Happy back-to-school, back-to-work-properly, oh it's gone a bit cold, and is that Halloween heading my way, season. Personally, I'm a big fan of Autumn and not just because I can put my cardigans back on, lols, but I feel renewed energy after the Summer. I also think it's exciting knowing that big Christmas books and their marketing campaigns are kicking off. Well, it's exciting for a book marketing nerd like me.
I have been really busy over the summer putting the finishing touches to my new website/service/business, Meet The Booktokers. And I'm delighted to say that it has now officially launched. (Thanks to The Bookseller)
The thinking behind it came primarily from seeing the huge impact BookTok is having on the industry, especiall how books are being shared and talked about, but also in driving millions of book sales.
I joined TikTok, and followed thousands and thousands of brilliant booktokers who make up a huge section of the platform, then noticed that relatively few publishers or authors were really using TikTok.
To me, this meant huge missed opportunities of putting books into passionate book-lovers hands.
So, I designed Meet The Booktokers to bridge this gap. Namely, matching great books with great booktokers. (without authors and publishers needing to be on TikTok).
I have also made promoting your books to booktokers as cost-effective as possible, as little as £15 per book for authors and £25 for publishers - for ads on the site. There are quite a lot of interesting ways we can work with you too; recruit booktokers for your campaigns, run your booktoker tours, send bespoke emails to exactly the right booktokers for your books, and more.
Authors, can find out more here. And publishers, here.
If you have a book that you think could do brillinatly on TikTok, or you want to collaborate with me, I'd be delighted to hear from you and/or book in a zoom chat to discuss further. Email me here: sam@meetthebooktokers.com
As always, do scroll down for all of the useful and interesting posts I've found this last month.
Enjoy
Sam x
MARKETING
I did media training a couple times when the Divergent movies were being made, and here's what I still do to prep - Veronica Roth on Threads
The magical book marketing formula. There actually is one (ish) - Katie Morwenna on Substack
16 UK authors to follow on TikTok - Meet The Booktokers blog
Making the Most of Your Bookstore Event - Nancy Christie on Medium
12 Clever Halloween Marketing Ideas in 2024 (+Promotions) - Harini Arunachalam WP Loyalty
TikTok meets Tolkien: how the Folio Society attracted gen Z readers - Rachael Healy for The Observer
Denis Izotov on Redesigning the Works of Eduard Limonov - Vyki Handy for Spine Magazine
Everything you need to know about working with booktokers - Meet The Booktokers blog
If you aren’t using Pinterest to promote your books, you’re missing out - Danielle on TikTok
Content Marketing for Authors: How to Get Started (& Keep Up!) - AJ Yee for BookBub
I was asked to blurb a book and instead of thank you I got “could you give me a longer, better blurb?” How should I reply? - Joanna Eleftheriou
Engage Readers Without Selling Out — Diane Vallere’s Approach to Promotion - ALLi podcast
In Defense of Books Lists (but Not Literary Assholes) - Drew Broussard for Lit Hub Podcasts
WRITING
Interview with Clare Chambers - Waterstones Podcast (on Spotify)
Hilary Mantel was my mentor. Here are seven things she taught me about writing – and life - Katie Ward for The Guardian
5 tips for when you don't want to write but have to! - Barbara Copperthwaite on Substack
Authors who are agented, what value is your agent providing?A lot of interesting responses - Mikki Helmer on Threads
Is a creative writing course a good choice for an aspiring writer? - Eleanor Pilcher on Substack
Crossing borders and languages: translated fiction in the UK - sales analysis by Nielsen BookScan
Pedro Almodóvar: ‘Life needs fiction to make it bearable’ - Sam Jones
84 US Lit Mags You Should Submit to Right Now - Jessica Kusisto on That Book Chikka
Writing collaboratively with Maarja Pärtna & Penny Boxall - The Writing life podcast
Pivoting Genres And Growing An Author Business With Sacha Black - Creative Penn podcast
Memoir writer Jeff Young discusses his upcoming memoir Wild Twin, how storytelling begins in childhood - Northern Writers podcast
Interview with children’s author Chris Haughton - The Island of Brilliant podcast
AUTHOR MINDSET
Managing Your 'Author Bandwidth', ft Suyi Davies Okungbowa - Publishing Rodeo Podcast
Little Books (& downplaying our work) - Gillian Harvey for The Bookseller [£]