Five Ideas for Using Pinterest as an Author
by RaeBeth McGee-Buda
Social media
changes every day. New sites are released, while some disappear. One of the
newest sites I have found and use is Pinterest. There is a lot of pressure on
the promotion part of a book for authors. Authors feel we must push our books
out there into every nook and cranny within the internet. This helps exposure
for our hard work.
Don’t
understand what Pinterest is? Let us clear this up too. The site Pinterest
allows members to “pin” different pictures onto their own profiles in different
pin boards, which are like different photo albums. Most of the time all the
user has to do is add a small caption to the photo being pinned and it is done.
Other users will see these photos and if they like what they see, they can
repin it on to their own board.
Pinterest is
a great place to quickly add a photo, which has the potential to reach many,
providing it is repinned. Therefore, here are five ways I have found useful
when using this social media site.
1.
Create
a board for novels only.
This helps those following you to see what types of pins you enjoy and
have interest in. As an example, I have several different boards for books. I
have a board for my books only and another board for other books I have read
and enjoyed. I use my boards to help tease my readers and show upcoming
projects that I am working on once there has been a cover reveal.
2.
Create
a board for Book Graphics.
Authors go out of their ways to create
graphics, which relate to their books. It is a great idea to pin them to
Pinterest for more exposure. This could also reach new readers. Be sure when
repining, there is a link to the website where the books can be found. Thus,
making it easier for readers to find out more information about the books on
the graphics.
3.
Create
boards for each individual book.
Each one of my books has their own board.
I like to use this to share different pictures that pertain to that individual
book. As an example, different pictures that represent different scenes within
a book. I have repined scenery photos, photos of different rooms within a house
that are similar to the rooms within the house in the book. This could help
draw in readers as well.
4.
Repin
for Others
This is one thing that some tend to forget.
While you are wanting, your book covers or graphics repined, so are other
authors. Do not forget that sharing is caring and supportive. When other
authors see that you have repined their books, they are more likely to repin
yours.
5.
Encourage
Wish Lists
This is one of my favorites. I have a board
for the things I would like to do or read in the future. One thing that I have coming
up this year, is encouraging my readers to create a wish list of pins on
Pinterest. I will be asking them to create a 2014 Wish List Board. Of course, I
would hope my books would make the cut and I will randomly choose a winner at
the end of the year to win a prize during the End of the Year Bash I have. This gives them an entire year to
build their boards.
In closing,
please remember when using Pinterest to have concise descriptions on each pin,
which include using proper hash tags, keywords, links, and more. Pin covers
from sites where books can be purchased and tag every cover with the genre,
author, and book information. Thus, making it easier for others to find more
about the book.
Check out Rae
Beth’s Pinterest Profile Here: http://www.pinterest.com/raebethmcgee/
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