How to Build a Strong Online Presence as a Writer

Visibility, branding, and posting with purpose—your crash course in being seen.

I’m writing this as someone who has built pages that took off—and pages that didn’t. I’ve seen what works, what falls flat, and what actually lasts when the hype fades. Not just how to get attention—but how to build something worth remembering.

Let’s begin.

1. Why You Need to Be Visible Online

If you’re like me—the type who Googles an author after falling in love with their book, reads their Wikipedia, watches their interviews, stalks their social media (in the least creepy way possible)—then you already know why visibility matters.

As a new author, visibility isn’t optional. It’s a necessity.

Think of it this way: if people can’t find you, are you even real?

Visibility equates to credibility. It’s how people get to know you, learn from you, root for you, expect more from you—and most importantly, care about you. You could be sitting on a masterpiece, but if no one even knows you exist? It’s going to be a lonely, uphill battle.

2. Branding Isn’t Just for Businesses

Branding isn’t just for corporations. It’s the instant association people make when they see or hear something related to you. Like your haircut, your vibe, or your signature style—it tells people who you are.

It’s the same with AlònTala’s page. It’s very writer-centric—stories, publishing, creativity. If we suddenly started posting about politics, celebrity gossip, or fashion trends… ugh. It would confuse people. It would dilute the brand. Readers come to AlònTala because they know what to expect: insight, inspiration, and a focus on storytelling.

That’s what branding is. Trust, alignment, creating a space where people know what kind of energy, value, and conversation they’re stepping into—before they even click.

So, branding. It’s your colors, your fonts, your tone, your consistency. Keep your look and feel aligned across platforms. Don’t look like an author on Facebook and a rapper on Instagram. Don’t talk about writing then suddenly switch to “How to Cook Adobo.”

With personal pages, the temptation to share everything is real—your music, your garden, your fur babies. But try to focus on what you want to be known for. You don’t have to erase the other parts of you—just don’t let them drown the signal.

3. Mistakes That Make You Forgettable (or Unfollowable)

Here are a few ways you might be sabotaging your own visibility without even realizing it:

Being Generic:
Sounding like everyone else guarantees you’ll be forgotten. If your posts feel like they could’ve been written by anyone, no one will feel a reason to stick around. Speak in your voice. Show your quirks. Own your weirdness. That’s what makes people remember you.

Oversharing:
Vulnerability is powerful—it builds trust. But when your feed turns into a public diary of every frustration, heartbreak, and meltdown, you risk exhausting your audience. Vent strategically. Choose which stories serve a purpose for your readers. Remember: most people don’t follow you for your personal drama—they follow you for what you can offer them.

Inactivity:
Disappearing for months at a time? Not cute. Not mysterious. Just forgettable. Even one post a week keeps the connection alive and reminds people you exist. And these days, almost every platform has built-in scheduling tools. Use them. I do. Sit down for one afternoon, queue your posts for the month, and move on with your life.

Confusing Profiles:
One username. Clear bio. Recognizable photo. Make it stupidly easy for people to find you—and remember you. And maybe… don’t use the same profile picture everyone else is using. Yes, I’m looking at you, Wattpaders. I swear, half of y’all have the same front-facing-chibi-styled aesthetic. I can’t tell you apart. Stand out a little. Your face, your logo, even a personal drawing—just something distinctly yours.

4. Do’s and Don’ts of Posting Online

DO:

Share your creative process—not just the polished end product.
People love to see the messy middle. The brainstorming, the doubts, the little wins. Let them into your journey, not just the victory lap. It builds emotional investment.

Talk about your themes, obsessions, and inspirations.
What fires you up? What ideas keep you awake at night? Share them. Readers who connect with your why will naturally want to stick around for your what.

Offer value: tips, insights, emotions, aesthetics.
Value doesn’t always mean education. It could be a tip. A thought-provoking quote. A slice of beauty. Anything that leaves your audience feeling something richer than before they scrolled by.

Engage: reply to comments, uplift others, be part of your community.
Social media isn’t a monologue. It’s a conversation. If someone takes the time to comment, acknowledge them. If a fellow writer posts something amazing, cheer them on. Community is earned, not demanded.

DON’T:

Post just for the algorithm.
You can tell when someone’s posting just to chase likes. People feel it. There’s no soul, no pull, no connection. Prioritize meaning over metrics.

Imitate trends without context.
Jumping on every viral trend without thinking dilutes your voice. If a trend fits your brand naturally, go for it. But don’t force yourself into a meme or a challenge that doesn’t align with who you are.

Spam promos.
Stop blasting “Buy my book!” posts like confetti. Make people want your work first. Actually—don’t even ask them to buy. Make them care so much they ask you how to get it. Make them feel like missing out on your work would be missing out on something made just for them.

Vanish after a successful post.
One viral post doesn’t build a career. It’s the consistency afterward that turns curiosity into loyalty. Stay visible. Stay engaged. Show them you’re not just a flash in the pan.

5. Build a Presence with Purpose

Choose one main platform to start with.
Don’t try to conquer Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter all at once. You’ll burn out fast. Pick the space where you naturally enjoy showing up—the one that feels like a playground, not a battlefield.

Decide on 3–4 content types that reflect who you are:

• Behind-the-scenes looks into your daily writing life
• Short reflections or micro essays about your creative journey
• Writing advice or creative prompts that could help others
• Snippets, quotes, or aesthetics from your work-in-progress (WIP)

You don’t need a complicated content calendar—you just need a rhythm. One thoughtful post a week is infinitely better than random spam. Pay attention to what your audience leans into. If something resonates, lean into it harder.

And seriously—scheduling is your best friend. Spend one afternoon each month batching and scheduling posts, and you’ll thank yourself later.

The goal?
Make people care.
If all you ever post is “I wrote a book,” or “buy my book,” you’ll fade into the noise. Show them why your words matter first. Make them feel something before you ask for anything.

6. What I’ve Learned from Growing (and Losing) Pages

I’ve built pages before. One of them hit over 100,000 followers in less than a year. It resonated with people deeply—it spoke to their emotions, their struggles, their dreams. It became a guiding light. Not because of flashy graphics or viral gimmicks, but because the content mattered.

I’ve also built a page that barely scraped past 1,000. We had giveaways. Pretty visuals. Decent engagement. But it never took off—because while the perks were there, the soul wasn’t.

People follow value.
Not noise, or fluff, or desperate self-promotion.

If you’re a writer, your mission isn’t to chase numbers—it’s to build real connection.
Speak to readers. Inspire fellow writers. Show publishers you’re serious enough to be worth investing in.

Some pages take years to grow. Others explode overnight after one right share. But here’s the truth most people won’t tell you: That kind of boost only happens when you’re already offering something worth boosting.

So keep building. Keep crafting. Make it real.
And when your moment comes—and it will—you won’t have to scramble to deserve it.

You’ll already be the kind of creator people were waiting to find.

Final Thought

Your work deserves to be seen. But no one can fall in love with a book they never discover—or a writer who never shows up.

You don’t have to be loud or shout for attention. You just have to be present. Visible. Consistent. Real.

In a world ruled by endless noise and flashing screens, showing up with intention is the most underrated form of power.

Show up with purpose.
Show up with something that matters.

And when you do, your people will find you. They’re already looking. Just give them something worth finding.

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• Indie From the Islands by Mariel
• Daydreams for Breakfast by Pasta

Got questions? Bold ideas? Love confessions? We’re here. Email us at hello@alontala.com