond promptly

Responding promptly to comments and messages shows appreciation for your readers, which will encourage more of them to engage with your content.

If you don’t have the time to build a community around your book, you can hire a BookTok virtual assistant to help you respond to your readers and engage with them on TikTok.

How to promote your books on BookTok

The first step to promoting your books on BookTok, TikTok’s book-lovers community is to create an effective book marketing plan.

Consider using paid promotion options such as TikTok ads and BookToker collaborations to reach a larger audience, find new readers, and build an engaged following.

An effective promotion plan for books on BookTok should include targeted audience research, ad campaign optimization, and performance tracking.

Start by researching your target audience. Who are they? What types of content do they engage with? Knowing this information will help you craft ads that resonate with them.

Optimize your TikTok advertising campaigns for success by testing different ad formats and targeting options. Don’t forget to track the performance metrics of each campaign to determine which ones are most successful in reaching your goals.

Mark Dawson’s Ads for Authors Course includes a comprehensive set of modules on Facebook Ads, Amazon Ads, and TikTok for Authors. You’ll also get access to an exclusive Facebook group where tactics are discussed and help is given freely.

Once you’ve created a compelling TikTok ad or post, here are some book marketing strategies you can use to maximize the reach and impact of your BookTok book promotions.

Build relationships with BookTokers who have a large following within your target demographic. Their endorsement can be invaluable in helping spread awareness about your book(s).
Collaborate with other well-known authors in your genre to cross-promote each other’s books.
Leverage trending topics and hashtags related to writing or publishing to expand your reach and get more people to see and interact with your content.
If your book is not yet available, you can use the pre-order function on BookTok to generate buzz and start getting orders before the release date.
Some authors have found that creating videos in which they share the feedback they received from beta readers can get a lot of engagement.
You can also read excerpts from your book, or discuss the inspiration behind it in a video. End your video with a call to action, asking your followers to share their feedback in the comments.

How to work with BookTok influencers

By collaborating with BookTokers, you can leverage their influence to take your BookTok book promotion efforts to the next level, maximize the impact of your campaigns, and boost book sales.

Here are some key strategies for book marketing on TikTok:

#1. Identify the right BookTokers for your books/brand

Finding the right BookToker to collaborate with can be challenging, but it’s essential to ensure that you’re reaching out to your ideal reader, who will engage with your content and eventually buy your books.

These influencer marketing tools can help you research potential BookTokers based on their interests, followers, engagement rate, and other relevant factors. Make sure they align with your brand values and target audience before moving forward.

#2. Build relationships with BookTok influencers

Once you’ve identified your ideal BookTokers, start building relationships with them by engaging with their content regularly or sending them emails and direct messages inviting them to collaborate with you.

Show a genuine interest in what they do, and let them know how working together could benefit both of you. This will help create trust, so when it comes time to negotiate the terms of collaboration, they’ll be more likely to accept your offer.

#3. Collaborate with BookTokers to create content

BookTokers love to create unique content around books. Interviewing an author like you can help them give their viewers an exclusive glimpse into your world.

You can collaborate with BookTokers to offer exclusive contests and giveaways for their audience and help them create content around your book in their unique voice.

Invite BookTokers to become beta readers by sending them a free Advance Reading Copy of your book and providing them with book cover images, mockups, and book trailer videos to help them promote it to their audiences.

How to analyze the results of your BookTok campaigns

In order to assess how well your BookTok campaigns are doing, you need to track and analyze your book promotions on TikTok. Here are some ways to do that:

#1. Track key metrics and performance indicators

Track the performance of your TikTok ad campaigns and measure metrics like engagement rate, reach, impressions, clicks, conversions, etc., to understand which tactics are working and which ones need improvement.

You can use analytics tools such as Google Analytics or a cloud-based ad-tracking software like Voluum that helps you optimize all your campaigns by finding the most profitable combinations of traffic, ads, landing pages, and offers.

This will help you gain insight into how your content is performing and what changes you can make to optimize results from future campaigns.

#2. Understand the impact of different tactics

Once you know how well your TikTok ad campaigns are performing with the help of these analytics tools, analyze the data and determine which tactics are most effective at driving engagement with followers.

For example, if you find that posts featuring book cover images or book trailer videos tend to get more engagement than those without them, then including these types of creatives may be a good tactic for increasing engagement on BookTok.

Analyze the data from previous campaigns, adjust your strategies to maximize results, and ensure better conversions in future promotions.

Is there a BookTok app? Is it separate from TikTok?

No, there is no such app, and BookTok is not separate from TikTok. #BookTok is a hashtag used on the social media platform TikTok, to share content related to books and writing.

It is used to describe the use of TikTok as a platform for creators, authors, and writers to share information on books with others.

With BookTok’s growing popularity, more people are joining this community of book lovers every day, making it one of the most popular hashtags on TikTok today.

If you live in a country where TikTok is banned or restricted, these book marketing strategies can also be applied to your Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube promotions.

In fact, you can make your TikTok content go further by repurposing it as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. Just make sure your videos don’t have a TikTok logo and watermark when you post them on Instagram.

I hope this article has helped you understand how authors can use TikTok’s BookTok community to grow their audience and increase book sales.

It’s important to remember that promoting your book on BookTok is not just about selling more books; it’s about building an audience of loyal readers who will continue to buy your books in the future.

In his free video training for authors on “How to Find Your First 10,000 Readers,” bestselling author Nick Stephenson will show you a proven step-by-step system that he used to sell more books.

You’ll learn how to grow your audience on autopilot, launch your new book titles to raving fans, and promote your existing work to new people so you can sell more books.

Download his free Reader Magnets eBook and learn the exact system he used to add tens of thousands of engaged readers to his mailing list.

Book marketing & promotion tips

Priya Florence Shah

Priya Florence Shah is a bestselling author and an award-winning blogger. Check out Devi2Diva, her book on emotional self-care for women. In her spare time, Priya writes science-fiction novels and poetry and chills with her two-legged and four-legged kids.

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