Are you posting and posting to social media and getting a whole lot of nothing in return?
Do you ever wonder why some people get so many likes, comments and shares on social media while you get just crickets?
Is it you? Your audience? The algorithm?
My question for you is: ARE YOU ASKING?
If you want social media engagement, you have to ask for what you want.
Author and book launch maven Anna LeBaron is a pro when it comes to asking for — and getting — what she wants on social media. How? She understands how people behave online and what motivates them to act.
She’s been asking for what she wants since she launched her first book, The Polygamist’s Daughter, back in 2017. The result? She has close to 800 reviews on Amazon, 1,200 on Goodreads, and more than 600 on Audible. She also has 28,900 followers on TikTok (more than all other social media channels combined), but you have to watch the video above to find out more about that.
And if the results she’s gotten for herself don’t impress you, take a look at the books she’s launched. Maybe you’ve heard of Jen Hatmaker, Bob Goff, Rachel Hollis and Max Lucado…or Gary Sinise, John Maxwell and Rachel Held Evans? Anna has launched their books into the stratosphere.
If anyone understands how to get the engagement you need on social media, it’s Anna.
Anna’s secret to asking for what you want and getting it on social media can be summarized in the following five steps:
- Ask for what you want (or need)
- Assume generosity
- Follow the Golden Rule
- Give more than you take
- Honor your limits
Contents
#1 Ask for What You Want (or Need)
People can’t help you if they don’t know how. So the first step to getting what you want on social media is to ask for it. Ask for what you want or need, and tell people why it matters — how will it help you?
Then let them decide whether they’ll consider it.
#2 Assume Generosity
If people follow you, they want to help you — Anna believes that to her core. By not asking for what you want, you rob them from the opportunity to offer you that help. Instead of worrying about appearing needy or annoying, assume that you attract social media followers with generous hearts and spirits.
#3 Follow the Golden Rule
The Golden Rule we all learned in school applies in social media as well: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
You attract great followers by being a great follower. If you want to grow your Facebook followers, you need to be the best follower you know on Facebook. That’s the Golden Rule. Be the kind of follower you wish you had.
#4 Give More Than You Take
Anna has a perfect formula for the mix of give-and-take required for social media success: Serve + Serve + Serve + Serve + Sell. Simply put, you give four times more often than you ask. That’s how you get a reputation for generosity and how you attract and retain generous followers.
#5 Honor Your Limits
With all this talk of generosity and being an excellent follower, you might think Anna wants everyone to spend 24/7 in service to others. On the contrary, her best advice is that you give when you can as you can. When a family needs a hot meal in tough times, some friends donate a meal and others donate money to buy takeout. Both have value and are deeply appreciated.
In the writing world, book sales and reviews are the pinnacle of support, but that’s not always true. If you’re not able to buy a book, you can still share about the book on social media. If you’re not able to share about a book on social media, you can recommend the author be interviewed on your favorite podcast or send the author an encouraging email.
Moving Forward
Getting what you want on social media isn’t as hard as you think. Like Anna says, it’s a matter of asking, giving more than you take and making sure to operate under positive intent. What will you ask for on social media today? And how do you plan to do it?
Anna’s Special TikTok Offer
Anna is a TikTok super-fan. It took her seven years to get 5,000 followers on Facebook. On TikTok, she crossed the 28,000-mark in just a few months. If you want to join her as an early-adopter and experience explosive growth on the newest social media channel, you’ll want to be at her upcoming TikTok workshop. Taking place on Friday, Sept. 11, at 11 a.m. Central Time, Anna will teach you the ins and outs of how (and WHY) to grow your social media using TikTok. Learn the right way to use TikTok right now. Register here: https://tonya.video/tiktok
How to Help Anna LeBaron
We can’t have a live show and article on asking for what you want if we don’t give Anna the opportunity to ask for what she wants. Since Anna is working to secure a second book contract, the best thing you can do is to help her grow her online platform by doing the following:
- Like/Follow Anna LeBaron on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
- Buy The Polygamist’s Daughter in Anna’s Amazon store.
- If you’ve read The Polygamist’s Daughter, consider leaving a review on Amazon, Goodreads and on your social media profiles.
Love your posts, Anna
I think our motivation comes through in what we post.
writer (NF)
Yup. Writer
Shadia Hrichi
Lol, Anna. It does feel like that sometimes. Thank you for sharing your heart today. Your love for Jesus is beautiful.
Anna is a true treasure.
Writer
Jolene here. Writer for sure!
Good idea.
I’m here…feel like I am in a recalibration place about platform, my book, etc. I’m listening…
Donna Chacko I’m delighted to hear this!
You’re listening to the right person 🙂
Great word distinction
Using it ASAP
I love this soft ask.
Stephanie Meyer
Jolene Underwood
I just rewatched the whole movie series.
Thanks for bailing us out on this 🙂
🙂
Stephenie Meyer
Josie Garcia
I love how you can connect to the message and leverage your ask off of that
Message is everything
Message Driven. Love that!
I love that. I honor my own limitations.
Yup stay in your lane.
Answer the call that is yours to answer! Love this!
Anna is very quotable 🙂
Every call for help is not for every person to answer.
