Why and How Writers Should Use Pinterest

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

This burgeoning network has become a great network for writers to connect with readers and grow their online visibility. These are some basic Pinterest tips for writers to help you capitalize on its value.

How Writers Use Instagram with Linktr.ee

Excerpt from Social Media for Today's Writer, Bold Vision Books

written by Edie Melson & DiAnn Mills

Since 2017, Instagram has continued to be one of the fasted growing social media networks. The users aren’t just growing in numbers, but the range of users is expanding, making it valuable for all ages and demographics. With the creation of Stories within the app, it has multiple applications for brands as well as individuals who want to be social.

 

So how do writers use Instagram effectively? I’m so glad you asked!

Facebook Changes February 2021, What's A Writer to do with Facebook Now?

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

By now everyone has heard about the most recent changes in Facebook. A lot of you have reached out, asking for advice on how writers should move forward with social media. Here's the most important piece of advice I can give you...

Don't Panic!

Collateral Blessings for Writers: Unexpected Surprises from God

by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

Don’t you love when God totally surprises you with a blessing you didn’t see coming? 

I’ve played around on Facebook for a number of years, starting my personal page long ago when my teenagers first asked to join the social media world. “Only if you help your technologically-challenged mother set up an account, too,” I’d replied. “So that I can monitor your activity … somewhat.” I knew my tech intel skills couldn’t rival that of my kids, but, luckily, my teens were more interested in getting to church on time for youth group than they were getting into anything devious online. 

As my writing career continued to move forward, social media became more of a work tool for me than a teenage surveillance device. I paid attention at conferences like Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and learned to sincerely engage with those that might be part of my potential audience for my writing. 

6 Tips for Social Media Time Management

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Many writers I speak with are doing more than juggling writing and social media—they're also committed to something else full time—a job, family, ministry, etc. Others are torn between family responsibilities and industry requirement. All these individuals have my utmost respect!

Today, I'd like to offer some tips specifically for those in that situation.

5 Tips for Social Media from an Author Who Just Wants it to Work

by Cindy K. Sproles @CindyDevoted

I’m no good at social media. I’m just an author who wants it to work. I’ve laughed with my dear friend, and social media guru, Edie Melson, that she dragged me into social media kicking and screaming. We know, as authors, social media is vitally important.

5 Tips for Collecting New Readers and Connections

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

A tiny enchanted forest greets me each morning. My mini winter wonderland doesn’t exist in my backyard, but on my great-grandmother’s antique pine dresser. Three white trees sit, not on snow, but on a sage green doily, and send out silver glints of light that catch my eye. The cheval mirror reflects other treasures on my dresser—ivory dogwoods, red velvet flowers lined with glitter, and a “Cinderella sleigh” as I call it, pulled by two silver-tipped reindeer that anxiously wait to take a princess to a ball.

Big Social Media Numbers Aren’t Always Best

by Molly Jo Realy on @MollyJoRealy

It’s nice to be noticed, isn’t it? It’s fun when you get that little “ding” on your phone that tells you someone shared your post, or tagged you on Twitter. The best is when someone subscribes to your blog or email . . . Or is it? 

A Different Perspective on Social Media for Writers

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by all that’s involved in being a writer today. Not only do we have to write well, we’re also responsible for making sure we have an audience for what we write.

We’ve been told it's important to:

• Have a platform
• Keep the numbers growing
• Build valuable connections
• Schedule webinars
• Share memes
• Start podcasts
• Blog every week
• Stay active on social media

The list goes on and we get buried deeper under the weight of all our responsibilities—especially with social media and marketing.

Before we give in to weariness and discouragement we need to stop, and think about why we’re here.

Why do we do what we do? Yes, we want to earn a living, but money isn’t the main reason the majority of us have chosen to be a writer.

We do this because we heard God speak…maybe not in an audible voice…but we heard and answered His call.

Because of the avalanche of expectations, some of us are in danger of missing His voice. We want to honor His call, His willingness to issue an invitation to join Him in His work.

We find ourselves in a miserable no-mans-land between ministry and marketing.

But maybe we’re not as far from God’s call as we think we are.

I challenge you to take a look at social media from a different perspective.

I propose that we might have been looking at things upside down. We’re not doing social media to promote our message, or sell our books, or even build a following.

What if social media IS the call… or at least part of the call. What if this isn’t all about us, but about opening ourselves up, putting ourselves out there, taking chances and building bridges BECAUSE GOD HAS A PLAN?

What social media isn’t:

• Mass marketing
• A running commercial
• A chance to toot my own horn

Instead, social media is a chance to connect with like-minded people WITHOUT the barrier of location.

It’s a chance to share value, spread truth, show love. It’s God’s way of building bridges, meeting needs, and changing the world…one glorious update at a time.

And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14b

God is perfect with His Plan, Preparation, and Place

• in His plan for us
• in His preparation of us
• where in time He has placed us

It’s no mistake that we were born in this place and time. We have a responsibility to learn how to use the tools that surround us.

Beyond that, God’s word is clear that we are called to be a light in the dark. There’s no place darker than social media. We know that, we’ve seen that through past few years.

He told us to go out into the world. Folks, that includes the World Wide Web.

He warned us that the world hated Him and it would hate us too. Is there any wonder that social media is hard?

The important thing for us to focus on the is the fact that for the first time ever, we can reach the world without leaving home. No wonder the enemy wants to convince us it’s too hard, too meaningless, too much work. He’s scared of what God can do with a few committed believers willing to make a difference through the tools He’s given us.

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Save Valuable Time on Social Media & Blogging with These Tips

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

So often we make things more difficult than they have to be. That’s especially true with social media. 

Many writers have the idea that social media is difficult and time-consuming. But the truth is it doesn’t have to be. So today I’m sharing how to save valuable time on social media and blogging.

I’ve broken my tips up into two categories. The first pertains to time-saving tips for you. The second is time-saving tips for those reading your blog—making it much more likely that your post will get shared by others.

Posting a Facebook Live Video from a Page (not a personal profile)

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Most of us are aware of the option of recording Facebook Live Videos. These are a great way to increase visibility on Facebook. But, posting these from a Professional Page isn’t as easy as you might imagine. So today I’m going to go over the basics of what you need to do to have a successful FB live video, and how to post one from a professional page.