Facebook for Writers | Social Media & Marketing Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 in my Social Media & Marketing series. If you missed Part 1 you can check it out here.

Today we're going to take a look at Facebook and what it does--and doesn't--do for writers and authors.

Facebook for Writers

I've decided to break this up into pro and con sections here. These aren't 'end all, be all' truths for everyone, but they are things I've observed about Facebook. Below that, you'll see some suggestions I have for interaction and best practices on Facebook.

Pros

• It does allow writers to connect with other writers and readers (or potential readers, depending on where you are in the publishing process).
• It does offer you promotional/sponsored options and the ability to 'target' your audience (as Misty talks about in this article).
• It does let you schedule posts out in advance so you can get ahead of things.
• It doesn't limit you on words and gives you the option to express yourself in short or longer bits of writing.
• It does have "groups" which is a great way to engage further with readers.

Cons

• It does require some careful planning and daily upkeep.
• It doesn't allow your content to go out to a lot of your followers without paying (most of the time).
• I does get bogged down with controversial/political topics and can lead conversations in a negative direction. (It can also open up conversation to some great, though controversial topics, which I'd mostly see as a pro.)
• It is still relevant, but I have a feeling we'll be seeing Facebook's popularity lessen in the coming years (likely because of the previous point). 

How to best use Facebook as a writer

This is a pretty broad thing to say, so I'm not expecting these points to cover "all ways to use Facebook ever". But, I will highlight some of the things that I've seen work well for me in the past.

Know who your audience is (does this sound familiar?) and be relevant to them
I'll be harping on this a lot for any social media site and for marketing in general, but know if your readers are typically engaged on Facebook. Why spend time building a platform there if your readers congregate elsewhere?

Attach pictures to your ideas 
Hugely important on social media in general - photography! I'd say I know a fair amount about photography and the reasons I love it are the same (or at least similar) for the reasons others love it. It's eye-catching, it can give you insight to the post or text causing you to read further, and it gives someone something easy to share. We'll talk more about this later in another post.

Post frequently and consistently to engage daily users 
I'm the worst at this on Facebook - I admit it right now. But, I do know the benefits of regular posting on other social media sites. And I'm not just talking about sharing a quick link to the book you just published. As with any social media site, people are following you for your content. That said, make sure it's well thought out, inline with your branding and market, and engaging (see more below).

Be the right kind of personal
I cannot stress the words "right kind" enough here. Readers love to know the "real" you, but that doesn't (typically) include angry rants, too much information about extremely personal things, or maudlin posts of bemoaning and complaining. "But that's not honest" you say. Well...okay, here's where discernment is crucial.

I'm not against people posting any of these things, but the way in which we post is what matters (like I explain in this post). If you aren't sure about a post, I recommend asking yourself these two questions before posting:

1) Will this encourage those who read it?
2) Am I thinking of my readers or myself in this moment?

I often find that, when I want to go on a rant or complain about something it's often because I want to be cheered up or feel vindicated rather than offering something encouraging to those who follow me. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to limit your honesty, but I do want to stress the spread of encouragement and giving back among my fellow writers and authors.

Post about your books/writing
YES! Readers are following you for these things - they want to know what you're up to and what you're working on. BUT, if this is the only thing they see from you (like "buy my new book" for every post) chances are they will feel cheated. No one likes a hard sell all the time.

Post about things you love
Guess what? People are going to follow you not only for your books/writing but also because of who you are. Included among other content, share about your favorite TV shows, books, actives, food, you name it! Just know that you'll find common fans among your followers which can help your interaction.

Provide chances to see "the real you"
Um, maybe brush your hair first--or not...Hey, you do you!--but let people see you. I realize this is not fun for some who do not wish to share their photos on social media, but that's a whole different post. I just mean that giving your readers a chance to see you offers another level of connection and honesty with them. It's why I do live videos on Instagram (still haven't ventured to Facebook live yet, but I'll be doing that soon). It's why I will include fun/funny photos of myself in my newsletters on on blog posts (*cough* to the left *cough*). And it's why I've started creating Youtube videos. It's a 'more personal' look at who I am and helps to put a face (and voice) to my words.

