Creating an author Facebook page is something I’ve been putting off for a very long time. For two reasons:
- I don’t understand what benefit it will bring me. If my fans (!) are searching for me on the internet, they will find this website/blog, which tells them about me and how to get in touch.
- All the author Facebook pages I’ve looked at have some wonderful header graphics across the top of the page. I’m not artistic and didn’t know how to create one of these.
Back in June, when I had my initial meeting with The Book Guild we briefly discussed how an author can help with book marketing and it was suggested that I create an author Facebook page. Since then it’s been on my ‘to do’ list like a hated piece of school homework. Next week I have another meeting with my publisher to discuss publicity and marketing. So, because I was a bit of a goody-two-shoes at school and always handed my homework in on time, I have finally created my author Facebook page.
A secondary reason for creating the page was that Facebook don’t like people ‘selling’ from personal profiles. Book promotion could possibly be classed as ‘selling’?
Was creating the page as bad as I expected? No!
I’d heard many people mention how great Canva is for creating graphics. So I signed up (it’s free!) and, fairly quickly, managed to create myself a banner (see below). It’s probably not the world’s best promotional graphic but hopefully it will do the job for now. As for creating the actual page, it’s as simple as filling in a form with Facebook holding your hand and making suggestions along the way.
But my sparkling new author page has given me two new problems:
- A page that’s not regularly updated isn’t very inspiring to anyone who stumbles across it. What shall I post on there?
- Is it worth annoying people by asking them to ‘like’ my page? More likes mean better page visibility?
I’d be grateful for any advice from you Facebook pros.
And if you have a page you’d like ‘liked’, please stick it in the comments and we’ll have a mutual ‘like-in’.
Sally Jenkins 
#1 by Dorinda Cass on November 20, 2017 - 9:35 am
Hi Sally I was interested in your post because I have an author page on Facebook – but I’m not sure that I set it up correctly in the first place! It is attached to my personal facebook page, which doesn’t seem right. Can I ask, how did you go about setting yours up so that it is separate to your own page.
Well done, by the way, for getting down to it! I keep saying I will organise a website for myself. I’ve made a start a couple of times but given up when I found it difficult.
#2 by Sally Jenkins on November 20, 2017 - 2:20 pm
Dorinda, I created it by following an option to ‘Create page’ and it is linked to my personal profile because I can access the page from my personal profile. I’ve just tried searching for your author page but can’t find it. It might be worth having another go at creating, or post the link here in a comment & I’ll see if it works.
#3 by juliathorley on November 20, 2017 - 12:40 pm
Have you been reading my mind? Author FB page is on my to-do list, too. 3P Publishing, who will be helping me with my forthcoming yoga book, recommend this avenue for all their authors, so with an eye to future marketing avenues I shall be shamelessly doing this. Everything I post there – and I hear what you say about what could possibly go on it – will be shared with ‘me’, and subsequently on to my FB friends. I’m also hoping that people who know me as a writer but not as person, as it were, will ‘like’ me. It remains to be seen whether any of this actually translates into sales or offers or work, but I reckon I might as well do it as not. In the meantime, I have liked your new page.
#4 by Sally Jenkins on November 20, 2017 - 2:22 pm
Thanks for the like, Julia! As you say, nothing to lose by trying a FB page, apart from a bit of time. And publishers do seem to recommend it. Good Luck with the yoga book!
#5 by juliathorley on January 5, 2018 - 4:05 pm
Done it! https://www.facebook.com/JuliaThorleyAuthor/
#6 by Sally Jenkins on January 5, 2018 - 7:11 pm
Brilliant! Have liked it.
