Good morning. Last night on Entertainment Tonight I found out that George Clooney does not do social networking. He is not on Twitter or FaceBook. Neither am I. Who knew I would have something in common with good old George. Besides our ages. (Although he is a lot better put together than me.)
It's only been recently that I've given a thought to Face Book. "They" say you need to be on it to sell your book. Really? I've heard people, writers, authors and readers alike, say how annoying it is to be bombarded with -- "Oh, look at me, I have a book, would you like to buy it? Tell your friends and family to buy it too." However, that's not the way I buy books. Nor the way I would really conduct my business dealings.
As for Twitter -- well, come on, that's a no brainer. You've been here, you've seen my posts. Do you really honestly think I could possibly get anything I want to say down to 140 characters? Not. Going. To. Happen.
But, I will share with you, I am on Linked In. I don't know why, probably because Francine asked me to be on her network. Which it actually is more of a business network rather than a social network. So I did. And then another friend linked, and I said, holy cow, how did you find me, and she said, Francine, and I just thought that was the coolest thing. So THEN, I found a whole bunch of other people who are on and I asked them to link to me and you know what, they did. I mean really, how cool is that. I'm on a business network.
Okay, here's the thing. I don't know what the hell it all means. I'm linked to them, they're linked to other peopple. There's some sort of group but I don't know what it is. I can leave messages and stuff, but I have no idea what to say. Now if we were at a network meeting, in person, that would be a whole other story. But you know, baby steps. Baby steps.
So, there you have it. I'm on Linked In in case you were interested. That's my one little bit of social media I do. Are you proud of me? I am sort of. Now, let me see if I can find someone who knows someone who knows George.
Question -- Do you really think FB and Tweeting and even Linked In, is going to help you sell your book? Or do you do it for the fun and social aspect of it?
27 comments:
I don't, because I'm not the hawking of wares type. I do like to make connections with other people, though, and if it's connections of knowing me and liking me that help sell, then that's just dandy.
I think they do help sell books or at least help find readers that would be interested in your book. Many of my purchases have been from seeing a tweet and checking the book out. I don't always buy it, but sometimes I do. But I still think the book is way way more important.
Hai Anne...It's been a long time. Frankly, I think networking helps a lot.I am from India and networking has helped me a lot to know about various genres of work. WOuld you believe it, I was not aware that YA genre ever existed. I won a book of Bianca Turtesky and it would never have happened without these networking sites. I have also started doing writer interviews in my other blog.So everything happened due to these sites. So please tweet and come in FB. So that we could also enjoy those beautiful books written by autors sitting miles away...I want to read your book too, Ann..
Cheerios
Shalet
I forgot to say...George Clooney is my favourite actor...
It is definitely more for social networking- seeing what other writers out there are up to and what they have to say. That said, there is a kind of 'highschool trend' phenomenon that happens on twitter and facebook. Where if all the 'cool kids' are talking about a certain book then yes, others will catch on and order just to see what the fuss is about. The more friends you have, the more people you have talking about your book. Suddenly its not you saying 'come and buy it', it's the online community you're a part of saying 'come support our friend and fellow author' which is a pill that is much easier to swallow for those being marketed.
I'm on FB and Twitter, but I only do them for fun.
Summer -- Connections. I guess that's what it really is all about. I guess I'll have to try it once and see if I like it. Maybe. Maybe.
Laura -- I know I do miss a LOT by not being on them. But really, I don't have the time. Which is my biggest concern. I'll get so caught up in being social, I won't write.
Shalet Jimmy -- I know, it's been a long time for me to visit you too. I suppose being a half world away it does have advantages. But I do like to blog. And George is a great actor.
Katie -- That is true and something I may not have thought about before. Perhaps it would behoove me to see what it's all about.
Matt -- Fun? What is that?
Yes, congrats on Linked in! I think, no matter what social network path you are in, your heart has to be in it to succeed otherwise the tweets, the fb updates, the posts will read false and forced. Those that love twitter will succeed in creating a network and maybe sell a book or two or many more I believe.
I'm on FB and Twitter. I actually like Twitter better because it is short, sweet, and to the point. It's like a water cooler for me. But it can also be a time buster. I have to limit myself to small sessions on either site.
I joined FB to stay in touch with my long distance friends. But it has morphed into a lot more with writers and friends of friends on it. I group them all on different lists to keep track of the people.
First thing in all this? Write! Social media can't sell blank pages.
:-)
I was dragged kicking and screaming onto to Twitter by a friend of mine, who finally convinced me to give it a try by telling me I could tweet as much--or as little (that was key for me)--as I liked. You know what? I've made a lot of good connections there (it's where I found my agent), and it's fun, too.
Facebook is mainly a family/old-friend place for me--I don't keep it up all that much. Guess I'll make an author page eventually, but for now blogging and Twitter are enough to handle on top of my writing.
I've never really been sure what Linked In is for, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to check it out. Especially if it isn't time consuming.
I'm not on Twitter. I'm on FB with my college friends and family members to stay in touch. Before I left the corporate world, I joined LinkedIn. I had a real purpose for it then. I still see a purpose for it now. Back then, I used it to network to find candidates for open positions I was trying to fill. Now I use it to update my network on my professional writing "gigs." It keeps folks aware of me as a writer. If I ever get a book published, I'll splash it all over FB and LinkedIn to generate sales. I'd love to "Link" with another writer. Look for my request!
