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The Impact of Social Media on Publishing
- Naomi Roper
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
The presence of social media has made itself felt in almost every aspect of society and modern business. For writers this can manifest in the way it impacts how books are published and marketed. The ability of both writers and publishing houses to reach thousands of potential readers is something that many have taken advantage of in recent years. There are now influencers who focus on literature both as writers and readers.
Putting a Face to the Name
Readers now have the option to look up and follow their favorite authors on various platforms from book groups on Facebook to influencers voicing their opinions on books on Tik Tok. The use of book trailers and cover reveals allow the author to interact with readers in a way that is more personal. Some authors have taken to creating content discussing their work, the context behind it, or the process of writing and publishing. This can make the reader feel more engaged in the book while feeling endeared to the author.
If trends like BookTok and Bookstagram have taught us anything, it's that there is a space online to talk about books. The ‘Book Tok made me buy it’ trend has a whole corner of the internet for people to talk about the books they like. Often it is these books that experience a sort of overnight success, making these influencers a new, yet important, cog in the book industry. Things like Author Q&As tap into this market of readers who want to see how the sausage gets made. This demand is often met by influences as well as writers who want to market their own work. This has opened up a new door in the world of independent publishing.
Decisions, Decisions
Social media provides an easy and affordable means for authors to market their work in a way that's unique to them. Authors have the option to use social media as much or as little as they like but at any rate, it can be effective in creating a valuable following. Some have seen this as an opportunity to market their self-published books, preferring to handle things themselves. Some still decide to use traditional publishing and do self marketing on their own accounts. Social media can make this easier than it's been in the past, as all the writer needs is a social media account and good instincts.
Traditional publishing will always have its place in the industry, though many houses have begun to offer jobs in social media marketing as a means to reach target audiences. Sharing upcoming publications and events has proved to be a valuable tool in reaching a lot of potential book buyers. This has led to the emergence of ‘trope-selling’, a strategy where publishers will try to sell books based on the popular tropes in it. Most of the time these tropes were made popular, or at least brought to attention, via online discourse. This can be done through the book's cover art and marketing, which has led to phenomena such as the ‘sports romance’ trend.
Many industries are looking for ways to market their products on social media. The publishing industry has the unique opportunity to show the product, the specific person who made it, and the industry behind it. We now know more about authors than we have in the past, as they can more easily gather followers via their online presence.
Further Reading
https://spiritmedia.us/influence-of-social-media-on-book-marketing-and-publishing/#:~:te xt=The%20Power%20of%20Social%20Media,to%20reach%20their%20ideal%20audien ce.
About the author: Naomi Roper is a rising junior at UW Seattle majoring in English: Creative Writing. She has had a short story published in student journal Bricolage in 2023. She now hopes to go into publishing as an editor or first reader while writing for children and young adults. This is her first time working with Writers Workout and she's thankful for the opportunity.
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