Offer giveaways
People like getting things. People like getting free things even more. Give people an opportunity to win things, which will attract new followers, and then keep them engaged with your regular posts to keep 'em around!

Use thoughtful, relevant questions to engage your readers 
Give them something to talk about. I know a lot of people post controversial questions and this certainly engages people, so that is definitely an option, but I prefer to be a little less...confrontational? (Totally a personal thing.) I gravitate toward questions about favorite things, recommendations, or life updates.

Writers: How do you use Facebook? Do you have any pros or cons to add? 

Readers: Do you like engaging with writers on Facebook? What are some of your favorite posts?

Unconventional marketing…because why be normal? by Melissa Tagg | Guest Post

When Emilie asked if I’d be interested in writing a guest post for her blog about unconventional social media marketing, I instantly said “yes.” Not because I necessarily think I’m an expert on this. I’m not. Seriously, guys. Pinterest makes me twitchy and anytime someone gives me a “rule” for social media, my instant urge is to go and break it.

But no, I jumped at the opportunity to write this simply because in the past couple years I've happened to stumble upon a few things that really seem to work for me social media-wise…especially when it comes to my Facebook page, which is what I’m going to focus on here. No, I don’t have tens of thousands of followers, nor would I win any awards for having the coolest, most consistent presence around. But I do have fun with it and have, thankfully, seen some nice results.

I’d like to specifically talk here about how to create posts that are unconventional … charming … quirky … fun …[insert any word that’s the opposite for “normal” or “boring”].

To make this super organized (a massive feat for the girl who arranges her life by post-its and has never once made it through a whole year of using a planner), I came up with an acronym! So here we go.
 
Note: All the examples included below are from my Facebook page…not because I think I’m the only one with great content but simply because it’s easier than trying to gather other examples. In other words, I’m lazy.

How to make your Facebook posts more fun and less conventional
 
Be Relevant:

No, you don’t need to infuse all your posts with up-to-date pop culture references. But before crafting a post ask yourself: Does this have any relevance whatsoever to a) my readers and b) my books and c) my relationship with these people I’m interacting with. And it’s okay if the post is about YOU. I think sometimes we worry that we’re going to come off as self-centered, but people wouldn’t be following our author pages if they didn’t want to actually know us. Crafting posts that give readers insight into both your books and your life creates a meaningful connection.

Example: I did a post recently about how I’m an early bird. I included a picture of my open window and talked about how I love to write during sunrise. I asked my Facebook fans whether they are early birds or night owls. It let my readers know a little more about me and my writing process and also invited them to participate in the conversation.
 
Be Enthusiastic:

I read this quote once from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin: “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically and people will like it more.” It made me laugh…but man, it’s so true. Enthusiasm is contagious! We can foster that in our readers and online friends by writing posts in which we’re just plain excited…not only about our stories and characters, but about the other things in our lives that make us unique and personable. (And also, by being intentionally enthusiastic, we avoid the kind of complainy, ranty, whiney posts that no one needs to be subjected to!)

Example: I wrote a giddy post recently about how much I love baby goats and why I’m putting one in my next story. I had tons of fun interacting with commenters, ended up getting invited to a goat farm AND it gave people insight about me and my upcoming book.

Be Authentic:

Nope, this is not a call for intense and uncomfortable sharing of too many personal details. LOL! Authenticity can be as simple as being silly. I have crafted posts about my slight (okay, fine, massive and ridiculous) crush on my own main character, for instance. But it can also mean sharing little snippets of what God’s doing in your heart or what you’re learning through your writing.

Example: I work at a homeless ministry and recently had the chance to interview a man with a powerful story and big dreams. I wrote a looooong post about how much he inspired me and how I believe God doesn’t give us dreams for no reason. It was a sincere peek into my heart and life that hopefully inspired readers.

Be Lenient:

Be lenient with yourself. Back when I was trying to follow all the marketing experts, literally ALL the fun of social media drained away for me. But lately I’ve pulled away from much of what I thought was a must-do in the past. I’m to the point now where I don’t feel guilty if I need to take a few days away from my Facebook page. Or if I write a post that’s *gasp* six paragraphs long and *double gasp* doesn’t include a fancy graphic. By being lenient with myself and taking off the pressure, I've found myself crafting much more fun and engaging posts—because it no longer feels like a task with a ton of rules attached to it.

