|
Last
month we talked about the benefits of social media hot spots like
Twitter. As authors, or marketing professionals, even as a reader,
social media is an excellent tool for spreading the word.
The time commitment is less than
thirty minutes a day, if you’re becoming a
Twitteraholic. If you use tools like Tweetlater, the time investment is
around ten minutes.
I’ve listed some Twitter guidelines below, and enlisted the help of
some friends to encourage you on your social media journey.
1. Don’t slam individuals or groups, or even hint of dissing. While you
may know what you mean, those reading your post may have no idea and
get the wrong impression of you and those you speak of.
2. Avoid over-venting about your boss, your spouse, your neighbor, and
even your current manuscript. Be honest but creative.
3. For me, if I see a Twitter account with only Web site links and
marketing promo, or a half-naked girl, I don’t follow. Life is too
short . . .
4. Post your own tweets. If you don’t have time, don’t sign up.
Celebrities and politicians have joined and it gives serious doubts to
who is actually doing the tweeting. The beauty of social media is that
it’s you doing the talking not your “people.” I
don’t follow those I don’t feel do their own posting.
5. Don’t whack me on the head with your social or political agenda.
I’ll get it with just a few tweets. And you’ll get mine, too.
I’m not alone with my love
affair of Twitter. A few noted authors and agents have said this:
I’ve found
that giving out good content, like writing advice and helpful quotes,
builds goodwill. I have a number of followers who look forward to
seeing what I tweet from day-to-day. I don’t view this solely as
marketing. If all you do is talk about yourself and your books, it
tends to turn people off.
—James
Scott Bell, author of Try Fear, @jamesscottbell
Twitter
has given me a new connection with readers. There really is a bond that
forms that’s hard to explain. I follow industry leaders too, and their
tweets have shown me different sides of the issues that face all of
publishing. I love Twitter!
—Colleen
Coble, author of Cry in the Night, @colleencoble
I
have
gathered new readers and reached out to existing fans through Twitter.
It’s great for getting your name in front of a lot of people. And when
people tweet about my books, that tweet
|
is
public for all who follow
that person (and anyone else who might visit that person’s Twitter
page). So unlike a fan e-mail, which only I see, [tweets are] public
praise. For example, this one came in this morning: “Should be working
on book edits. Reading Brandilyn Collins’s Crimson Eve instead. Simply
can’t put it down.” I have also hooked up with reviewers who didn’t
know my work before. As a result, my books are being reviewed on new
blogs/Web sites. I have also seen definite increased blog traffic
because of Twitter.
—Brandilyn
Collins, author of Exposure, @brandilyn
A
well-written, well-crafted story will always trump any social media,
networking, or market plan. That said, society is crowded with
leisure-time options like movies, 200-plus TV channels, video games,
and Internet sites like YouTube and Hulu. It behooves authors to stay
connected personally with readers, draw them in and entice them to read
their book over other entertainment options. Twitter is one of the most
effective ways to connect with large numbers of people who may one day
buy your book.
—Rachelle
Gardner of WordServe Literary Group, @rachellegardner
So there you have it, my
thoughts, and my friends’ thoughts on Twitter. I recommend trying it
for thirty days, reaching out, becoming a social networker. See what
might come your way.
If you have any thoughts or
social media suggestions, contact me at
rachelhauck [at] gmail [dot] com and follow me on Twitter at
twitter.com/rachelhauck.
|
