Hello There!
There are a lot of ways to make connections, author, and social media is one of the best and easiest options (and at times, the most frustrating - trust me, I get it).
Connecting with your followers sounds easy, right? It definitely can be. But you want to make sure that your interactions are genuine and thoughtful rather than shallow and self-serving. One way you can make a deeper connection is by responding thoughtfully to comments and tags with more than a “Thanks!”. Sometimes that can be difficult and isn’t always possible, but when you’re able to, that response will have a greater impact than a canned one.
Making friends with like-genre authors is another fantastic way to make new connections. Don’t be afraid to like, comment, and share posts from your peers. Once again, be sure that your interactions are genuine. A little bit of honesty and trust goes a long way these days.
Encourage your followers to sign up for your newsletter. Your newsletter is the most direct way to talk to your audience, and you don’t have the same limitations that you do on social media. Also, if your social accounts ever get hacked or suspended, you’re out of luck until that gets resolved. But your newsletter? You have their emails forever (until they unsubscribe).
And while we’re at it, don’t be afraid to make a “Hello There!” post about you! If it’s been over a year, or if you recently got a large influx of new followers, make an introduction post about yourself. Share fun tidbits about you (keep it professional) and any relevant updates about your work. Don’t forget to include a headshot, people love to see the face behind the book cover.
As always, be yourself! These new connections won’t mean anything if you’re faking it. The power of friendship sounds like a cheesy movie ending, but it’s true! So many wonderful things can happen with new friends, author.