Example: Last year, I began doing a series of classic movie/actor face-offs on Facebook. They were a blast and frankly, got lots of traction. But I found myself having trouble getting the posts up on the same day each week. And sometimes I skipped a week. A couple years ago, I would’ve lambasted myself for not being consistent. But I realized, fans couldn’t care less if I do the face-offs on the same day each week…or if I happen to skip a week here or there. Eventually I stopped doing the face-offs for a time, then reintroduced them around Christmas-time. I’ll probably do another round soon. By not forcing myself to keep to a strict schedule or worrying about others’ expectations, it’s keeping it fun and fresh for me.

Did you catch the acronym? Be REAL. Really, I think that’s what the best social media marketing comes down to. Being a real person. Building real relationships. And having real fun. :)

Melissa Tagg is a former reporter, current nonprofit grant-writer and total Iowa girl. She’s also a multi-published novelist. Her latest book, Like Never Before, was named by Publisher’s Weekly to their spring 2016 “Religion and Spirituality” Top 10 list. Melissa has taught at multiple national writing conferences, as well as retreats and workshops. When she’s not writing, she can be found hanging out with the coolest family ever–not that she’s biased–watching old movies, and daydreaming about her next book. Melissa loves connecting with readers at www.melissatagg.com and on Facebook and Instagram.

4 Tips to Successfully Using Instagram as a Writer

My oh my...who doesn't love Instagram? Maybe I'm jut crazy about it because I'm a photographer? That's more likely I'm sure, but I did want to take a few minutes to chat about using the Instagram platform as a writer. Not to worry, if you aren't a writer you'll still enjoy this post because I'll include pretty pictures ;)

4 Tips to Successfully Using Instagram as a Writer

1. What to post

Ok, I'm not really going to tell you what to post, but I will give some helpful tips in how to decide what you should post.
1) Ask yourself what type of account you want to have. Writing/book promotion, for fans, personal use, or a mixture of these.
2) Think about sharing photos that fit with the type of account. For example, my Instagram account is for my photography business and writing but it's got a personal flair to it. My point of consistency is in the look of my photos though. We'll talk about that later.
3) Like with any/all social media for promotion sake, think about sharing things that fit with your brand. This picture of a typewriter fits with my writing and I could talk about what I'm up to writing wise in the comments (also more on that in a minute).
4) Consider your audience and followers. If your account is personal, then 10 pictures of your kids may be expected. BUT if you are trying to gain followers, consider their feeds. 10 pictures of your kids in a row (though they may be the cutest kids EVER) will quickly have your followers considering unfollowing  you.
5) Ask why you are posting each picture. This may seem extreme, but if you're serious about gaining followers and posting within your brand (to an extent) then have a purpose behind your post. No, this doesn't have to be some grand concept and you could use a random photo to tell your fans you just wrote "The End" but it helps to have a reason for each post - even if that's just to share a fun quote.

2. What to say

The comment section of Instagram is a hugely untapped resource (in my humble opinion). I know there are Instagramers out there who are super clever and just post one word captions (or no captions). I've done this. BUT, we're writers! Use your words ;-)
I've personally found that people are more willing to connect with me (and like my picture) if I've got something worth saying. Again, that's not to say that my captions are life changing, but they should be relevant to you, your brand, and your followers.
Use Instagram to give out fun info about your day like you do Twitter, but tie it to a picture. Maybe it's your work space, your coffee, your editing screen, or your TBR pile. Whatever it is, share about it. People can love your images, but they can also begin to love your voice even over Instagram.

3. How to make it pretty

Yes, I know that Instagram comes with it's own filters...but there are some awesome apps out there that give you even more control over what your photos look like.

VSCO Cam
This is my personal favorite! It's what I edit every photo with on my phone. Maybe that's because I like to tweak things (the photographer in me) but they've also got some great presets.

Afterlight
There are some fun things with this app, like the ability to add some old-school flair to the side of a photo, overlays, and great presets.

ProCam
This app gives you a LOT of control. Maybe too much for those of you who just want to snap a shot but hey, here it is.

