Tag Archives: social media

Book Marketing Tips & Tricks Uncategorized

Cracking the code: how to successfully market on Instagram in 2023 with the latest algorithm updates

Apr 12,2023 / By / No Comment

The key to success on Instagram lies in mastering its algorithm, which governs the platform. By understanding and utilizing the algorithm effectively, you can boost your follower count and increase engagement. On the other hand, if you neglect the algorithm your account may struggle to gain visibility, regardless of the quality of your content.

Since Instagram’s algorithms evolve over time, it’s essential to keep up to date with the latest changes to ensure your account continues to grow. We’ve gained valuable insights into content creation, success strategies, and the occasional misstep. In this article, we’re sharing everything we’ve learned about the Instagram algorithm as of 2023, including tips on how to get it working in your favour.

Before diving into the details, it’s important to acknowledge a fundamental point: there is no publicly available breakdown of the Instagram algorithm. Companies that utilize algorithm-based feeds, such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, do not disclose all the factors that determine the placement of content in a feed.

Although Facebook and Instagram do not reveal their entire algorithms, they do provide occasional insights into how they work. For example, we are aware that our actions on the platform—such as comments, likes, and views—affect the content that appears in our feeds. Moreover, it is evident that the algorithms vary depending on whether we are browsing the feed, the Explore page, Reels, or Instagram Stories.

In 2023, the Instagram algorithm operates through a range of algorithms, classifiers, and processes, each serving a distinct purpose. In the platform’s early days, images were simply displayed chronologically. Nowadays, Instagram uses different algorithms for each section of the app, including the feed, Stories, Reels, and Explore, to assist users in finding relevant content.

Below, we’ll explore the criteria that Instagram takes into account for each part of the platform.

Reels

Instagram has placed a significant emphasis on Reels, making it the most crucial aspect of the platform. Neglecting Reels could prove detrimental to your account’s growth.

IGTV is no longer relevant, and horizontal or long-form videos are no longer prioritized as Instagram focuses on short-form videos. To optimize your content production process to align with the Reels algorithm, here are some steps to follow:

  • Crop all video content to 9:16.
  • Keep videos short, ideally no longer than 30 seconds.
  • Ensure your content is engaging, entertaining, and fast-paced.
  • Avoid using low-resolution or recycled content from other platforms, such as TikTok.
  • Instagram favors Reels that attract likes, comments, shares, and views. The algorithm also takes note when users save videos or add Reels to their Stories.

Stories

The operation of Instagram Stories is comparable to that of the feed. The content displayed in Stories, apart from ads, is from the accounts you already follow rather than from new ones. Interactions with stories differ slightly from those in the regular feed.

Story Interactions

  • Direct messages (DMs): Does a user view your story and respond?
  • Profile clicks: Does a user click your profile to see more of your content after watching a story?
  • Emoji reactions replace “likes”; they could be happy, upset, or a thumbs up.
  • Finish or skipped: did your user watch each Story in its entirety, or did they get bored and skip to the next one?

In addition to these signals, Instagram also considers user actions such as turning on notifications for your Stories or sharing a Story with their friends (or on their own Stories). All of these actions can influence the algorithm’s preference for your content.

Creating engaging content that encourages user interaction is key to getting the algorithm’s attention. Experiment with surveys, stickers, and Q&As to get your followers to take action on your content.

The Main Feed

The feed is still the primary area of Instagram, despite the addition of Stories and Reels. In this section, the algorithm favours content from accounts that you already follow. However, in the Explore or Reels tab, other factors come into play.

To determine the preferred content, the algorithm considers various signals, such as:

Who posted the content: Do you interact with this account frequently? Do they have a large and active following? Is their content typically high-quality?

Information about the post: Is it an image or video? How long is the video? What time of day was it posted? Are you viewing it on a mobile device or desktop? Is there a location attached to the post?

Your activity: What kind of content have you engaged with previously? What is the likelihood that you will leave a comment?

A helpful tip for 2023 is to use alt text when uploading images, much like optimizing for SEO on a website. The easiest way to SEO-optimize an image is to describe who and what is in the image, and add a little background information if you can.

The Explore tab

The Explore tab on Instagram is dedicated to showing users fresh, relevant content that aligns with their interests. This means that most of the posts you’ll see will be from accounts you don’t follow yet. Although you might come across posts from accounts you follow, it’s not as common.

