Booktok
By Emily Griffiths
What is BookTok?
A side of TikTok dedicated to the sharing of books between the app users, BookTok has taken the publishing industry by storm. It has added a whole other playing field for authors marketing their work by revolutionising the way readers choose their next book.
Put simply, BookTok, short for ‘Book TikTok’, is a subcommunity on TikTok formed by users who specifically make book-related content. Long are the days of going to a bookshop to see the latest reads, now it is as easy as opening an app on your phone. BookTok has become a place for readers to share book reviews, recommendations, bookish memes, and funny videos using trends seen on the app.
These users have created what you might call communities, fandoms or, in extreme cases, small armies that defend their favourite books, series, or characters battle by battle (and by that, I mean video by video). It can get quite brutal. Just search ‘Tamlin vs Rhysand’ on TikTok and you’ll get the idea.
These thirty-second-to-a-minute videos cover various genres from romance to fantasy, non-fiction to contemporary, consistently sparking conversations and debates surrounding the titles. It’s a platform for users to find like-minded readers and share inside jokes that only their fellow fans or the book’s author will understand.
And this is why just one of these videos can truly change the game for an author. TikTok can skyrocket a publication with just a couple of shares through its algorithms which can start a chain reaction of views. In 2022, The New York Times called it ‘a Best-Seller Machine’ and it is certainly evident given that most bookshops and websites, including places like Waterstones or Amazon, now possess a corner/page solely dedicated to BookTok recommendations.
So, it is no surprise that authors and publishers are, rightly so, jumping on the BookTok bandwagon. But… don’t be fooled. Going viral is like finding the Golden Ticket. It can happen, but it’s going to take some graft.
How can you get started as an author?
As an author, BookTok can initially be quite daunting. However, you should look at it as your new best friend. A best friend that, quite literally, has millions of friends they can recommend your new book to. So, let’s get started.
Make a TikTok account!
If you don’t have one already that is. It’s pretty easy to set up, just download the app and start by making yourself familiar with the setup. It’s quite self-explanatory and you’ll probably find yourself doom-scrolling for a while… apologies in advance for that.
Spend as much time as you can on the app.
TikTok is a rewards-based service so the more time you spend on it, commenting, sharing, and posting, the better your content is likely to do.
Search ‘BookTok’ on the app.
You need to know what it is you’re getting yourself into. A good place to start would be researching BookTok and discovering the kind of content that BookTokkers are posting.
Take a look at your fellow author’s accounts.
By looking at authors already on TikTok, specifically ones writing in a similar genre to you, you can get an idea of what your audience is engaging with. It can inform you of the kind of videos you can start making.
Time to make some content.
After as much stalking and researching as you can take, it’s time to start making your own videos. As you’ll have seen, BookTok content varies from readers giving recommendations and discussing fan theories to funny memes. As an author, I think a safe bet as your first video would be an introduction to yourself and your book. Keep it casual, the more it feels like a conversation with a friend, the better. Even if this isn’t the video that may go viral, it is a good one to have on your page for people who may eventually come across your work and want a bit more information.
From then on, the world is your oyster. Try to be creative with your videos, keep them casual, fun, and short. Don’t be afraid to jump on trends and repeat jokes (with credit of course) that other users have created. And keep it snappy. TikTokkers have short attention spans, so we don’t want them to scroll away and miss you.
Don’t just focus on your book.
Focussing entirely on your book probably isn’t going to grow you a massive following immediately. Yes, it is a great way to get your work out there and you should definitely still include it, but not exclusively. To help build your following, the easiest route would be to join the ranks of BookTok as a reader yourself. Creating your own videos on books, specifically books similar to what you think your readership would enjoy, would be a great way to connect with your audience.
Use hashtags.
If there is one thing you take away from this blog, it needs to be this. Use hashtags! This is the most direct way to get your videos onto a BookTokkers FYP (For You Page). #BookTok is an absolute must. Then you can hashtag any other keywords you think are going to help you land on your audience’s page. The more the better, don’t be shy.
Stay consistent.
All it takes is one video. People can go viral overnight so keep posting and let the app’s algorithms lead you to your readers. Be sure to stay on the ball and keep an eye on the latest trends. Not to be self-centred or anything…. but keep thinking about how you can make them all about you and your work. The funnier the better!
Popular BookTok Creators
To help you get started on your BookTok journey, here are some BookTok content creators for you to look into:
@abbysbooks
Boasting a following of 469.1k, Abby creates funny videos for BookTokkers. Her content is light-hearted, relatable, and clearly a massive hit.
@kevintnorman
After looking at Kevin’s page, be prepared to buy the book he’s talking about. Covering a range of genres, Kevin theatrically reviews his latest reads and ropes you into buying them.
@amyjordanj
Amy’s videos are notorious on BookTok. Taking a simple approach, she creates content that slowly unveils her book recommendations for a specific genre. Her strategy to reveal the book at the end of the video has made her videos particularly distinct and recognisable.
Authors on BookTok
Finally, here are some authors on BookTok for some inspiration:
@laurenrobertslibrary
@rebeccayarros
@jenevaroseauthor
@authoranahuang
Time to get scrolling. Good luck!
