What on earth should I tweet?

Part of a series for getting
the most reach out of your Twitter

By Columnist Reneé Groskreutz
October 2012

“What on earth should I tweet?” This is one of the most popular questions that I have received from clients over the years. The idea of writing tweets completely overwhelms even some of the best talkers that I have known. Let your mind wander (and wonder) to things that you are most passionate about. Let’s fight that Tweeter’s Block.

If you are ready to use social media to promote your book or business then you are not there to just have a good time but rather, to have a purpose-driven good time. It is likely that your presence there isn’t so much going to sell thousands of your books at a time, but to help your brand, your work and your personality reach word-of-mouth status. Think pebbles tossed on a pond in ever-widening rings. Keep tossing pebbles. And, just maybe, develop the relationships with INFLUENCERS who can forward your writing career.

So we have a rule of thumb in regards to sales and social media.

We call it the 90/10 rule.

90% of your social media updates and interactions should be information: tips, ideas, humor, inspiration, quotes, retweets, mentions, things of value and only 10% should be sales. So let’s run through a few prompts.

Is your topic relevant to your genre?

On social media you are speaking to an audience of people who have actively made the decision to follow you based upon some interest in your bio or feed. So just like you would not switch genres of a book midstream, you should not switch the conversations on your social media midstream either. Retweet, give compliments, be genuine. Being interested makes you interesting.

It’s who you know

What big-name successful authors are your followers following? Who do you follow just because they are clever, great bio writers, or just plain inspires you? Follow, RT, tag, mention, preen and caress. Why not? Might as well drag someone else into the spotlight – go ahead and sell, but take your people into that success with you. Did I mention that being interested makes you interesting?

What are you up to?

What are you doing? Have you been to any great museums lately or done a book tour? Virtual blog tours? What are you reading? Share the interesting parts. Book signings, contests (entered or judging), invited to some special event? Causes, charity events and participation, interviews (given or set up), trips, etc. Dark Red Press (don’t you love that name?) is about to go on a road trip this fall to do research for their next WIP. You bet they’ll be tweeting and blogging about it. Do you have daydreams about what you’d like to do to your Editor, complete with darts and dartboard?

Debate: Coffee or tea?

And no matter what, tell us about your best cup of coffee or tea.

We know that this divides authors. Some of you are hard-core tea drinkers We feel that coffee is the universal language of love. It is what brings us all together. So tell us about your coffee and/or tea time. We are fully open to debate the subject. Convince us. Better yet, start a debate or poll on your twitter feed and tag people. Tag @FunCityAwesome about this and see what happens.

YOU are the most important tool in your twitter tool arsenal. So if you get on twitter and reach out to people, ask questions and retweet and BUILD relationships, your reach will expand. So go forth and enjoy your social media, just remember to stay on topic.