A general rule of thumb for using social media as a marketing tool is to follow the "80/20 rule." In other words, only 20 percent of your tweets should be about your work. The rest of the time you should provide interesting content that is relevant to your target audience. This makes sense, because think about it: If your Twitter feed is nothing but a steady stream of BUY MY BOOK, who is going to want to follow you? 

Here are some examples of how to provide interesting content that is relevant to your target audience:

If you're a life coach and your book is about finding one's calling:

• Tweet an article about a grandfather who changed careers at age 60
• Tweet a survey about executives who wish they'd majored in something else.
• Tweet a video of an interview with someone you find inspiring.

If your novel is about a weekend adventure in New York City:

• Tweet about your favorite restaurants in NYC.
• Tweet a link to airfare specials to NYC.
• Tweet an article about the best hot dog stands in NYC.

If you've written a children's book:

•  Tweet a link to research about the benefits of reading to young children.
•  Tweet an article that mentions a celebrity's favorite book from his or her childhood.
•  Tweet (or conduct!) a survey of teachers' views on reading.

Do you see where I'm going with these examples? Each positions you as an expert in the subject matter of your book, even if your book is a novel. If your Twitter readers (think about those who see retweets, not just your followers) appreciate and enjoy the content you offer, maybe they will notice your bio and pick up a copy of your book. You never know, right? Be sure to mention your book in your Twitter bio so they will see it!

-Maria

Maria Murnane writes bestselling novels about life, love and friendship. Have questions? You can find her at www.mariamurnane.com.

This blog post originally appeared on CreateSpace.com. Reprinted with permission. © 2018 CreateSpace, a DBA of On-Demand Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.