Trying out BookTok for 30 Days | Grow Audience on TikTok for Authors | Can I Go TikTok Viral?

Nov 4, 2021

Music plays

Hi, I'm MK Williams, an author and independent publisher. I love sharing my insights about all things self-publishing with you. In today's video, I'll be talking about my experience with BookTok, a subset of the TikTok community that focuses on books and promotes them. I took on the challenge of using BookTok for 30 days to see if I could go viral. Let's dive into the details.

But before we begin, don't forget to hit subscribe so you'll be notified when I put out new videos every week about self-publishing, making a career as an author, and being a mompreneur. Also, a big shout out to Angie Hawkins, author of "Running in Slippers," for supporting this channel through Buy Me a Coffee. Your support allows me to continue making videos and doing book marketing experiments for all of you.

Now, let's get back to the video. The challenge was simple: I started on November 4th and posted every single day for 30 days. To simulate starting from zero, I didn't tell anyone in the bookish world about my BookTok account. I wanted to see if I could build an audience from scratch and potentially go viral.

At the end of the first week, I had 787 followers, which was a good start. By the end of the second week, I had hit 1,000 followers, a significant milestone. However, by the end of the third week, I was back at 1,001 followers, indicating some follow-unfollow activity on the app. And at the end of the challenge, I was back at 1,007 followers.

So, did I go viral? No, I didn't. My fiction sales were about the same as the previous month, and I didn't see a significant surge in engagement. However, keep in mind that 30 days may not be enough to determine long-term success on the platform.

Now, let's dive into the specific lessons I learned during my BookTok challenge:

BookTalk vs. AuthorTalk

I intentionally focused on BookTalk rather than AuthorTalk for my BookTok account. I wanted to attract readers, not just other authors. One important lesson I learned was the need to grab viewers' attention within one to two seconds. BookTok is all about engaging and attention-grabbing content, so finding a compelling hook for your book is crucial.

Original Content is Key

While you can repost content from other platforms on BookTok, original content tends to perform better. You don't need high production value, but your content should be original and unique to the platform.

Understanding Views on BookTok

On BookTok, getting below 100 or 200 views is considered poor engagement. The platform has millions of users, so you'll need to reach a large audience to make an impact. If your video isn't getting many views, it's unlikely to move the needle on your book sales.

Learning from Others

I learned a lot by observing successful BookTok videos and trying to emulate their techniques. What grabs viewers' attention? What trends are popular? By learning from others, you can improve your own content and engagement on the platform.

On BookTok, spicy romance and fantasy books seem to be the most popular and trending genres. If you're writing in these genres, there's a higher chance of resonating with the BookTok community. However, don't be discouraged if your books don't fit into these genres. There's still a space for various genres on BookTok.

The Hype and Potential

BookTok has a lot of hype, and it's true that anyone can go viral on the platform. However, going viral doesn't necessarily mean a significant boost in book sales. It's important to balance the hype with realistic expectations and understand that going viral doesn't guarantee success.

Overall, my experience with BookTok was a growth challenge. While I didn't go viral or see a significant surge in book sales, I believe BookTok can be a valuable platform for authors looking to refine their book descriptions and blurbs. The platform forces you to find ways to capture attention quickly, which can translate into better book marketing overall.

Keyword: BookTok, TikTok, challenge, viral, audience, writers, content, engagement, genre, hype, marketing.

FAQ

1. Can anyone go viral on BookTok? Yes, BookTok's algorithm allows anyone to go viral, regardless of their follower count. However, going viral doesn't guarantee a significant boost in book sales.

2. What genres perform well on BookTok? Spicy romance and fantasy books are popular on BookTok. However, various genres can find an audience on the platform.

3. Can BookTok help improve book descriptions and blurbs? Yes, BookTok's short-form content format can be a great way to test and refine book descriptions and blurbs. The platform's focus on capturing attention quickly forces authors to polish their hooks and engage readers from the start.

4. Is it essential to have high production value on BookTok? While high production value can be attractive, it's not necessary for success on BookTok. Originality and engaging content are more important factors.

5. How long should I give BookTok a chance before deciding if it's right for me? Thirty days may not be enough to determine the long-term potential of BookTok. Consider giving it more time and experimenting with different strategies before making a decision.

6. What other marketing tactics should I consider as an author? Aside from BookTok, there are various marketing tactics authors can explore, such as social media advertising, email marketing, collaborations with other authors or influencers, and optimizing their website for book sales.