#BookTok
The Literary Marketing Megaphone
From
Racquel Shante Delemos:
Known for its upbeat music, lip-syncing duets, and viral dance
challenges, TikTok has appealed to those in search of a friendly,
fun-loving social media experience. BookTok’s network of writers, book
lovers, avid readers, and content creators share videos in fun, new, and
exciting ways.
The nature of TikTok has transformed the ways in which
book-related content is shared. BookTube and Bookstagram, as well as
book blogs and other bookish content, are here to stay. However, these
other platforms do not possess the same viral quality as BookTok.
According to a March New York Times article, E. Lockhart’s
2014 bestseller, We Were Liars, was back on the paper’s bestseller list
in 2020 after being shared in an emotional BookTok video that went
viral. This isn’t the only example of TikTok spurring book sales, and
several major publishers have shifted their marketing strategies in
response. Indie authors should do the same.