Diptic
Want to combine two photos - or more like I did here? Use this app! It's one of my favorites for the ease and ability to do a whole bunch with it.

P.S. I was in our local Christian bookstore and saw one of my author headshots on the back of this lovely novel. Eik! See that...E.A. Creative Photography. That's ME :D Ok...back to Instagram stuff...

4. How to be Effective

• Make your account public (and don't post anything you wouldn't want "everyone" to see)
• Use hashtags (research popular writer/genre hashtags like #amwriting or #books or #scifi etc.)
• Tag people and products (as long as it's relevant to the photo of course)
• Use personal captions when possible
• Post around 2AM or 5PM and on Wednesdays (so they say...?)
• Follow Instagramers in your "field" as well as book bloggers/reviewers and comment on their images
• Be interactive! Comment and reply to those who comment to you (don't for get to tag them specifically with the "@" sign or else they won't see it)
• Be consistent! Build up a fun gallery of images that represent YOU and what you like. Your readers will love seeing that. 

I hope this has been helpful! Instagram is a great platform and can definitely help you connect with more readers on a personal and fun level.

Are you in Instagram? I'd love to connect with you! 

@createexploreread

A Look at Twitter for Writers

*I will fully admit to listening to the Lord of the Rings soundtrack during the writing of this blog...

It's time to take a journey. No, you wont be taking a ring to the fires of Mordor, but you will be weighted with glorious purpose.

The mission: To use Twitter more effectively
The destination: Spreading the word about your writing and you!
The guide: Your passion (and maybe some tips from this blog)

Pinterest

7 Twitter Tricks to Rule Them All

1) A Plan

In order to go anywhere you need a direction firmly in place. But you also have to understand the way to get there. With Twitter it's easy to get overwhelmed by the fast-paced, ever changing, stream of tweets. Let's start out by establishing one thing first though:

Twitter isn't about permanence, it's about relevance. (click to tweet this) 

Yes, it's great to have something "go live" on Twitter but it will be gone in the blink of an eye should your followers have more than fifty, Twitter-happy people they are following (or even 10 people who Tweet at a constant rate).

Think through these things with regards to your Twitter plan:

• Who's your audience? (Take a look at Ralene's post from yesterday for some great ideas to establish your audience.)
• What can you share with your followers: What are you an expert in or have knowledge about?
• What are you directing them toward: Facebook, Blog, Website?
• What's your approach: Funny, helpful, informative?
• What can you sustain: Tweet frequency and content?

Once you've established these things, then create a plan to follow through with. Something as simple as: Every Monday morning I'll spend 30 minutes preparing and scheduling tweets.

Pinterest

2) Presence 

Thought this image is funny, it actually applies to Twitter. How, you ask? Well, first off, when you establish yourself on Twitter you are one in a sea of unending people who tweet. There are business, public figures, cities, authors, other entrepreneurs, hey there are likely even Orcs on Twitter! You will get lost in that if you don't make yourself stand out.

BUT, do not misrepresent yourself.  Don't be putting up something on Twitter that isn't really you.

Instead, take time to put these things in place:

• A short but informative bio (here's a place to showcase your whit)
• A lovely cover image that's relevant (you can use this space to advertize your books but be wary of the transition from a webpage to a mobile device - where most people will see it)
• A profile picture (I'm pretty passionate about professional headshots. You can see why here, and here, and here too!)
• An active link (soooo important - and this goes back to part 1 with the question of where you're directing your Twitter followers to)
• A location (less important, but it could be an asset depending on what you write. Example: "You write novels set in the South and you're from Alabama")

Pinterest

3) The Right Words

Just like they had to say the right words to open the Doors of Durin, you need to use the right words (and number of words) to unlock the secrets of Twitter.  

//140 characters//

Yep, I just heard the anguished cry of writers all over the world shouting about the injustice of it all. I know, I know, I hate the limitation too...But it can have its benefits.

Things to consider when writing out tweets:

• Use a question to capture attention
• Think of Buzzfeed or Huffpost titles like "Dog stranded: You won't believe what happened next!"(ooo...you have to click to find out what happened!)
• Use snipits of news or blurbs from your post
• Share something funny

Keep it short--don't try to say too much--and realize not every tweet will go viral. It's not about that, it's about providing quality content to your followers while having fun and showcasing your personality.

