Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Blogs, Newsletters…what social media
do you use and how do you use it? What don’t you use, and why not? Any advice
for those in a quandary?
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| Working on print draft...this is ALMOST ready to be spoken about on social media.... |
Facebook:
I have a Facebook page CLICK HERE where I interact with Friends,
which means I scroll regularly (though Facebook’s algorithmic vagaries mean I
never see every Friend’s posts) and post, comment and share multiple
times per day, often involving non-writerly things (eg: cute puppies!). I also
have my Cathy Ace –Author Facebook page, CLICK HERE, which isn’t truly
interactive though I always respond to comments made there by those who have liked it; it's where I post less frequently, and only writerly stuff.
Why two pages? I know many readers like to follow an author’s posts about their work,
without having to be-friend them and see all the non-writerly posts popping up
in their newsfeed all the time, hence the author page, whereas others like to “get
to know me” beyond my writing. I plan to continue to use and keep both pages.
Twitter:
I’m on Twitter CLICK HERE but
have to admit I could be better at using it. I do scroll pretty much every day, and have notifications set up so I know if anyone has "tagged" me, something to which I try to always respond, and will
Retweet etc, about my work, the work of others and the writing world (and some pretty random topics!). I
should become more connected to my Twitter account…and will do very soon.
Instagram:
I have a dormant account, and
plan to up my game in this field soon – why? My new book might well extend my
appeal into the younger profile of users for this method of communication.
Blogs:
I blog here every two weeks, and
at Killer Characters once a month (on the 22nd – CLICK HERE). I
guest blog occasionally, when invited to do so by friends, but don’t have my “own”
blog. I don’t plan to start one, as I know I wouldn’t be able to sustain it
alone – way too much writing time would be used up by it. I suppose I almost
use Facebook as a substitute for a personal blog, because I tend to post there
if I have news etc.
Newsletters:
I have built a mailing list (SIGN UP HERE - SCROLL TO BOTTOM OF PAGE THAT POPS UP) and do send occasional newsletters – either on a bi-monthly basis, or
when there’s big news or a special offer on my books (eg: sign up now and you’ll get BIG NEWS about a
special price offer coming up this weekend!) I try to make my newsletter
photo-heavy, and personal, rather than salesy and totally book orientated.
Website:
I have a (relatively) new website, CLICK HERE which has a wealth of information on it, and also allows book club members to access information sheets and discussion points about all my books. (Click through to my books on my website, and each book has a button for book clubs.) I work hard to keep my website up to date (with events etc.).
I have no idea if any of this bears any
direct relationship to book sales, but I have been told by those with whom I
interact across these channels that they value the time and insights I share
with them this way, which is great.
Ultimately, I’m a storyteller, a
communicator…so, yes, communicating in multiple ways with readers, fellow
authors, and those who are interested in similar things to me, personally, is
great fun.
Now…back to editing this
manuscript. I promise BIG NEWS about it soon!
Sales pitch – PLEASE consider
reading my work?Check it out at my website! CLICK HERE
I hear you, Cathy! I am circling Instagram warily myself...
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy. You seem to have a handle on the various social media resources. I can see how each one meets a different need. I guess it's all about being accessible and visible to the reader and how the reader uses social media. Looks like you've got all your bases covered. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan - I'll see you in that circle!
ReplyDeleteHi Lyda - thanks for the vote of confidence...and, I agree, visibility and accessibility. Will keep working the bases :-)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a full-time job just keeping up with social media.
ReplyDeleteHello Grace - sometimes it feels like it! In fact I think of "business communications" as my job, and writing as still my passion and "treat"!
ReplyDeleteThanks much for this Cathy!
ReplyDeleteI've had a blog for about a year now but am considering ditching it for the same reasons you cite. Takes too much writing time away, and hasn't really taken off either.
I was encouraged to start it by an editor/friend last year,, but now I think spending more time writing, submitting more and finishing my novel in progress, would be a much better payoff!
I hardly have any interaction on it anyway, and in fact have way more author interaction on FB. Initially the plan was for it to double as a website, but with just a few writing credits so far, (no book yet) I don't have much to advertise. And blogging just to blog seems so aimless!
Recently I've guest blogged a bit and also was recruited to do blog tours. Both seem better caz. at least it gave me something concrete to blog about. But it's unpaid, and seems again, like I'd be better off spending the time getting my own stuff out there!
Writing on a group blog like this seems the perfect solution! You don't have to own/deal with all of it yourself, but you still get your writing out there once or twice a week. You're one of the first writers I've seen who outright owned up to not having a blog! So thanks for that. Makes me think I might be okay ditching mine.
Thoughts??