I did. In some situations, we still play it as adults, too, right? (I don’t think many would survive in the workplace if they didn’t know how to do this.)

But did you know that it can also help you get more social media followers?

While I typically don’t recommend playing follow the leader when you’re marketing your book because blindly following someone else could take you in the wrong direction, there is one situation where I strongly encourage it.

When you should follow the leader

If you listened to the preview panel discussion I participated in for the Reach More Readers online conference  earlier this month (registration is still open for the conference that begins next week — learn more at my affiliate link), you might have heard me offer that advice.

“Follow the leader,” I advised.

I was talking about a strategy for connecting with more of the right people on social networks. “The right people” are those who like reading the kinds of books you write. They’re the people you want following you because they’re your target audience.

Whether the social network is Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, or another, you can get more of the right followers quickly and easily by following these three easy steps. I’m using Twitter as an example; just modify the process accordingly for other social networks.

1. Identify the leaders for your genre or topic.

For fiction, consider best-selling authors in your sub-genre. For nonfiction, look at recognized authorities in your field or for your topic.

Sticking with your genre or topic is important because this is how you will connect with more of the right people. If you write Amish romance novels, you want to connect with Wanda Brunstetter’s followers, not Nora Roberts’ fans.

2. Click on “followers” on the author’s profile page.

The red arrow in this image shows you where to click on a Twitter page to find the followers. (Click on the image to see a larger version.)

3. Follow the people who follow the author.

Famous authors will have thousands and thousands of followers; following all of them isn’t realistic or necessary. You can eliminate some of the people easily by not following anybody who doesn’t have a profile photo — see the purple arrows in the image above.

Follow backs = more of the right followers

Because most people will follow you back automatically, you will soon have more of the right followers — the people who love the types of books you write.

Set a daily goal for the number of follows. You can follow 20 people easily every day on a smartphone while stuck in traffic, waiting in line, or watching TV.

Apply this strategy to the one social network that’s most popular with your book’s target audience and watch your following grow.

Which social network is most important to your book? Why? Please comment below. 

She wondered how a “newcomer” could accomplish all of this while also trying to write a book.

What she didn’t say, but what’s also important, is that many people working on books have other jobs that pay the bills while they write, too. How do you fit it all in?

Building a following

Who can blame her — and you — for being frustrated with these new publishing “rules?” On the other hand, I completely understand why publishers want an audience in place before they offer a contract. It’s smart.

Let’s face it: You need an audience waiting for your book even if you’re self-publishing.

It’s nearly impossible to start from ground zero with a book and sell enough copies to make it worth your while financially (and emotionally) if you don’t have some kind of following in place already, whether you refer to it as your fans, followers, or tribe (publishers refer to it as your “platform“).

The solution?

Don’t wait until you’re writing to find your audience. Start building your platform well before you start writing your book. In fact, author and marketing expert Seth Godin advises authors to start creating that fan base three years before the book is available.

Who’s in your tribe?

Your built-in audience for your book can take the form of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram connections; YouTube channel subscribers; media connections; blog subscribers; or subscribers to your newsletter.

A list, a blog, and a strong social media presence will give you many ways to reach your fans, your followers, your tribe.

Build that audience even if your book is already out. It will take time to create a fan base, but don’t let that discourage you. Your reward will come through fewer boxes of books stored in your home, more money in your e-book retailer accounts, and messages from readers thanking you for helping them.

How did you build your audience?