Lynn -- I'm sure once I find the time to actually figure out how it works I'll use it a lot more.
Christine -- Which is why I'm not really into it yet. A blank page can't sell books.
Linda -- I think if someone actually SHOWED me how to use FB and T I would use them. I'm not really a hands on learner. I need to be hand held.
Liza -- I'll be linking in moments.
I still don't quite get LinkedIn. I'm on FB (and I don't post very often) and I don't twitter, though I'm always dying to know what the publishing tweets are. Sigh.
i actually don't see that much self promotion on FB, but then again, i mostly use it to keep in touch with my highschool friends. Honestly, you are not missing anything. I pretty much resent it like 90% of the time.
I told myself that if i get an agent, i will join twitter. I probably won't do anything with it, but i figured i should at least give it a try. But not before then!
I don't Tweet or do Linked-In and I have Facebook only because I am snoopy.
I'm definitely on Facebook and Twitter for the fun of it, although I do focus my "posts" on writing and books and sometimes on my writing and my books. I've learned a lot and "met" great people through social networking, but I'm not sure my books have sold more as a result of it.
I'm on LinkedIn because of my Aunt. I had no idea what it was all about. A couple of people found me and I accepted, but that's about the extent of my involvement. Still not sure what it's all about.
I'm on Facebook because I was hoping to hook up with old friends and family. And it's good for networking, too. I'm not a very social person, so this kind of socializing (no face-to-face contact), is right up my alley. But they are all time suckers, if you let them be. I try not to let that happen (don't play the games and you should be fine).
Great photo of George!
FB is pretty nice as you can meet a variety of people. I like being able to post pictures & quotes & interact w/ others. Twitter is fun but I'm more apt to be on FB.
I think blogging keeps me in touch with other writers. their ideas are fresh and engaging and I learn. FB? Maybe it'll help sell more, but I'm more enjoying the social aspect.
I don't do FB (though I do have an account). Teens like FB so if I'm ever published, I'll have to do something with it (since I write YA). Or maybe by then they'll be into something else.
Right now I social network mostly for fun. :D
I have a Linked In account, but I don't do anything with it. I doubt it will help me sell books.
Other than blogging, I think having a Twitter or Facebook account (but I can't deal with BOTH). Why? Because it's easy to have quick contact with lots of people, and keep up with them on a more personal level more often. I have a FB account, which I enjoy. Let's face it, blogs take time. To write and to read.
I'm on Twitter, but outside of blogging, that's it! I couldn't keep up with all of that. And I like blogging because of the interaction.
I'm on Twitter and Facebook, but not real active on either. Both have the potential to help us make connections and build larger support bases, but you probably have to post a heckuva lot more frequently than I do to make that happen. On the plus side, FB connected me with my childhood BF, and that, in itself, made the whole venture worthwhile.
I have no clue if any of it really does anything...but I guess I'm so desperate to get my name out there, I will try it all. I am on LinkedIn but I don't really like it or get it. I like Twitter and have been spending a lot of my time there. I gave FB the college try but after months and only 100 followers (90% of which were my family and friends who I already connect with on my personal FB page). I still update it occasionally, but only every couple days instead of multiple times a day like I used to. The key to any of them is to get to know people personally and let them get to know you...it's not all about the promotion...actually only like 5% is about promotion. No one wants to be bombarded with promo and they will delete you real fast if you do that. Good luck!
Lydia -- That's what I think I miss not being on Twitter is the pub cant.
Sarah -- That was my reasoning too, but you have a better shot at that than I.
Betty -- Snoopy. That's a great word.
Cynthia -- Thanks for being honest. That was really the whole gist of this post. I did wonder if more books sold.
Stacy -- Yeah, I'm not into games, literal or figurative. I'll have to find you on Linked In.
Lisa -- Yeah, for a guy my age, he is pretty.
Rebecca -- I would so much rather blog. As someone said, it's so much more interactive.
Stina -- At least you know your target audience and where to find them. I think I would have to go to church.
Theresa -- I enjoy my blog. Sometimes it gets to be a hassle, but then what in life is not?
Alex -- Someday maybe I'll Tweet, but for the time being I think I'll just blog.
Susan -- I think that is the defining word right there -- Potential. You get out what you put into it. And like you, I don't think I'd put that much into it.
Stephanie -- Thanks for the input. I see a lot of promotion around the blogs as it is. I think for me, blogging is the way to stay for now. Unless and until I build a bigger following.
I find LinkedIn baffling too. I think I tried to link to you. You may have linked me back. No idea. I can't even find my profile. I guess I should. But I agree it seems to have very little to do with selling books. It's more about selling you to a publisher, maybe. To show you're a professional.
Twitter is important to me because it drives most of my blog traffic. But you seem to get plenty without it, so if that's working for you, I wouldn't worry about it.
FB is a pain. I use it, but I hate it. It's invasive and you constantly have to fight off attacks to get your address book and other info so they can sell you to marketers.
On the other hand, I friended Elmore Leonard the other day and he friended me back. I got an email that said Elmore Leonard is my friend. I haven't been able to delete it. I'm friends with a literary god. Except of course, none of this is real.
Blogging is so much more civilized.
Post a Comment