tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post8970417000148597382..comments2024-03-29T11:49:26.978-04:00Comments on The Write Conversation: Indie Tuesday—Ten Easy Ways To Show Tumblr LoveEdie Melsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-68009449574384468842014-07-01T16:51:47.384-04:002014-07-01T16:51:47.384-04:00These are all ways we learn. I've had to cut ...These are all ways we learn. I've had to cut back on Facebook because I found it taking place of regular writing. I kind of knew that was happening, but when I read the comment about it I was duly chastised, even though I'm sure the fellow was not seeing me in his visions. LOL But it behooves us all to evaluate where we can be effective, especially if we have to make a choice. Enjoyed both ;) posts. Thank you much.deborawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-46496501021918978782014-07-01T10:02:52.464-04:002014-07-01T10:02:52.464-04:00Wow. Sorry to write a whole new blog post there! B...Wow. Sorry to write a whole new blog post there! But you made a very valid point and I wanted to answer that :)JessKellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11375615699645608194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-42799619257597300492014-07-01T10:02:04.417-04:002014-07-01T10:02:04.417-04:00You're absolutely right - social media can bec...You're absolutely right - social media can become a HUGE time vacuum if you let it. I've seen many authors get sucked into spending more time playing around with social media then actually writing (I've been guilty of this in the past!). I think the big thing is to pick one or two mediums (like you said Facebook) and do that really well. You want to have a presence somewhere (but don't need one everywhere) so that readers can find you and interact if they want to. In fact, getting involved in too many social media outlets can be a bad thing because you can spread yourself thin and putting the same content everywhere annoys people so you don't want to fall into that.<br /><br />For me there is a three point equation to choosing how to go about my social media use:<br /><br />1) Is this where my audience gathers? To answer this one you'll have had to do some research on the front end (but it saves you tons of wasted time later on). Facebook is now used by the older crowd on the internet. If that's you're readership then that's the place to be and connect. Whereas, if you're writing for teens most teens have migrated far, far away from Facebook (since they don't want Aunt Sally--who is now on Facebook--to see what they're posting). Teens now use Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr (in that order - or so my last research shows). So an author that writes novels geared for 30-year-olds and under would be much better off having a Twitter account and connecting that way. It's all about where your audience is spending time. For me, Twitter is king and I've found (not exaggerating) hundreds of readers there who would have never read my book or become fans who now are because we connected through tweets.<br /><br />2) Do I like it? Now, even if your audience is spending more time at one of these places it still might not be the best fit for you personally. You have to commit to a social media outlet that you'll enjoy (or else you'll hate doing it and will avoid spending any time there). So even if you do research and find the bulk of your readership is on Instagram but you HATE, HATE, HATE the idea of taking pictures of things every day, playing with filters, coming up with tags, and liking other people's pictures...simply put, don't do it. If you hate it that'll show in how you use it and readers won't be drawn to you there. I tried Pinterest (I really did) but I hate it (I know...gasp...a Christian woman who hates Pinterest...how could such a person exist?!?). So I ditched Pinterest and never looked back.<br /><br />3) Is this worth my time? Like you pointed out, we can enjoy social media TOO much and waste tons of time there. Recently I've chosen to break out the old kitchen timer and put it to work. I set it for twenty minutes. Yup, that's it. Each day I allow myself just 20 social media marketing minutes. When the buzzer sounds, even if I'm in the middle of posting something brilliant ;) I'm done. I don't allow myself even ten seconds of budge room. <br /><br />See, I have a toddler, a house to run, I work a full-time day job, and write on deadline late into the night...time has value. So I get it, boy do I get it. Social media should not steal your writing time. The minute it does it needs to be cut. And really the BEST marketing you can ever do is write the next book. So focus on that first. Charity and I have been using this series to show people Social Media options outside of Facebook--hopefully we didn't make it sound like these were musts, rather, other avenues if they are better fits. JessKellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11375615699645608194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-22098831534114740812014-07-01T09:20:00.725-04:002014-07-01T09:20:00.725-04:00I have enough problem keeping up with the few thin...I have enough problem keeping up with the few things 'social' that I barely squeek by at doing. How does anyone do work of any kind, daily work or writing and social media stuff as well? I have to agree with an article I read last year where (I think it was an agent) slipped in the phrase, "I see people spending their time on social media that should be spending time writing". I've started limiting my time on the old standby --for me-- face book, because time is so limited. I'm wondering how does a person find their happy medium? Are there some of these medias that are better than others? Or a person just has to choose their preference?deborawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16379928023984310298noreply@blogger.com