How I Sell Books on TikTok (Updated 2024 Guide for Authors & Creatives!)

Summary

In this updated TikTok tutorial, marketing coach Shelby Lee shares insights for creatives to boost book sales. She emphasizes the platform's value, debunks instant success myths, and stresses the importance of consistency. Lee offers various video ideas, from 'get ready with me' to aesthetic clips, and discusses new features like carousels and TikTok Shop. Her advice includes repurposing content and trying different hooks to captivate viewers, ultimately growing a steady stream of sales.

Takeaways

• 📚 TikTok is a great platform for creatives to sell their products, but it requires dedication and consistency for sales growth.
• 🚀 The channel's most popular video was about selling books on TikTok, but an updated tutorial is necessary due to changes since 2022.
• 👤 It's essential for individuals to research and choose the social media platforms that best suit their needs.
• 📈 Success on TikTok isn't instant; it took the speaker months to see an increase in sales, emphasizing the need for patience.
• 🔥 While going viral can lead to quick sales, it's not the common scenario, so setting realistic expectations is crucial.
• 🎥 The speaker, Shelby Lee, offers marketing coaching and has experience selling books using organic social media strategies.
• 🆕 Starting a TikTok account involves engaging with the community to avoid being flagged as a bot and to understand the platform's dynamics.
• 🎼 Choosing between a business or personal account on TikTok depends on the need for analytics and the type of music used for promotion.
• 🔍 It's recommended to search and engage with one's genre or category on TikTok to understand what content resonates with the audience.
• 🎬 Video types for creatives on TikTok include 'get ready with me,' aesthetic videos, and utilizing stock images or videos to represent work.
• 🔗 The importance of creating strong hooks for short-form videos to capture attention and increase watch time is highlighted.
• 📝 TikTok has introduced new features like carousels and text-only posts, offering more content creation options for users.
• 🛍️ TikTok Shop allows for direct sales within the app, which can be beneficial for creatives looking to sell their products.
• 🔄 Content repurposing is encouraged on TikTok to save time, but it's important to vary elements like visuals to keep content fresh.
• 📚 For authors interested in selling books on TikTok, there's a comprehensive guide called the Book Talk Blueprint available.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is an updated TikTok tutorial for creatives on how to sell their creative products on the platform.

Why does the speaker recommend starting a TikTok account?

The speaker recommends starting a TikTok account because it is one of the best platforms for creatives to sell their products and reach a wider audience.

What is the importance of not rushing to post immediately after creating a TikTok account?

Not rushing to post immediately after creating a TikTok account is important to avoid being categorized as a bot or fraud account, which could lead to being banned from the platform.

What type of account does the speaker suggest for promoting creative projects on TikTok?

The speaker suggests considering a business account for promoting creative projects, as it offers more options like analytics, but notes that it has less access to non-commercial music.

Why is it recommended to engage with the TikTok community before posting?

Engaging with the TikTok community before posting helps to understand the platform, its audience, and the types of content that work well, which can inform the creator's own content strategy.

What is a 'get ready with me' video and how can it be used by creatives?

A 'get ready with me' video is a type of content that shows the behind-the-scenes process of a creative project. It can be used by creatives to showcase their work process, setup, and even the cleanup, providing a mini-vlog of their creative journey.

What is an aesthetic video and how does it relate to book promotion on TikTok?

An aesthetic video is a compilation of stock images or videos that represent the vibe or genre of a book. It is used in book promotion to attract viewers by creating a visually appealing and thematic representation of the book's content.

What is the significance of a 'hook' in short-form video content?

A 'hook' in short-form video content is crucial as it captures the viewer's attention within the first second. It is a mix of visuals, text, or sound that encourages viewers to stop scrolling and watch the video, increasing engagement and watch time.

What are carousels on TikTok and how can they be used effectively?

Carousels on TikTok allow users to post a series of photos that viewers can swipe through. They can be used effectively by adding a text hook to engage viewers and encourage them to explore the entire set of images.

What is the new feature 'TikTok Shop' and how can it benefit creators?

TikTok Shop is a feature that allows creators to sell products directly through the app without users having to leave the platform. It benefits creators by providing a seamless shopping experience for their audience and potentially increasing sales.

How can creators repurpose content on TikTok without repeating the same video?

Creators can repurpose content on TikTok by reusing hooks, visuals, or themes that have worked well in the past, but changing up other elements such as the specific page from a book or the visuals in a video to keep the content fresh.

What resource does the speaker offer for authors interested in using TikTok to sell more books?

The speaker offers a comprehensive guide with video tutorials called 'The Book Talk Blueprint,' which has been used by over 2,300 authors to increase their sales on TikTok.