Carrie Turansky has some wonderful Pinterest boards and shares her insight into using them as an author. -- Sandy
Carrie: Pinterest is one of the fastest growing social media networks in
the world. It’s now number three behind Facebook and Twitter. So it makes sense
for authors to learn the basics and take advantage of Pinterest to connect with
readers and promote their books and author brand.
So what is Pinterest? It’s a visual discovery tool that people
use to collect, organize, and share ideas for projects and interests. People
create and share collections (called boards) of images (called pins). Any time
you find an image on the web that you like, you can pin that image to one of
your boards to save, view later, or share with others. You can also download
images from your computer to Pinterest, but the first method is better because
it links back to the place you found the image.
How can authors use Pinterest? Kimberley Grabas, author of Your
Writer Platform Blog says, “Your goal should be to teach, entertain and inspire
your audience on Pinterest. In return, Pinterest will grant you
the ability to increase awareness of your author brand, drive more
relevant traffic to your website, and increase your book sales.”
People head to Pinterest to find solutions, get ideas, and be
inspired. Plus pinners are buyers….so authors can use Pinterest as a marketing
tool. But like all social media, it’s important to avoid too much
self-promotion. Pinterest is a quieter platform where you are mainly sharing images
and connecting with readers who share similar interests.
Here are some specific ideas for authors. Create boards for each
of your books and feature the cover, characters, setting, clothing, and events
that happen in the story. Link those images back to your website and blog to help
readers connect with you and purchase your books. These boards can be a great
help to the artists who designs your covers. Here’s a link to my next book, The
Daughter of Highland Hall: http://www.pinterest.com/carrieturansky/daughter-of-highland-hall/
Since I write historical novels I have boards for different time
periods with clothing, cars, people, and events from those eras. Those boards
are a good place to keep images that link back to research articles. Authors
who do this exceptionally well are Lori Benton and Laura Frantz. Check out
their book boards! http://www.pinterest.com/lorilbenton/
My current series is set in the same era as Downton Abbey, and
one of my marketing goals is to reach out to fans of that show. So I have a
board for Downton Abbey and another for Highclere Castle, where Downton is
filmed. Those are my two most popular boards with the highest number of repins.
They have helped me connect with many Downton Fans and introduce them to my
books.
http://www.pinterest.com/carrieturansky/highclere-castle-downton-abbey/
You can pin images from your blog posts or author email newsletters
and link people back to your website. Pin images that lead readers to 5-star
reviews and blog interviews. When it’s time for a cover reveal, launch week, or
a special promotion, pin those images and share them with those who follow you
on Pinterest.
You can also create boards that allow you to share your
interests with others on Pinterest. I have boards for Tea Time, English Country
Gardens, People I admire, Favorite Authors, Romance, Books Worth Reading,
Favorite Recipes, To Your Good Health, Childhood Memories, Kids, Favorite
Movies, Doors, Christmas, Favorite Verses and Quotes, Places I’d Like to Go,
Scotland, England. These kind of boards give readers a taste of who you are and
offer added value. Here’s a link to my boards: http://www.pinterest.com/carrieturansky/
I have a background in art and I’m a very visual person. I’ve
always collected photos for my characters and settings, so when I discovered Pinterest…it
was love at first sight! For me, it’s a great way to take a break, relax, and
see some beautiful images . . . as well as build connections with readers.
For a great step by step tutorial on how to set up a Pinterest
account, get started, and use Pinterest visit: http://www.yourwriterplatform.com/use-pinterest-to-market-book-and-author-brand/
Have you set up Pinterest boards for your books or WIPs? How do you use Pinterest for marketing?
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Carrie Turansky has loved reading since she first visited the
library as a young child and checked out a stack of picture books. Her love for
writing began when she penned her first novel at age twelve. She is now the
award-winning author of more than a dozen inspirational romance novels and
novellas. Carrie and her husband, Scott, who is a pastor, author, and speaker,
have been married for more than thirty-five years and make their home in New
Jersey. They often travel together on ministry trips and to visit their five
adult children and four grandchildren. Carrie leads the women’s ministry at her
church, and when she’s not writing she enjoys spending time working in her
flower gardens and cooking healthy meals for friends and family. Carrie loves to connect with reading friends
through her website,
www.carrieturansky.com and through
Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
