It's becoming increasingly clear that BookTok—a subcommunity of TikTok—has significantly influenced the sales of fiction books and is expected to do so for the foreseeable future.

GfK Entertainment and Nielsen BookData recently released their global report for the first eight months of the year, and data shows rising revenues in fiction. Among the fiction genres seeing the most growth are crime and thriller novels, whose sales are up in three-quarters of the surveyed countries.

Booktok should definitely be part of your marketing strategy. Connecting with followers in a creative and genuine way can greatly increase your likelihood of going viral. Here are five essential strategies to help you build your presence and market your book on BookTok:

1. Ride the Wave of Viral Trends

TikTok’s algorithm boosts engaging content, helping authors gain visibility and drive sales. Viral book recommendations and trends like reading challenges can spike interest in specific titles.

IDEAS

• Book Cover Reveal: Make an event out of revealing the cover of your new book. People love feeling as though they're in on a secret, and anticipation creates excitement. 
  Related hashtags: #coverreveal, #bookcover, #upcomingbooks
• Book Playlist: Create a playlist for your book or a character, share the link, and explain your song choices.
  Related hashtags: #bookplaylist, #soundtrack, #spotify 
• Show Your Book Live: If your book is in a bookstore, film yourself visiting and share your excitement at seeing it on the shelf. 
  Related hashtags: #authorlife, #dreamcometrue, #indieauthorsoftiktok

2. Engage with Your Audience

BookTok creates a sense of belonging, with users sharing stories, book hauls, and reviews that spark interest in trending titles.

IDEAS

• Unboxing: Film yourself unboxing your new book to share the excitement and spark interest.
  Related hashtags: #unboxing, #bookunboxing, #unboxbookmail
• Share an Author Q&A: Answer questions about your writing process, inspiration, or books. Record in advance or host a live session to connect with readers in real time.
  Related hashtags: #askmeanything, #faqs, #booktokqanda
• Cast the Movie: Ask followers which celebrities they'd cast in your book's movie adaptation to interact and discuss shared interests.
  Related hashtags: #booktomovie, #booktoscreen, #fancasting
• Ask a Question: Start your video with a question to immediately engage viewers and encourage interaction. 
  Related hashtags: #bookishquestionoftheday, #bookishthoughts, #dailyquestion

Click Here to Explore the Differences in Marketing Fiction vs. Nonfiction Books

3. Offer Genuine Recommendations

Unlike traditional advertising, BookTok features real recommendations from fellow readers. This authenticity strikes a chord with viewers, making them more likely to purchase the books being discussed. 

IDEAS

• Share Your Own Recs: Share your favorite books, unique themes, or specific genres that resonate with your audience. Build a kinship with them. 
  Related hashtags: #whattoreadnext, #currentlyreading, #mustreadbooks
• Create Lists: Post and discuss curated lists based on themes, such as "books with strong female leads" or "stories about friendship." 
  Related hashtags: #booksyoushouldread, #bookrecs, #whattoread
• Recommend Others: Pair your recommendations with info about how those books influenced you. Lift other writers up and collaborate with them as much as possible. 
  Related hashtags:  #mustread, #booksthatchangedmylife, #favoritebooks

4. Celebrate Inclusivity

BookTok highlights a variety of authors and genres, which aids readers in discovering new books and promotes diversity. Celebrate inclusivity in all its forms: race, culture, ethnicity, nationality, tribal affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and religion.

IDEAS

• Highlight Diverse Authors: Create videos spotlighting authors from underrepresented backgrounds, sharing their works and unique perspectives. 
  Related hashtags: #diversifyyourbookshelves, #bipocbooks, #diverseauthors
• Embrace Diversity in Your Favorite Genres: Some book genres lack diverse characters or storylines. Call attention to those that include them and motivate viewers to explore and appreciate these works. 
  Related hashtags: #diversefantasy, #diverseromance, #diversecharacters
• Share a Themed List: Create a list of recommended books by diverse authors or featuring diverse characters, like 20 Diverse Historical Romances or 15 Books to Honor Filipino Heritage Month.
  Related hashtags: #weneeddiversebooks, #readingdiversely, #diversify

5. Create Visually Appealing Video Clips

The platform's visual nature lets users create inviting videos of book covers and quotes, attracting potential readers.

IDEAS

• Bookshelf Tour: Take your viewers on a tour of your bookshelves, displaying how you organize and arrange your books, and what items you choose to display with them. 
  Related hashtags: #bookcollection, #homelibrary, #bookshelftour

• Book Aesthetics: Videos showcasing aesthetically pleasing arrangements of book covers, cozy reading nooks, or thematic visuals create a strong emotional appeal.
  Related hashtags: #bookaesthetic, #beautifulbooks, #booktography
• Read with Me: Share your reading atmosphere, like lighting candles or playing music, to inspire viewers and help them set their own mood for reading.
  Related hashtags: #readwithme, #readingvlog, #readersoftiktok

• Hashtag Tips •

Popular hashtags make it easy for users to find recommendations and trends, and drive traffic to specific titles, creating buzz around new or lesser-known books.

Be sure to use a mix of both popular and niche hashtags to maximize your reach and attract a more involved audience. 

There are so many topics on TikTok that you can tap into, and you'd be surprised at the number of niche hashtags you can find with huge numbers of posts and views. Choose the niche hashtags that are relevant to your specific subject matter.

FOR EXAMPLE: 

 If you've written a thriller: 

• Definitely use: #thrillerbooks, #thrillerbooktok, #suspensebooks 
• But also try: #whodunit, #psychologicalthrillerbooks, #plottwists
  
  

  If you've written a romance: 

• Definitely use: #romancebooks, #romancereads, and #romancebooktok
• But also try: #smalltownromance, #enemiestolovers, #grumpysunshineromance
  
  

  If you've written a fantasy:

• Definitely use: #fantasywriter, #fantasybooks, #fantasybooktok
• But also try: #cozyfantasy, #yafantasy, #romancefantasy, #highfantasy

By tapping into the vibrant BookTok community, you can discover a wealth of book readers and engage with them in meaningful ways! Follow other accounts and comment on their content. Networking doesn't have to be dull—have fun with it!