Bits O'Wisdom: Social Networking--FACEBOOK

Let's pick up where we left off with the dos and don'ts of social networking. Last time I talked about how Twitter is can be one of an author's best marketing tools if used correctly. This time I want to talk about Facebook. The social network that is not just a noun...but a verb. It's so normal nowadays to say, "Oh, I was facebooking last night." or "Facebook me!"

I have to admit--I was against it at first. Oh, nothing and noone could convince me of how great the site was or how much fun it could be. I thought it was dumb. (shields head from lightening bolts) Then, like most of us, I opened an account and decided to give it a whirl. Lo and behold just a few months later...I was hooked. Pretty soon I was working the site like a pro. Poking people. Chatting. Posting slightly questionable status updates....

**What was that? What about MySpace? Let's face it. MySpace is no longer a useful site for authors to promote themselves. Except in very rare (and I do mean rare) circumstances. If you feel strongly otherwise, leave a comment. Especially if you have a success story to share! :)**

Unlike Twitter, Facebook really is more of a personal social network. You can list not just your friends but your family and co-workers. You can post pictures up, create events, etc. Even find people you haven't spoken to in years. So yes I do get all the 'personal' goodies that don't need to be shared with every one of your fans...and probably shouldn't be. Here's a couple of big things that are great about it, though.

Ready?

1.) Pages
Oh yeah.You know what I'm talking about. How many times have you searched your favorite music artist, actor, actress...Author? Mm hmm. You can make pages for all sorts of things and people. Including authors. Published and unpublished. These things are like a mini website that can be shared with your friends and even advertised. You can put your author bio up along with any links you might have. You can start discussions. Facebook has now updated the way its pages work by allowing the owner to navigate the site (i.e. comment on other pages' posts and links) as the page itself and not their own personal profile. It's the perfect way to keep personal and professional seperate.

2.) Groups
Ok, this one is a little trickier. The good thing about groups on Facebook is that you can add whomever you want without their permission. That, unfortunately, is also one of its biggest faults. I'm not saying they shouldn't be used. They are great because you can chat privately with group members only (author interview anyone?) and make it private if you wish. Group owners do need to practice some common sense and courtesy, however.
Let's say Dee Writer wants to make a group for herself. She sets it all up and adds all her friends to the group. Yes. All 897 of them. She starts posting stuff about her books, her blog, etc...
Problem. More than half those 'friends' of hers are either A. Not going to have a clue they've been added to the group or B. Be very aware of it and very annoyed because they don't understand WHY. Maybe they're even wondering WHO she is. (especially if Dee Writer is her pen name) So they leave.
I can't tell you how many times I've been added to a group I had no wish to be a part of. I'll sign into my account and every now and again I'll realize that I am now a member of Do It Yourself Home Repair. Um..no thanks.

There is also the snazzy way you can share almost anything from the web on Facebook. And vice versa.

As far as Dos and Don'ts go...

Don't over advertise your book or your blog. There are so many other things you can post about in between. Trivia, quotes, updates on your writing activity, fun questions...Use your imagination. Be personable and not just some stuffy author who wants readers to buy his/her novels. Contents are also something to think about.

Again: There is a difference between personable and personal. While it's nice for readers to know that you're human after all...be smart about how you go about it.

What things have you noticed about authors with pages or groups on Facebook? What are they doing right? What are they doing wrong?

~Ree

Bits O Wisdom: Using Twitter or Facebook to Keep the Motivation

A strange thought occurred to me this week. I was updating my Facebook and checking Twitter. It was a slow day for writing. I hadn’t got much done, and it seemed like my muse had gone on vacation. But as I was typing up a Twitter status, I wondered… is this helpful? Is this micro-blogging good for writers who are stuck in the kind of mood I am in? When things don’t want to flow right, when your characters won’t talk or when writers block has you in its clutches? 

Maybe.

When I’m stuck, I always end up on Facebook of Twitter—either venting or replying or just to see what others are up to. Just for something to do, to jog my brain for a bit, while I try and get out of this funk.

Because, for some reason, I always know what to post or tweet. It’s quick and easy, short and sweet.

So, for a quick writing exercise, if you’re stuck, pretend your first sentence or your continuing one is a Facebook (So you’ll limit yourself for this update to 420 characters) or a Twitter update (limited to 140 characters). It doesn’t have to be in first-person, or about your life. You just have to write. You can post it either in Twitter or on Facebook or just in your document if you like. The idea is to just give yourself a boost, a way to get the writing going again.

