Can TikTok help you sell more books?

Yes, it can! 

While TikTok is a platform that allows users to share content in the format of short videos, did you know that it can also be an invaluable tool for selling your books? 

Why TikTok?  

TikTok allows you to reach a broad audience and extend the reach of your content to more viewers than traditional advertising alone. As so many of the current generation consume media daily, one of the best ways to advertise your book is to choose a promotional medium that your audience are known to use.  

In addition to reaching a wider audience, the AI generated algorithms ensure that not only is your content reaching a wide audience, but also that it reaches an audience that is interested in the sort of content that you produce. 

For example, if you are creating content that promotes your mythology-based novel, the algorithm will likely direct people who are interested in mythology, books or both to your content, thus ensuring that your viewership is interested in what you produce. The great thing about this algorithm is that TikTok does it for you, so it requires less leg work from you.        

What do you post? 

So, you have a TikTok account, now what do you post on it?  

Knowing what sort of content to post is a crucial factor for any authors starting out on their branding journeys. To create content that promotes your work, you could offer sneak peaks into your upcoming releases, host Q&As about your books, release cover art, as well as more general bookish content, such as following other people’s work and public discussions to show that you are engaged in the community. 

A good example of an author who utilises TikTok in this way is Adalyn Grace, author of the Belladona trilogy.  

While creating this content, you should try to keep in mind the current trends and hashtags circulating on TikTok. Try to align your content somewhat with the current trends for maximised exposure on the site.

Additionally, you may want to check your engagement statistics to see if what you are posting is working and gaining the traction that you want from your audience. While promoting your work, it is important to keep in-mind TikTok’s advertising policies and to make sure that as someone who is representing their own brand on TikTok’s platform, that you adhere to the site’s own brand safety standards.     

TikTok Bookshop  

In addition to self-promoting and sharing bookish content, TikTok’s bookshop is also a brilliant platform to sell more books on the site. This branch of the platform allows you to sell the books that you are promoting through TikTok, so that your viewers can purchase your books in the same place that they hear about them. 

As a self-published author this is an especially valuable recourse, because the convenience and accessibility of your books may well be a deciding factor for anyone wanting to purchase books after watching your content.  

If you want to get your work noticed by a wider audience and build a brand for yourself, do not underestimate TikTok as a resource for achieving your goals. Utilising TikTok can be a valuable way to promote the work that you create to an ever-expanding audience that shares your interests and values, and ultimately could help you sell more books.