Takeover-Tips

Guest post by Kerry Evelyn

10 Tips for a Successful Facebook Takeover

Why participate in a Facebook takeover or group hop? Easy! It's a fabulous way to grow brand awareness and grow your readership. So, how do you effectively manage a takeover? I've created these ten tips that will help you knock it out of the park.

1. Brand your graphics.

You want to make sure your posts stand out, are recognizable, and represent your brand well. Remember, you're building brand awareness. Use your brand color palette. Keep the graphics on theme.

2. End each post with an action item.

You want comments on each of your posts. 

• comments boost the post and increase visibility
• be creative
• don't be afraid to be personal, you may just find your new one-click reader
  

Examples

• posts that automatically engage readers: activity posts, predictive text, etc
• gif comments
• personal repsonses
  
• ​ask questions, leave a clear call to action
  

3. Introduce yourself

Readers want to know who you are as a person. This connection is invaluable. Share as much or as little as you're comfortable with.

4. An opportunity for market research

Takeovers in groups that match your genre are a great way to discover what readers love! How can you accomplish this? With posts like these: 

• This or That
• Leading Questions
• Preferred Bonus Content
• Polls
• Favorite Tropes
• Cover Preferences
• Comp Authors
• Where are they buying?
• Where do they spend their online time (FB, IG, other)

5. Story Specific Content

Promote a new release, a reader magnet, anthology or short story. Tie in your backlist. Have an action item related to your next story.

6. Everyone Loves a Freebie!

What content can you give away to tease your story, world or brand?

• Reader Magnet
• Printable Download
• Family Tree
• Map 
• Recipe
• Coloring Sheet/book
• Trading Cards
• Team Roster
• Word Search
• Crossword
• Puzzle

*Level up and make it a download on Bookfunnel, Story Origin, or Prolific Works and collect email addresses for your newsletter.

7. Grow your following OFF Facebook

Use your posts to request follows in other places.
Some ideas might include: 

• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Blog
• BookBub
• Newsletter
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Tiktok
• Pinterest
• YouTube

8. Number and Hashtag Your Posts

Make your posts easy to find for yourself, and readers. Hashtags make it easier for you to find posts to respond on comments. Readers know what to expect during your time. You can easily find the posts for later takeovers to copy or tweak. 

9. Giveaways and Prizes

Readers LOVE giveaways and freebies. 
What can you giveaway?

• Gift cards (doesn't guarantee readers will buy your books)
• Credit for your eBooks or paperbacks ordered through you.
• Paperbacks
• Special Editions
• eBooks
  
• 2-D Swag: stickers, bookmarks, magnets
• 3-D Swag: pens, notebooks, lip balm
• ARC or review copy
• Unpublished books, or books with older covers

**Be clear US only, Continental US, or International?

10. Choosing a Winner

There are so many ways to pick a winner. No need to overcomplicate it. Some of my favorites are: 

• random generator
• prize wheel of names
• ask Google to pick a number
• choose winner instead of choosing randomly: 
  • Did someone join your newsletter?
  • Follow you on other platforms?
  • A Superfan?

Pro Tips

• Ask for moderator status if you want to schedule your posts (Pages CANNOT schedule, but they can ask for real-time pre-approval to prevent waiting)
  
• ALWAYS number and hashtag your posts
  
• Provided an entry deadline
  
• State if the giveaway is US, Continental US, or International
  
• End each post with an action item
  
• Let your personality shine through! They want to get to know YOU!
  
• Make sure they know where and how to find you
  
• Use emojis, white space, and bold/italics (Yaytext.com) strategically
  
• Post your pre-order link more than once (if it’s a Book Con takeover)
  
• Break up long info posts with short games
  
• NEVER give away (or let another author give away) a book you are trying to sell
  
• Ask for a variety of responses to minimize reply time
  
  • Personal info
    
  • GIF/Pic/emoji
    
  • Automated/Predictive
    
  • This or That 

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Kerry Evelyn is the author of the Crane’s Cove series, #sweetresortromance set in Coastal Maine, the Palmer City Voltage #sweethockeyromance series, a Guest Author for the Cat’s Paw Cove series, and several short stories that span multiple genres. Kerry received a Bachelor of Science in Education and Sociology from Bridgewater State University in 2000. A native of the Massachusetts SouthCoast, she changed her latitude and now calls the Orlando area home. Kerry loves God, books, cats, traveling, taking selfies, sweet drinks, and escaping into her imagination. You can find her on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, Facebook @KerryEvelynAuthor, Instagram @KerryEvelynBooks, and Twitter @theKerryEvelyn. Visit KerryEvelyn.com to subscribe to her newsletter and learn more!