According to Instagram, the most important actions that impact the Explore algorithm are likes, saves, and shares. 

Other factors that the algorithm takes into account include:

The account that posted the content: Does it have a high engagement rate, or have several of your friends followed it? Have you interacted with their content before?

Information about the post: Is the content popular among other users? Are they quickly liking, commenting, and sharing the post? When was the post uploaded?

Your activity: Have you engaged with similar content before? Do you typically save or share this type of content on your stories?

The algorithm attempts to predict your interests based on your activity. For instance, if you follow Manchester United and like their content, the algorithm may suggest other football clubs, or other sports that align with your interests. If you like the suggestions, the algorithm will continue to show you more of that content. If not, it will try to find something else that will keep you engaged.

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Tips & Tricks Uncategorized

How to track your success on social media

Sep 17,2021 / By / No Comment

It’s hard to know if you’re “doing” social media right. I mean, yes, you post unique content, you respond to comments, and you regularly engage with other accounts in your niche by liking their posts or leaving comments in relevant threads. But is it working?? By working, we’re referring to people liking your posts, following your page, clicking your links and/or visiting your website.

To know if you really are using social media to benefit your brand as an author, you can track your success using your social media insights. That is, if you’ve signed up for a professional profile like the Facebook Business Page or Instagram Creator Account, which offer you tons of added benefits for building your brand. Once you’ve created your Facebook Page or Instagram Creator Account, experiment with posting for a couple weeks and then venture into the world of your social media insights.

Find your Insights on Facebook:

And on Instagram:

Alright, now take a look at three key ways to measure your success on social media using your social media insights!

Follower Count

Having a high follower count makes a good first impression, but if it isn’t growing week-over-week you need to change up your strategy. A steady increase in followers means your account is reaching more people organically as well as getting new people’s attention.

If your follower growth rate is only increasing by 1% a month, re-evaluate your content strategy.

Content Interactions

Tracking your content interactions, i.e. how many likes, comments or saves your post and stories get is important. It lets you monitor just how interested your audience is in the content you are creating.

Your social media analytics will show your overall interactions as well as the interactions for each post.

Here’s what industry standards tell us:

  • Less than 1% = low engagement rate
  • Between 1% and 3.5% = average/good engagement rate
  • Between 3.5% and 6% = high engagement rate
  • Above 6% = very high engagement rate

How can you get from 1% to 3.5% or higher? We share a few tips for updating your social media content strategy below.

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Book Marketing Tips & Tricks

How to utilize your author website!

Sep 16,2021 / By / No Comment

So you made the decision to create an author website – FANTASTIC! A website functions as a modern online business card, and not having one can impact credibility. You will use your website to share information and news about your book, let people know where they can buy it, and offer other ways of connecting with you by including your social media links. Ultimately, your website is the foundational building blocks of your brand! But, what should you be doing with it and how can you help get traffic (views) to the site?

Unless you are creating regular content in the form of a blog, uploading new resources, or doing something unique on your site, it can be hard to drive people to visit your author website frequently or at all. So what should you be doing?

Here are 4 key elements to follow to get the most out of your author website:

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Author of the Month

YA author Rachael Bell-Irving uses pre-marketing to grow following, knowledge and experience for launch

Mar 27,2018 / By / No Comment

rachael

We’ve all heard the saying ‘practice makes perfect’ at one time or another, and book marketing is no exception. So when Tellwell author Rachael Bell-Irving decided she was going to publish her first book – Demons at the Doorstep, she immediately began exploring and experimenting with marketing in preparation for her book’s release.

First, she embellished her online author presence with a Facebook Page and website, and began to establish a voice through social media and a blog. While she knew it was important to be on multiple online platforms, Bell-Irving decided to focus on the tool she felt most comfortable with: Instagram.

She did her due-diligence researching effective hashtags and exploring community spaces like “Bookstagram.” As she began to post content, she started to pick up on some of the nuances. Beyond the importance of imagery, Bell-Irving discovered the value of allowing your personality to come through.

insta-post-4-personal“People like to know who you are behind the scenes and behind the screen,” she says.

Some of her most well-received content on Instagram has been posts of herself – whether they were related to the writing process or not. Even online, the reading community seems to appreciate a personable, humanistic approach to brand awareness.

Another advantage of the pre-marketing process for Bell-Irving was getting a better sense of her genre and her target audience. Prior to exploring the literary community on social media, she didn’t realize her writing is tailored to young adult readers.

