Hello and welcome to the IWSG blog hop.
What is IWSG? Founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group and author Alex J Cavanaugh explains the group's purpose is "to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!" You're invited to become a member of this supportive group.
What is IWSG? Founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group and author Alex J Cavanaugh explains the group's purpose is "to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!" You're invited to become a member of this supportive group.
The group blogs the first Wednesday of every month. The list of bloggers is always available so you can hop around to the author blogs filled with humor, advice, and thought-provoking topics on writing and publishing. You can find the list of participants at Alex's IWSG page.
I was shocked to hear her talk about using Facebook not for promotions, but as the venue to get readers to your blog/website. I know I can't yell "buy my book" on Facebook or any other social media 100% of the time and turn off readers. ( I'd be so bored with that too.) But I noticed when I link my "brilliant" blog posts to Facebook, I get fewer views than if I put up some cute picture of a cat or make a stupid observation about my life. I know Facebook wants to sell ads instead of allowing a free link to my blog. I don't understand how you drive readers to the blog, or as Barb calls it--your real estate. So this advice is a conundrum for me.
Social media is all about connecting to folks and building relationships. I get that. Last week I was surprised when listening to the Blog Maven, an expert on blogging. She suggested not putting any social media links on your blog/website because you don't want the readers to be tempted to click on the link to leave your site. No social media, no blogroll, nobody leaves. This idea was new to me. I always thought the more avenues for an author to get her name out into the world, the better.
How do you use social media? Please soothe my insecurity about using social media by sharing your tips. Thank you.
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| Facebook Tablet by Stuart Miles Courtesy of freedigitadownloads.net |
Doubts About Social Media by J.Q. Rose
My insecurity this month is my doubts about social media. With my new mystery e-book just released, I'm trying to get the word out to readers about Deadly Undertaking using social media such as Facebook, G+. and my blog. I was so sure I had a plan until I was on a chat at the Writers Chatroom on Sunday evening. The guest was Barb Drozdowich, a social media expert. |
Deadly Undertaking by J.Q. RoseAvailable now at major online booksellers. |
Social media is all about connecting to folks and building relationships. I get that. Last week I was surprised when listening to the Blog Maven, an expert on blogging. She suggested not putting any social media links on your blog/website because you don't want the readers to be tempted to click on the link to leave your site. No social media, no blogroll, nobody leaves. This idea was new to me. I always thought the more avenues for an author to get her name out into the world, the better.
How do you use social media? Please soothe my insecurity about using social media by sharing your tips. Thank you.
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This Week:
You're invited to spend the week with me!
November 3--Guest at the Helena Fairfax blog--Pumpkin Dessert Recipe
November 6--Guest at Dishin' It Out hosted by Ginger Simpson
November 6--Ginger Simpson visits the J.Q. Rose Blog
Thank you for stopping in today. Please sign up to follow the J.Q. Rose blog. Leave your email addy in the Follow by Email box at the top of the sidebar. You don't want to miss a new blog post or a chance to win books and prizes during the November Deadly Undertakng Blog Tour.
18 comments:
I've been thinking of venturing into Facebook ads, but haven't made the leap yet. Social media changes so quickly, it's hard to keep up.
Hi TBM, I've been thinking about trying the FB ads too. I just can't seem to lose the grip on my cash though to give it up to them. LOL Thanks for stopping in.
Some Facebook groups allow authors to post promo if the follow a few simple guidelines. That has gotten me a few sales. Otherwise, I just chat with folks and post or share an occasional promo post in my regular feed.
I'm not sure how I feel about deleting the links. Hm...
I do set them to open in a new tab/window so my site (blog or website) stays open, too. I'm a stickler on that, even for hyperlinks in my blog posts. It seems to me to be a good compromise.
IWSG #115 until Alex culls the list again
Hi Karen, Thanks for stopping. Yes, indeed. Now I've heard not to try to get followers cause posts on FB go to only about 10% of them. Pushing us to buy ads. Thanks. We'll need good luck!
