Introduction
“Rules are not necessarily sacred, principles are.”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt
Facebook sometimes (or often) feels like shouting into the void, you’re not alone. Many authors struggle with what to post, how often to post, and whether their efforts even matter. The truth is, there’s no single formula. But there are guiding principles that separate the authors who make Facebook work for them from those who quietly surrender and call it quits.
Think of these eight principles as your compass: practical, flexible rules that keep you authentic and sustainable in a noisy online world.
1. Your Energy Sets the Tone
What you share shapes the crowd you attract. If you post thoughtful or entertaining updates, you’ll pull in readers who respond to that energy. If your posts skew negative or combative, expect the same vibe in return.
2. Cut the Noise, Share What Matters
Don’t post simply to fill space. Readers are already flooded with content, so give them fewer but more meaningful updates. Quality outshines frequency every time.
3. Ditch the Robots
Automated posting may save a few clicks, but it drains away personality. Readers want to hear from you, not a bot.
4. Be an Active Participant
Engagement isn’t a one-way street. If you comment on others’ updates and reply thoughtfully, you’ll see that goodwill reflected back.
5. Always Add Your Take
A bare link is a missed opportunity. Tell your readers why you’re sharing, highlight a quote, or frame it with a question. That extra context makes people care and invites further engagement.
6. Treat Every Post as Writing
Even short updates are tiny pieces of storytelling. Ask yourself, “What’s in it for the reader?” and shape the post with clarity and intent.
7. Show, Don’t Just Tell
Photos and videos get more attention than plain text. A quick snapshot of your desk, a book event, or even a meme can make your posts more relatable and shareable.
8. Consistency Builds Credibility
Readers value reliability. Whether you post once a week or twice a month, sticking to a rhythm builds trust—and the algorithm notices, too.
Bringing the Principles Together
These eight principles aren’t about gaming the system—they’re about staying true to your voice while making the most of your time. Always post with intention. Engage your audience with curiosity. Share visuals, both still images and video content. Stay consistent and true to yourself.
If you can manage that—even once or twice a week—you’ll stand out more than the authors who either oversaturate feeds or vanish completely.
The big picture: Facebook doesn’t need to be overwhelming, nor should it be. With the right compass, the platform can feel like an extension of your writing life, rather than a distraction from it.
Up Next: Across the past several weeks this blog has provided author guidance specific to Facebook. We’ve addressed topics such as whether the platform is still a valuable resource for authors to promote their work and build an audience of dedicated followers. We’ve addressed the value of Facebook from the perspective of both published and new, unpublished authors.
We’ve also provided strategies for authors to follow when their publisher suggests that they embrace Facebook and begin self-promoting on the site. We’ve looked at the various ways to best capitalize on the platform, using author pages, personal profiles, and groups. And we’ve written about principles and best practices to follow. Next time around, we’ll discuss strategies on how to keep readers from muting you.
Until then, be sure to visit our blog for more informative guidance and suggestions to help propel you to greater success.
Articles in the Facebook for Authors Series
Facebook Author Strategy: Pages, Profiles, and What Actually Works
Facebook for Authors: Myth, Necessity, or Distraction?
Muting, and How to Prevent it From Happening to You on Facebook—Tips for Authors
Principles Authors Should Live By on Facebook
Publisher to Author: “Get on Facebook!” — Essential Strategies for Navigating the Terrain
Unpublished Authors: To Build or Not to Build a Facebook Following?
One response to “Principles Authors Should Live By on Facebook”
This is great advice; thank you. I’ve adopted many of these without really articulating them as my rules, so happy to see them spelled out so I keep them front of mind. The one that has been the most effective in growing engagement has been to bring the same quality writing to my posts as I do my books. I want me, and my style, to be front and center.