Having learned that, she found her approach online shifted to accommodate the interests and habits of YA readers specifically. The most prominent thing she discovered was the strength of the community she had become a part of through her writing. Not only are YA readers and writers extremely interactive with one another, but being genuinely invested is quintessential to building support within the community.

The concept of “being a reader as much as a writer” goes a long way, Bell-Irving explains. So, she started to get back into reading again to really immerse herself with her audience.

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Tips & Tricks

Tellwell’s Tips for Launching your Book

Sep 20,2017 / By / No Comment

After months of preparation, you’ve reached the end of the self-publishing journey. You do a quick Google search and there it is – your book listing on Amazon, Chapters, and Barnes and Noble. Excitement turns to panic as you wonder, “What do I do now?! How am I going to launch my book?”

Launching your book doesn’t have to be a grand event, and it doesn’t have to happen the second your book is released. Many authors wait months to line up events or signings, and focus instead on spreading the word via social media. Others plan a book tour, involving readings and book signings at multiple venues over the course of several weeks.

Remember, the purpose of launching your book is getting the word out, whether that be online, over the phone, or through in-person engagements. Regardless of which approach you take, here are Tellwell’s top 10 tips to launch your book when it becomes available:

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  1. Have promotional materials prepared: While your book is being designed, you’ll want to start thinking about materials you can put together to give to people who ask about your book. Examples include a bookmark or business card to hand out in person, an email signature with links to your author website or social media profiles, or a poster of the book cover to take to in-person events.
  2. Build an email/mailing list: When your book is available, you’ll want to have people to tell. So, while you’re working through the production process, start building a contacts list complete with names and email addresses. That way when the book is available, you can send out an email blast to all interested contacts with links to where they can buy the book.
  3. Know your target market inside and out: While it may be tempting to say anyone would take interest in your book, it can be a lot easier to promote your book to smaller, niche markets. Ask yourself – “Who is the type of person most likely to buy my book?” Once you’ve figured that out, determine where you might find them, where they buy their books, and what they look for when adding a new book to their collection so you can tailor your content and keywords to their interests.
  4. Get social: In a digital age, it’s nearly impossible to avoid social media when trying to get the word out. Whether you’re a social media guru, or you’re just getting started, try to engage with readers on at least one social media platform.
  5. Keep your audience engaged as your book is nearing completion: Use your social media platforms, or your mailing list, to share updates with your audience before the book comes out. This creates some pre-launch buzz that will kickstart your promotion efforts.
  6. Network, network network! As a one-person operation, it’s extremely difficult to generate buzz around your book. That’s why it’s critical to build valuable relationships with individuals and organizations who can help you get the word out about your book. Whether it be a local business who is willing to host you for events, or a charity you partner with and donate a portion of your book proceeds to, get networking!
  7. Get Reviews: We know you feel passionately about your book, but having others praise it will help to attract new readers. Like any product, getting customer feedback will help others to decide whether they should buy your book.
  8. Invest in book giveaways: Whether it be organized directly through your website, or through another source like Amazon or Goodreads, give away some free copies of your book to build momentum. Incentivize your audience to keep your book on their mind.
  9. Use clear call to actions: When approaching people about the book, be very clear about what you want from them. Are you requesting a review for your book? Do you want people to subscribe to the blog on your website? Keep your prompts clear, concise and genuine.
  10. Take it one step at a time: Marketing takes time and consistent engagement, so be sure to break down your goals into tangible steps, and don’t forget to celebrate all the small victories!

 

 

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Author of the Month

How Tellwell author Angela Campagnoni is using social media to gain exposure and publicity

Apr 26,2017 / By / 3 Comments

angela-campagnoni-2017-head-shotAfter losing her beloved father at a young age, Angela Campagnoni set out to write a book that helps children going through similar devastating losses.  In March, she published I Want to See My Papa, a touching, illustrated book to help children understand loss, bereavement and healing through love and acceptance.

Writing was a self-healing process for Campagnoni, but the real journey had just begun. “It’s a lot of work, once you hit marketing,” she admitted.

Campagnoni was fortunate to already have a strong social media following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, from her work in the fashion industry. Even with her pre-established networks, she still considers the online marketing to be a fulltime job.

“If you don’t have a social media presence already, start it early, early, early,” she said. “Even with my amount of social media, I still felt like I was late. It’s hard when it’s your first time because you don’t know what you should share, and what you can share.”

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