What on earth is it?
I would love a conversation about sustainable SM use!
Are there any changes to this process if you are doing self publishing? Like I am not showing up to ask for anything because I’m honoring the Chance that a publisher took on me
Bethany Howard, Writer
The reasons for asking may be different, but as an author, even a self-published author, you have the same basic needs to get your message out there:
• Book sales
• Book reviews
• Social Media awareness of your book title and book cover.
• Among others
Anna has over 28k followers on TikTok!
What is ROI?
Return on Investment
What was the big video that blew up?!!
Donna Chacko
Currently 460,000+ Views
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJSmoPUJ/
You handle that topic so well.
The viral video was about her 50 siblings & growing up in a polygamist cult.
Ticcoa Leister
There’s 460,000+ Views now!!!
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJSmEnmR/
Wow!
Thanks!
Hi Ladies!!
I just finished Anna book!
Anna Luke THANK YOU!!!
Would you consider writing a one or two sentence review on Amazon?
Reader reviews help first time authors like me SO MUCH!
It’s such a good book
Anna LeBaron sure! I listened to it on audible. You did such a great job!
Anna Luke You can still review on Amazon, even if you listened on Audible, so long as you have an Amazon account and make occasion purchases.
Do not recommend 7 hr lives for sure!
Ticcoa Leister
I’m tired just thinking about it.
I’m a tik tok voyeur – but I’m curious about becoming a user, what are the top three suggestions for me?
Lori Young
1. HAVE FUN!!!!!
2. DIVE IN!!!
Find a video you think is fun, and give it your own unique spin.
3. ACT LIKE A CREATOR—Don’t Follow too many accounts when you are trying to grow.
#3 is for creators.
If you are a consumer, and want to just have fun, this doesn’t apply, unless you want people to watch your videos you create for fun!
Great tips – thank you for capturing them here!
So helpful!! Thank you Anna!! I’m excited about the tik tok training next week!
I’m watching you Anna! I need these TikTok lessons!!
Gabriela LeBaron
We all need Anna for TikTok
Convincing me Anna
I think you’d have lots of fun on TikTok
What about the negative comments – do you get a lot of those? I hate that!
Lori Young I have gotten a handful. Maybe five in almost 2,000,000 (MILLION) views.
I just ignore, delete, or block, as needed.
What do the other authors mentioned (Goff, Wariner, etc.) have to do with Anna. I started late so maybe you mentioned this early….
Donna Chacko I launched their books for them.
Ruth Wariner is Anna’s cousin who wrote The sound of Gravel.
Ticcoa Leister
Here’s a recent video I made featuring both these titles:
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJSu2LvG/
Thanks for sharing <3
Anna has launched several of Bob Goff’s books.
Have to go…thanks!
Donna Chacko
Thanks for joining us today 🙂
My son just said the adults are taking over
Bethany Howard, Writer
Yes!!!!
I’m super interested but I’m on mobile and can’t grab the link can you help me
Same here! Please provide the link!!
https://tonya.video/tiktok
Thank you Tonya & Anna!
Thank you Ginny Yttrup!
Ginny Yttrup
Yes on mobile
Notes please! Thank you <3
Damariz TrèsPositive Winborne
We’ll get them out to you 🙂
Notes
Woo hoo!! Thank you so much!!
Marina Bromley
This is how I say thank you on TikTok:
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJSuRTN7/
<3 <3 <3
What about catching myself a HOT DATE – I heard Tik Tok is the new Tinder
Lori Young yesssss
Bethany Howard
Well, see if you can spot the moment I put myself out there…AND THEN GIVE THEM A REASON TO RUN AWAY IMMEDIATELY AFTER:
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJSuLKBQ/
Lori Young
Lori Young ALSO THIS:
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJSmt2YR/
Bethany Howard
Anna LeBaron to be clear – I was excited for Lori Young
Anna LeBaron squeeeeee
So, Anna, what you’re saying is “JUST HAVE FUN!” and stop overthinking it. You are adorable!
I have done some fun “Dating Tips In a Zip” on my personal page, and I’ve thought of recreating them on Tik Tok, but I’m worried they come across as “man bashing” – then again, my overthinking brain in overdrive again.
Notes… please
Thank you Anna!!
Thank you!
Thanks to both of you!!!
Jilliann Woods
We adore you!!!
Thank you!!!!!
Thank you, both!
Our pleasure!
Thank you Tonya Kubo
My pleasure!
I’m Sharing a Live broadcast on TikTok here:
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJSmn35d/
Not sure how long it will continue.
I’m practicing what I teach by Sharing a Live broadcast on TikTok here:
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJSmn35d/
Not sure how long it will continue.
Notes please!
Notes – yes!
I would love the notes. Pls
Tonya Kubo
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJSHPus8/
Notes!
Notes please
Tonya Kubo what program/app are you using to record this?
Tony Luiz Great question! Affiliate link: StreamYard, https:tonya.link/StreamYard (they have a great free plan)
Tonya Kubo thanks!
I’m sorry I missed this. We were still without power since the fire and evacuation. I’m hoping to catch the replay now that our power is back on.
Please, I want the notes!
I want the notes!