AnnieSummerlee
Full Member
- Feb 16, 2021
Hi everyone,
When I first heard of TikTok as a means to market yourself or build a readership, I was ready to run away. When we think of TikTok, we think of people doing really awkward dances, pointing at blocks of text to tell you about their books, and you couldn't pay me to do that. But there's another way that doesn't require you to show your face, and I think this might appeal to those of you who are self-publishing, or just want to start to build momentum around your WIP. Imagine querying an agent and telling them you have 10k followers on TikTok who all love the concept of your book? Or 1 million views? That is essentially how Lightlark got a 6-figure deal.
I started experimenting a while back, and got an average of 1k hits on the first 4 Tiktoks I posted about a WIP, which isn't much, but still got me a few comments from people asking where they could buy the book.
So how do you do it without having to record yourself?
I used a website called Clipchamp, a video-editing site that's pretty easy to use. All I did was grab a bunch of royalty free images that fit the aesthetic of my WIP, and made a slideshow, using a zoom effect on the pictures to make it dynamic. Then, add text: a pitch + tropes. On each image, put a few lines about your book.
Here's how you'd do that with something like Rapunzel, using images I just found on Unsplash (I'd recommend putting a filter that'll give them a similar feel):
-in a desolate tower
-a trapped princess
-longs to see the outside world
-until one day a prince
-asks her to throw down her hair (etc, etc, etc)
then (still using images that fit the aesthetic):
-the stakes
-the tropes (enemies to lovers? found family?)(Tiktok LOVES tropes)
-finally, title and cover (if you've got one), and a call to action: "buy now, link in bio" (or something like that).
If you don't want to use a blurb/pitch, you could also choose a snippet that will hook the reader. So, if you're writing fantasy, maybe the moment your MC discovers they have powers. Romance? When your MC meets their love interest, or any other scene that you think readers will like. Usually dialogue works best, and just like with the pitch, use images that fit the aesthetic and setting of your book, and end it with the same call to action. I tried with both a pitch and a snippet, and both Tiktoks did well.
Once you've got your little slideshow, upload it onto Tiktok and use any audio that is trending but that suits your book, and use all the right tags for your genre.
Another method (I haven't tried) that's probably easier than the slideshow, but will only work if your book is already in print, is to flip through the pages (or simply hold it still) while listing the tropes, and at the end of the video, show the cover.
Anyways, I don't know what possessed me to write this because I haven't posted a Tiktok in like a month, but it's just a reminder that you don't have to show your face, and it might be good to experiment and see how people react. Plus, it's good practice for when you do get published.
If anyone would like a more in-depth tutorial or you've got questions, let me know!
When I first heard of TikTok as a means to market yourself or build a readership, I was ready to run away. When we think of TikTok, we think of people doing really awkward dances, pointing at blocks of text to tell you about their books, and you couldn't pay me to do that. But there's another way that doesn't require you to show your face, and I think this might appeal to those of you who are self-publishing, or just want to start to build momentum around your WIP. Imagine querying an agent and telling them you have 10k followers on TikTok who all love the concept of your book? Or 1 million views? That is essentially how Lightlark got a 6-figure deal.
I started experimenting a while back, and got an average of 1k hits on the first 4 Tiktoks I posted about a WIP, which isn't much, but still got me a few comments from people asking where they could buy the book.
So how do you do it without having to record yourself?
I used a website called Clipchamp, a video-editing site that's pretty easy to use. All I did was grab a bunch of royalty free images that fit the aesthetic of my WIP, and made a slideshow, using a zoom effect on the pictures to make it dynamic. Then, add text: a pitch + tropes. On each image, put a few lines about your book.
Here's how you'd do that with something like Rapunzel, using images I just found on Unsplash (I'd recommend putting a filter that'll give them a similar feel):
-in a desolate tower
-a trapped princess
-longs to see the outside world
-until one day a prince
-asks her to throw down her hair (etc, etc, etc)
then (still using images that fit the aesthetic):
-the stakes
-the tropes (enemies to lovers? found family?)(Tiktok LOVES tropes)
-finally, title and cover (if you've got one), and a call to action: "buy now, link in bio" (or something like that).
If you don't want to use a blurb/pitch, you could also choose a snippet that will hook the reader. So, if you're writing fantasy, maybe the moment your MC discovers they have powers. Romance? When your MC meets their love interest, or any other scene that you think readers will like. Usually dialogue works best, and just like with the pitch, use images that fit the aesthetic and setting of your book, and end it with the same call to action. I tried with both a pitch and a snippet, and both Tiktoks did well.
Once you've got your little slideshow, upload it onto Tiktok and use any audio that is trending but that suits your book, and use all the right tags for your genre.
Another method (I haven't tried) that's probably easier than the slideshow, but will only work if your book is already in print, is to flip through the pages (or simply hold it still) while listing the tropes, and at the end of the video, show the cover.
Anyways, I don't know what possessed me to write this because I haven't posted a Tiktok in like a month, but it's just a reminder that you don't have to show your face, and it might be good to experiment and see how people react. Plus, it's good practice for when you do get published.
If anyone would like a more in-depth tutorial or you've got questions, let me know!