Who knows? It might work.

Bits O'Wisdom: Social Networks--TWITTER

**Please know that I am talking about you as a writer. If you are trying to start a fanbase or keep one..published or unpublished. NOT if you are just a twitter junkie who likes to use it for personal use. Just wanted to make that clear before I get hate comments**

Thus begins a Social Network frenzy! This Wednesday it is all about Twitter.

Oh, you know what it is. Even if you don't have one, you'd be hard pressed to live in this world and not hear about Twitter. I am the least technologically savvy person ever...I'm sure...but even I have succumb to this social network beast. :) Oh yes. It took me a while to get the hang of it but now that I know...I'm so addicted. You can find me on Twitter most of the time and I love it! I'm not ashamed to admit that.

I am a Twitterholic--hear me roar!

But as all other social networks, there are wrong ways to do it.

So yes, there are wrong ways. I have scoured the internet for them  (the Do's and Don'ts) asked fellow Twitter-friends, and added my own personal opinions. I've narrowed them down to 10.

1.) Don't NOT put anything in the 'About Me' section...
Um yeah. No. If you have nothing there, then how am I supposed to know you and I are compatible? I don't. Exactly! Are you a fellow writer? Are you an artist? Actor? Blogger? Mom? Dad? Loving grandma? I have no idea. So why should I follow you?

2.) Don't protect your tweets....
You might have a good reason to do this, but if you are trying to build and/or keep a fanbase--there is NO good reason to do this. Nothing turns away a follower faster than a person who privatizes their tweets. I mean, what is it you are tweeting that I can't see? Really?

3.) Don't NOT respond to @ messages...
Ok. So you're not Conan O'Brien or Kim K, or the friggin Rock. You also have the option on Twitter to check out who has @ you lately. Therefore you should respond accordingly. Seriously guys, followers are always overjoyed when someone they follow tweets them back. Celebrity status or not. You might not be there yet but you know what? You WILL be there someday. So start now. And don't ever lose that personability.

4.) Don't just promote yourself/book/site/etc...
You are not an infomercial. So don't imitate them. It's perfectly fine to advertise your book/blog/etc...I mean, that is why you are on this social network right? Durr. But when EVERY tweet is about just that--you are going to drive ppl away. Same thing with ONLY promoting your stuff (book/blog/etc). There a LOT of people who do this. Mainly because they've been told that they should be on social networks such as Twitter, but then they only do that promotional tweet. The 'Once Every Two Month' tweet. My book is coming out soon! My book is on sale! But then they disappear and aren't heard from until the next release date.

5.) Don't Direct Message new followers...
Nothing makes followers more nervous--or just annoyed--than someone who DM's them saying: Thanks for following and please check out my website/book/etc..at boring-my-butt-doesn't-care-.com. LOL. Just saying...

6.) Don't constantly be negative or hatefull...
Ok. As I have written about before--venting is good. But you need to know when and where it belongs. It's just fine at times but if that is all you are tweeting about then you really need to rethink your approach.

7.) Don't just follow everyone who follows you....
I know you want to be nice and stuff but really? Can you really follow 10k followers? Kudos if you can! But realistically, it's just not possible. While most celebrities have thousands if not millions of followers, it doesn't mean that they are engaging with anyone. They could just be in to it for the promotion. So I'm telling you--don't just follow anyone and everyone who follows you.

8.) Don't only Tweet or reTweet inspirational quotes...
Life is not a pocket of sunshine so don't make it seem like that.

9.) YES be personable and approachable...
We're not perfect. Our lives are not always glamorous. So what makes you think your readers want to read such tweets? They don't! They would much rather see real, every day people tweeting about thier lives. Personable. Make sure you are someone your followers can relate to.

10.) YES to the lists!...
Lists are a great way to select a great group of your followers whom you can follow yourself, while still following X-amount of other followers in the other group. Lists can be used for only your best followers at first, but as time goes on, adding anyone else in (lets say a new follower who has a deep connection w/the main hero or heroine in your story) your followers group can be added as easily as typing her name in the message bos.


We are authors. We want people to buy our books, read our blogs. So let's not alienate them. :)

Make sure you follow us! :D

Madelaine Bauman @MadBauman
Raven Clark @ravenclark1
D.F. Matthews @dfmatthews32
Minerva (Ree Vera) @ReeVera7

Happy Writing!

~Ree