Pinterest

4) The Right Crew

Without the help of the hobbits the ring never would have made it to Morodor. Just as Fordo couldn't have made it without Sam and they couldn't have made it without the help of the others. It was a team effort.

Twitter may seem like a different realm to you, but it's just social media! Yep, social. People follow you because they are interested in what you have to say with those 140 characters.

But remember, to get a friend you have to be a friend. Retweet others tweets, favorite things you like, tag your friends in posts. This is the best way to guarantee new followers but also to "give back" in a sense. 




5) Links & Pictures

This is in line with using the right words (#3) but is so important. First off, including a link is a great way to draw your Twitter audience to your other platforms of social media. I often find myself using a link to draw attention to a post I've just written that I think will benefit my Twitter followers. I also try and use photos as much as possible because people are more likely to look at pictures than anything else.

WARNING: Using links for your books is great too, but don't make all of your posts promotional. No one want's to follow someone who just spouts off tweets about their books all day. It gets tiring and a little like the boy who cried wolf. When you tweet about something important people may not see it due to your previous content.

Don't forget to keep it short: I use Bitly to shorten my links but I'm sure there are other websites out there that do that as well.

Pinterest

6) You have my sword, my bow, my axe, my...hashtag?

Hashtags are so so so important on Twitter! Hashtags are the grouping system that Twitter uses to collect topics around the same thing. When you're Tweeting, you can type in a # sign and then type in words after to see what comes up (these are typically popular hashtags you can use). The use of a hashtag or two increases the visibility of your tweet. Remember, relevance is important too. Search Google for popular, trending hashtags and create some of your tweets around those.

If you are creating a hashtag, first check to make sure it isn't already taken (type in the hashtag you want into Twitter and search - same goes for Instagram). Then, create away and encourage your followers to use it. My hashtag for this month's posts and challenges is an example: #ttmediachallenge

Pinterest

7) Perseverance

Last, but certainly not least, is the idea of pressing on. Twitter can appear a little overwhelming, but go back to #1 and remember your audience. Your rally cry may not be "For Frodo" but it can be "For ______" fill in the blank of who your audience is.

When crafting tweets, get a good mix of helpful, funny, informational, promotional, and personal tweets. This well-rounded approach to Twitter will lend itself well to your followers and I believe will show you an increase in followership as well as interaction.

Pinterest

So, what do you think? Are you ready to join the journey?

Additional tips: 

• Follow people/products/businesses you adore and Tweet @ them when relevant. You'll often find they retweet a lot which gets YOUR name out there!
• Also, retweet any posts you are featured in - share and share alike!
• Use a service like TweetDeck to schedule your tweets - it will save you a LOT of time. 
• Use Click To Tweet to create a link people can click to tweet your great ideas!
• Get a new follower? Don't be afraid to interact with them via a tweet or Direct Message. (This won't always work--especially as your following increases--but it wont hurt when you are trying to build your audience.)
• Use twitter for fun too! I've already said this, but really--tweeting about a movie you just saw or something funny that just happened can draw great attention to your twitter page.
• Don't be afraid to have conversations with other twetters! Chime (or chirp -hehe-) in to get the convo going!

And I don't know about you, but I am more than ready to go watch Lord of the Rings from start to finish...the extended versions nonetheless!

Your Challenge: 

• Schedule out tweets for a full week in advance using slightly different content for each tweet and including a hashtag or two. 
• Send out a tweet about your favorite of the 7 tips from above
• Tweet out your favorite LOTR character! (If you don't like LOTR...well...just never mind)

(Don't forget to group it to the hashtag: #ttmediachallenge)

Social Media for Writers (Or Anyone Else) by Ralene Burke

Every time I talk to writers about social media, I get the same responses.

“I don’t have time.”

“It’s too much work.”

“I don’t know what to post!”

Truth is social media isn’t as hard as some people think, and it doesn’t take a lot of time. In fact, for most people social media should border on fun. Yes, I’m serious. The key is finding a way to unite you/your personality with the target audience that will engage with you using the most fitting social media platforms.