#7 by Jenny Roman on November 20, 2017 - 9:59 pm
Great post, Sally. I have a FB author page but very much doubt I’m using it in the best way. Have ‘liked’ yours, and will be interested to see how it develops. I tried a slideshow of front covers on mine but like you say, it’s hard to come up with fresh content consistently. (I get messages from FB saying “Your followers haven’t heard from you for a while!”). Good luck with yours! x
#8 by Sally Jenkins on November 21, 2017 - 1:34 pm
Have just ‘liked’ you too, Jenny. I’m sure I’ll get told my followers haven’t heard from me too! Best wishes.
#9 by Liz Young on November 21, 2017 - 1:11 pm
I’m in the same position as you, without the benefit of a publisher nagging me, as my book is self-published. What Julia says also chimes with my own limited experience, Shamelessly marketing is a new and uncomfortable venture for me, so any tips will be gratefully received!
#10 by Sally Jenkins on November 21, 2017 - 1:36 pm
Wish I could give you some tips, Liz. This is going to be a learning curve for me too!
#11 by juliathorley on November 21, 2017 - 3:08 pm
Liz and Sally, I’m just wondering whether it’s too arrogant to send a press release to the local paper in my old home time. I’ve written one for the paper where I now live, but I can’t bring myself to click ‘Send’. I’m never going to be rich at this rate!
#12 by Sally Jenkins on November 21, 2017 - 3:30 pm
No, it’s not too arrogant. I did that with my first novel & they printed it without a murmur (not sure it lead to sales though!). Emphasise your links with the place and go for it!
#13 by Christine on November 22, 2017 - 9:57 am
Hadn’t thought about sending a press release to my home town. Sounds like a good idea, especially as my book has a, sort of, local connection. As for my FB author page, I have connected it to my blog, so all posts appear there.
#14 by Sally Jenkins on November 22, 2017 - 1:51 pm
Definitely worth sending a press release to your home town, Christine. You never know who might remember you and buy a book! My personal FB & Twitter is connected to this blog – I wonder if I can have a second connection?
#15 by Janice Preston on November 28, 2017 - 9:27 am
Well done on setting up your Author page, Sally! (I have popped over and Liked it). I’m no expert and definitely don’t use my Author page to best effect, but here are a few tips that are ‘supposed’ to help (and please don’t look at my Page to see how it’s done – this is definitely a case of do as I say, not as I do lol).
First, the Page has to be linked to a personal profile, so there’s no way out of that but you can call the page something totally different to your personal profile. FB are a business. They want to make money and so they see your page as a way to do just that. So they limit the reach of your posts. The more engagement you get for your post (likes/comments/shares) the more people they send it to (spreading the love, they call it!) One tip is always to Like your own post. I think it’s a bit weird seeing only your name ‘liking’ it, so I often pop back later (if I remember) and Like it and (if it’s book related) I often then share it onto my personal timeline and into some groups I belong to.
FB are more willing to distribute posts that don’t contain links to other sites (they want their audience to stay on FB after all). Awkward when all you want to do is direct readers to Amazon or a Review blog or whatever. Sometimes it can’t be helped but one tip is you can put any link in a comment and then mention that in your actual post. Posts with photos and videos (particularly original ones (ie not shared from elsewhere) and FB live posts) will do better and spread further. FB change their practices constantly so it’s not worth getting too hung up on it. Just do your best and *try* to post regularly, with only about 1 in 5 post book related. Easier said than done I find. After all, we have books to write and real lives to live 😉
Also – expect to get hassled by FB to pay to boost each and every post 😉 (the reason, of course, why they limit each post’s reach).
Sorry, that’s just a quick whizz through. There are some very good blogs online that go into much more detail. And there are analytics on your page so you can see which posts do best and plan more of them! Good luck xx
#16 by Sally Jenkins on November 28, 2017 - 12:51 pm
Wow, Janice! Thanks for such a comprehensive comment and the ‘like’. I will be trying to put this into action. The self-liking feels a bit odd but if that’s what’s required …
#17 by juliathorley on November 28, 2017 - 1:13 pm
Just read Janice’s comments. Thank you! My job for Friday is to create an author page. I’ll let you know if I manage it.