Thanks, Melissa, for your thoughts. I'm in FB groups, but I hardly if ever visit them. I should make a point to do that. Yes, I believe in having a separate window too. Enjoy the blog hop!
Congrats on the new book and best wishes on finding a ravenous audience for it.
I flip flop on how I feel about social media. Sometimes I think all the work is useless and I back off. Each time I back off, my book sales dip. So, it isn't useless, but boy it's time consuming. I think there are always a lot of silent stalkers visiting your social media sites. You don't know about them, but they read what you have to say and then go check out your books. So, I keep on with it.
I think I've read something about this. Now, remember I'm no expert. They may mean when using the social media point it all at your website landing page. Except blogs because they are usually attached to the site. When people land on your landing page they read about your available books and find links to buy them.
I'm sure it isn't that simple, but I think I've got the gist of it. I expect a post explaining more as you discover it. :-)
Anna from Elements of Writing
Hey Kai, I like that--"finding a ravenous audience." Thabks. I know on my blog I always have a lot more views than comments, so hopefully the same is true on FB, etc. The stalkers or lurkers, for sure.
Emaginette--Sounds like a good theory. The page with all my books sounds like another promotion tool and I wonder if that would turn off a reader who just wants to find out more about the author. Don't know the answer to that. Also heard the landing page should be an opt in page so readers will sign up to follow you to grow your list. Usually you have to give them something free.
So much information and opinions. It seems to be a hit and miss and timing, some authors make work for a while and some don't. I don't know what to think about. From my reading a mailing list is where your returning readers end up who like you and get your stories. From reading it seems like authors with strong mailing list success for the long term over the short term, but I have not experience to offer on any of it.
http://www.junetakey.com/
Sorry I was hurrying and left out words in my comment, but I think you can figure out where I went wrong. Sorry late posting too been trying to NaNo.
http://www.junetakey.com/
I think many of us agree just trying to keep up with all the twists and turns of social media is a challenge. I like blogging, both at my own and others' sites. I don't do as much twitter, despite hearing how it's the best place--I just don't get it. LOL I enjoy FB and do try to get to all the groups a couple of times a week.
I have help now from a new PR group who posts on twitter & my author FB page for me. Yes, I pay for that, but it seems to help.
Mainly what we need to do is write the next book, and the next one and the next one, making sure each is as good as it can be. I'll share, JQ. Good post.
Hi Juneta, Yes, to be a successful writer/business owner, it has to be a marthon. No instant success. When we were in retail, the plan was to actually make a profit, but it would take 3-5 years to be in the black. And that could be just a penny over! But it also takes a lot of work to get there. The e-mail list will grow. I wish I had known to start collecting addresses when my first book came out. Good luck with Nano. Really appreciate you taking time out of Nano challenge to stop and comment.
I'm not into twitter at all. I finally made the decision I didn't want to deal with it. Hiring it done is a good tip. Thanks.
Hi JQ, I'd love to know the secret to getting more book sales through social media. I'm in a FB book club, and I think that may have helped. I've started tweeting more often, but whether that's helping any, I don't know. My best sales have come so far from doing Amazon promotions (free days) and promoting them. This seems to help sales across all my books.
I have met lots of great people through social media, so it's worth it in that way.
I'd love to have more time to write the next book, though - but that's what all authors say!
Hi Helena, I agree. Social media is a wonderful way to meet folks. I guess we just keep slugging away at marketing. Good tip on joining a FB book club. Thank you.
No links at all? Not even to my books?
I do make sure all of my links are hyperlinks and they open a new window so people don't leave my blog.
Hi Alex, I think the expert was speaking about not having folks hop on your social media pages and get distracted...LOL..We'd HAVE to have links to our books, otherwise we couldn't sell them. That's the way I look at it anyway. Thanks for stopping and for the shout out for Deadly Undertaking on your blog on Monday!!
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