“Ralene, that doesn’t sound simple.”

Well, it is when you break it down. Here are the 3 Ks of social media.

Know Yourself

First step is always the hardest. Okay, this one shouldn’t be hard—who knows us better than ourselves? Still, nailing down who we are can be tough.

I like Kristen Lamb’s suggestion in her marketing book for authors, Rise of the Machines. She suggests that writers make a huge word cloud that describes them, their likes/dislikes, hobbies, etc. Any little bit about them. Even have family and friends contribute. I had such a blast doing this exercise myself—I found fun tidbits to put in my bio, potential blog posts, and tons of interesting post topics.

Next, determine why you want to be on social media. What do you hope to accomplish? What many writers need to realize is that social media is not going to garner a lot of new readers. It is about connecting with people—usually fellow publishing professionals and loyal readers. It is through those people that you’ll find new readers.

The final question to consider is this: Why do you write? Do you have a message? This reason will influence your online personality and the direction/tone of your posts.

Flickr by Cliff

Know Your Target Audience

The end goal of social media is engagement. In order to convince people to not only follow you, but to actually respond to your post/tweet/etc. is for those people to actually care about what you post. If you’re sharing funny kid memes on your thriller author page, you’ll confuse your audience. If you’re posting political diatribes on your light comedy author page, you’ll anger and then lose your followers.

Knowing your target audience is key.

So, who is your “ideal reader”? This answer will influence everything from what colors/fonts to use on your website and platforms to what topics to post for optimal engagement to where you should be looking to recruit new readers.

You know those character questionnaires writers sometimes fill out? You need one for your ideal reader. Answer questions like age, gender, marital status, job, hobbies, likes/dislikes, favorites . . . Be as specific as possible.

Know Your Tools

All authors should be on Facebook and Twitter. There, I said it. Please, don’t shoot me.

With all the talk going around about Facebook reach, the fact is Facebook is still the largest social media platform. It’s still the best place to connect with loyal readers and writing friends. Yes, you might have to pay to advertise book releases or other promotions, but that’s just a reality we have to face.

If you’re engaging your audience, your reach will grow naturally!

Some authors have opted to use groups instead of a fan/business page. While I support this for current readers and writer friends, Facebook pages are easier to find and are places new/potential readers feel less awkward and more like engaging.

Twitter is a great place for writers to connect with “business” people: agents, editors, cover designers, book bloggers, photographers, etc. It’s all about networking and making new friends. I’ve met some amazing people who have become great supporters even though I’ve never edited for them or they’ve never read my novels. They see my blog posts and know I share stuff of value to them, so they follow me on this journey.

Many other platforms exist for writers to choose from, but you should be considerate of the time you have to spend on social media and of your target audience. If you’re target audience isn’t hanging out on Google+/Instagram/Tumblr/Snapchat, it’s not important for you to be on it. It is better to do a couple of platforms well than to be on every platform and be ineffective. (My friend and social media guru, Jen Bennett of iBloom, is always saying that!)

Now that you know who you are, and you’ve discovered your target audience, and you’ve settled on which tools to use, you can develop a social media strategy that is fun for both you and all those potential followers out there. Let your unique light shine through every post and tweet. Use images, memes, questions, and personal anecdotes to engage with your target audience. You know what they want!

________________________________________

Whether she’s wielding a writer’s pen, an editor’s sword, or a social media wand, Ralene Burke always has her head in some dreamer’s world. And her goal is to make it SHINE! She spins fantastical tales of that place where the light pierces the darkness. She’s worked for a variety of groups/companies, including The Christian PEN, Realm Makers, Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, Splickety Publishing Group, and as an editor for a number of freelance clients.
When her head’s not in the publishing world, she is wife to a veteran and homeschooling mama to their three kids. Her Pinterest board would have you believe she is a master chef, excellent seamstress, and all around crafty diva. If she only had the time . . .

You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, or her website.

Your Challenge: 

1. Make a word cloud!
2. Share one reason you want to be on social media
3. Narrow it down: Who is your ideal reader?
4. Share your favorite social media platform

(Don't forget to use the hashtag: #ttmediachallenge when you share!)