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?

A Look at Facebook for Writers

Facebook. I love it. I hate it. It tends to go in circles for me, but I usually end on the loving side...most of the time.

7 ways to use Facebook more effectively

1) Personal is Preferred

I can't say this one enough (hence the #1 spot). People want to interact with you. I have found Facebook to be the best way for my personality to shine through - funny faces and all! It's not about getting followers or "likes" necessarily, as much as it is about personal connection. Make a friend on Facebook and you could have a friend for life (which, if you're an author, could mean a reader for life as well).

2) Images take the cake
 ...And images of cake are great too! But I digress.

In all seriousness though, using images on Facebook is one of the best ways to ensure that others will see it. If you are an author already, make sure you have great marketing materials to share.

Some suggestions:

• Use your book cover and colors that match
• Use a quote from the book or review sentence 
• Use images to spread the word about giveaways and contests 
• Pick something unique from your book and find an image of that (Example: Is your book about a woman who loves cookies? Use a cookie in your images)
• Keep it simple: Don't make the images look like spam or overly try and sell your book. It's about drawing positive attention to you and your page, not just to sell something

Being a part-time designer myself, I know for certain that the more images I use (whether it's a marketing image or a personal picture) the more attention that posts draws.

3) Questions?

You've probably heard this one, but I'll say it again: ask questions! You want your audience to engage with you, not just skim by your posts. Ask things that relate to your book or writing, but don't get stuck on that. Branch out. Know your audience. When you know them, you'll know what to ask that will gain a response.

Though I'm definitely one to shy away from conflict, I know for a fact that potentially controversial posts usually generate more responses. My caution for this though is to recognize the potential debates and to act as a moderator as well as peace keeper. Negativity isn't an attractive thing.

4) Call to Action

A relatively new addition to Facebook pages is the "Call to Action" button. This is a helpful little guy located right next to the  "share" option on your home page screen. You can choose between a few different options (shown to the right). If you have a newsletter (which is a great idea) I'd recommend using the "Sign Up" action button. If you don't have one, any of the other options are great. I personally use "Contact Us" for my Author page and the "Book Now" option for my photography business page.

This is an awesome feature because it allows you to "call to action"  your readers. It allows them to participate, and for you to connect with them. And that's what Facebook is great for - personal connection!

5) Make 'em Laugh

Time and time again I'll come across a hilarious video of cats or dogs or babies (those are the typical things that are hilarious on Facebook) and I'll share them to my page with a personal comment. Without fail, those shared posts generate more views than anything else.

I ask myself: What is going on? But, it makes sense. Humor is infectious (in the best way) and people want to take part in it and enjoy it.

Here's a great spot to talk about meme's too. Don't know what a meme is?


The dictionary says;

Meme: An element of a culture or system of behavior that may be considered to be passed from one individual to another by nongenetic means, especially imitation. 

A humorous image, video, piece of text, etc. that is copied (often with slight variations) and spread rapidly by Internet users.

So there you have it...Still don't know? Check out Pinterest and type in "Grumpy Cat". I think you'll catch on quickly.

6) Schedule for a stress free week

If you don't know this, you are in for a treat (or you've been living under a rock?). Either way, the good news is that you can schedule your posts!

All you need to do is add your photo, link, and/or text and press the down arrow next to "post". You'll then have the option to set the date and time. Then you're set! Take time at the beginning of each week to do this and schedule out your tweets as well. You'll thank yourself later ;)


7) Tagging (and I'm not talking about graffiti) 

Interested in drawing more attention to your page? Then find a way to draw in the fans of others. I'm not talking about stealing here, just sharing the love. For my author site this looks like me tagging the authors whom I host on my {Writer Wednesday} spotlights. I make sure that I have either Friended them or at least liked their Facebook page so that I can tag it in the post on my page. For my photography page, that looks like posting images of my clients and tagging them (all with their permission of course). I draw a lot of traffic that way and so can you!

Honorable mentions:

• Use hashtags in your posts
• Check out the "trending" options on the side of Facebook to create relevant posts
• Use plugins like Rafflecopter and Instagram to spice up your page
• Share in your fellow writers good news, book giveaways, and discounts - the best way to get friends is to be a friend

So, what about you? Do you use these things? If so, which do you find most helpful? Have a tip to add?

(Don't forget to tag #ttmediachallenge when you Tweet/Google+/FB your replies!)

Check out these resources for further learning:
45 Fabulous Facebook Advertising Tips & Magic Marketing Tricks
Meme Generator 
Best Times To Post (love a good info graphic!)

Powerful Words

I am always amazed at the power words have.
Wrap your head around that.
Written (or typed) words can change lives.
 

 

They inform.

They instruct.

They caution.

They invite. 
They encourage. 
They inspire.

They hope.

They hurt.

They heal.

They are powerful, and yet we use them without much thought most of the time. I'm reminded of the verses in James that talk about the power of the tongue and compare it to the bit in a horses mouth or the rudder of a ship with the power to set forests ablaze.  

Being a writer who also loves to read, I'm faced with using words and reading them all the time. I cringe when I think of how easily I can shoot off a text, make a sarcastic comment to a friend, or even create a Facebook status without much thought. It's usually only after time that we see the results of our words, whether negative or positive. 

I pray that, in all that I write or say, I would honor the Lord in all of it.  Whether it's a Facebook or blog post, an article, or even a text message, I want to be able to say it was written with thought.  I don't want to live aimlessly and I don't want to speak flippantly either.

Do you think about what you casually say? What you write? What you post? If so, how do you sensor what you post on Facebook or text to someone?

___________________

Check out this article for a beautifully written, extremely powerful follow-up post about the Steubenville trail by the talented Ann Voskamp. She is a woman who uses her words powerfully with God's purpose in mind. I immensely respect her and her writing!

Tomorrow's Surprise

You read that right, I have a surprise (that's not so surprising) for tomorrows {Writer Wednesday} post!  There will be a giveaway!

Yes, yes I hear you - fists raised, tears streaming, voices crying out! 

I'm excited too - I just want to make sure that you remember to check back here tomorrow for a lovely interview with Eileen Rife and a chance to win her new novel Chosen Ones. That's right - you could be the chosen one to receive a hard copy of Chosen Ones! 

How do you enter? 

It's easy! Come back to the blog tomorrow (I'll be posting links on Facebook & Google+) and be sure to leave a comment for Eileen and an email that I can contact you through when you WIN. I will be choosing one lucky winner on Sunday evening (contest closes at 9pm Pacific Standard Time) and will announce the winner on Monday March 25.

See you tomorrow :)

Who's that hiding behind a photo & words?

I was sitting here... admittedly scrolling through the Facebook feed...when it hit me.  Someone should do a psychological study on why and how we chose our Facebook profile pictures.  I think there could be some serious findings discovered that could clue us into how we view ourselves and how we think we can change how others view us.

Wrap your brain around that last sentence.  I know I'm trying to.

What I'm getting at is this: How are we trying to show (or maybe prove) to people who we are - whether that be through our profile picture, a well placed status, or possibly our profile information? 

There used to be days when people had to sit down with you and have a conversation to get to know you.  Now, they can just "Facebook stalk" you and discover your favorite quotes, random inside jokes no one else understands, and hilarious pictures of you and your cat.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not speaking out against Facebook - I'm still a user - but I do have to ask myself, who do I say I am through my Facebook? 

Who do you say you are?  Is it really you?  Why do you portray yourself the way you do?

I'll think more about this and hopefully post more later, but I did want to bring it up because it's an important thing.  I think we can tend to hid behind a computer, creating who we want to be, when in reality it's just a facade.

What are your thoughts on this?