If you're a writer, what social media do you use? The chances are that, beside your website, you also have a blog, maybe a Facebook page and possibly use Twitter. How do you find time to juggle the social networking with everything else and still find time to write? Is it essential for a writer to have an interactive online presence? Which is your favourite and why?
I've recently set up a new Facebook Like page. I love chatting with readers online and hope this could be a way of connecting. I also have a Twitter account but to be honest I'm not too sure what I'm doing over there, which is why I often appear to fall of the edge of the twitterverse.
What medium do readers most like as a way of connecting to authors? Is it important to have that interaction and if so do you prefer if the author uses a blog, FB, Twitter or some other media? Or does it not matter to you?
Seductive Musings has a great post about the different social medias from a reader's perspective, and makes the point that for many readers it's the author's website that is the first and most important port of call when looking for up to date info. The post is long but is well worth reading and certainly gave me a lot to think about.
What are your thoughts?
4 comments:
I'm a new fan of Twitter. I've had an account for ages, but have only started using it. I'm not sure what it does for promo, but it helps me feel like I'm not the only person in the world with a laptop attached to my fingers.
Jury is still out on Facebook. I haven't found the winning promo combination yet. I'll let you know if I do though.
Well, I agree about websites, and blogs too. As for facebook, I usually feel lost there and like Emma, haven't found a winning combo yet. I don't do twitter, though have thought about it. I don't really have a lot of time these days to spend.
Another thing I've found really helpful is linking up with authors/readers who write/read/like the same genre I write. I'm involved in a few groups/blogs with SF and SFR authors/readers, and to tell the truth, I think this connection is why FL sold well. This happened to come into my life at exactly the right time-- right before the release of FL. The Galaxy Express (a big influence in the SF and SFR community) promoted FL, and later gave it a great review. I also did a big blog tour, though I believe it is the combination of several media of promotion that works best.
Thanks Christina, for opening up this discussion! It's a good one for sure.
Emma, I've found if I use Twitter I don't use my Facebook and vice versa, although my Twitter account is linked to my personal FB page. I do tend to feel quite lost whenever I log onto Twitter though!
Kaye, I think group blogs are a really good idea and they're certainly very popular. I agree a combination of several media of promotion is the best route to go for maximum exposure. I also think it's important to only do the social networking that you're comfortable with, rather than trying to keep up with everything which is why I'm borderline with Twitter!
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