"How TikTok triggered a books revolution" - ?

[Hopscotch]

‘After lockdown, things exploded’ – how TikTok triggered a books revolution
Have teenagers taken control of publishing? With some authors notching up a billion views, we look at how TikTok is electrifying the world of books – creating bestsellers, reviving classics and rescuing neglected genres

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jun/08/lockdown-exploded-tiktok-books-revolution-booktok

Am I missing something I shouldn’t or am I just too old to TikTok?

[Crystal]

You're definitely missing something if you haven't noticed TikTok's effect on book sales. It's very obvious in romance, the biggest winner being Colleen Hoover. A bunch of her backlist is now constantly in the top 100 / hitting lists every week. (Most of the people who are benefiting are already quite successful).

[Eric Thomson]

So what the heck does an introvert with no dancing chops or other video-worthy talents do? Especially if he doesn't like the sound of his own voice and would rather not broadcast his ugly mug?

[PJ Post]

So what the heck does an introvert with no dancing chops or other video-worthy talents do? Especially if he doesn't like the sound of his own voice and would rather not broadcast his ugly mug?

I'm not sure, but once you figure it out - do it a lot.

[idontknowyet]

I really really need to get on tiktok. I have to figure out how to do it without being on camera. Page flips work well in romance.

[Eric Thomson]

I really really need to get on tiktok. I have to figure out how to do it without being on camera. Page flips work well in romance.

What exactly are page flips supposed to be and do? I guess I don't get the concept.

[idontknowyet]

with a bookshelf in the background, you flip through the pages of a book, and put an excerpt from the book up on the screen

[R. C.]

If you are on TikTok, post or send to me your ID, I will follow you. 

My ID is: RC_Ducantlin

Cheers,
R.C.

[deedee]

So what the heck does an introvert with no dancing chops or other video-worthy talents do? Especially if he doesn't like the sound of his own voice and would rather not broadcast his ugly mug?

what's to figure out? you pay a popular booktoker to make videos about your book

nobody wants to see your face or mine

[idontknowyet]

So what the heck does an introvert with no dancing chops or other video-worthy talents do? Especially if he doesn't like the sound of his own voice and would rather not broadcast his ugly mug?

what's to figure out? you pay a popular booktoker to make videos about your book

nobody wants to see your face or mine

You can do that? i wonder how much it costs for not so popular booktokers to mention your books?

[Eric Thomson]

what's to figure out? you pay a popular booktoker to make videos about your book

nobody wants to see your face or mine

Somehow "booktoker" evokes a very different image from what it probably means. 

And somehow I doubt my target audience spends time on TikTok anyway.

[LilyBLily]

I know mine doesn’t.

[Crystal]

I think the time for easy TikTok visibility is long past.

I do know people who've had good results reaching out to TikTokers, but it has been hit or miss for them. I am planning to do it when I have a new release that feels like a good fit, but it might be way too late in the TikTok cycle at that point.

[PJ Post]

The best method for using social media is to become your own content creator - investing in your own brand - not relying on others. It's not really a trend anymore, it's a marketing discipline, just like advertising or public relations. Remember Street Teams? Your core followers are kind of like that.

[She-la-te-da]

with a bookshelf in the background, you flip through the pages of a book, and put an excerpt from the book up on the screen

Oh, that sounds exciting!

Nah,, I'm just being an old fart. lol But, really, that doesn't sound like anything that would make me want a book. I check out all these "great" things, and then the next "great" things, and frankly, it's all a big nope for me. I'm far too introverted to do what it takes to get something going on any of them.

I've accepted that I'm not going to using this sort of thing to sell books, or engage readers. It's just not something that I can do. Kind of sucks, when I hear of others having so much success, but I'm done trying to force myself to be someone I'm not.