Navigating the Galaxy of Social Networks
By Kathy Kulig
Every time you turn around, there's another social network popping up in Cyberspace. How do you navigate through the galaxy of online social space? Facebook, Myspace, Plaxo Pulse, Goodreads, Linked In, and should I bother with Twitter? How can you use these sites to promote and market yourself?
TO GET STARTED: Even if you belong to one or two of these social networks, here's a timesaving tip before you join any new ones: Create a folder on your computer titled: "Profile for Social Networks", or something compatible. Then open a separate Word document file for each of the following:
- About Me or General: This is your bio. Have a good one. What makes you interesting? Include publishing credits, organizations you belong to, big contest wins, etc. and update it from time to time.
- Interests or Activities: What do you like to do in your spare time besides writing, publishing and reading?
- Groups: RWA, specialty chapters, online groups, etc.
- Who I'd Like to Meet: Could be living or dead. Can list one or many to show your personality.
If you don't want to include a topic in your profile, there are instructions on how to disable that particular link at each network. Update your Profile with current information. Edit the file on your computer, then just cut-and-paste into each of your social networks so you don't have to retype.
You'll also need a headshot. People like to connect a name with a face. You'll be recognized at conferences easier, too. If you really can't stand the idea of posting your photo, then use your latest book cover.
JOIN THE NETWORKS. Here is a list of the most popular social networks. But there are more out there.
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com - Is a social networking site where you can view members' profiles once you're "friends" with them. Ways to use Facebook: Link your blog to FB, organize an Event to announce a book release, book signing or appearance, have a live chat through your Wall Updates.
- Fan Page: There are a number of benefits to having a Fan Page. You can have more than 5,000 friends, you can check statistics, you can post articles and friends can post comments in a Discussion section—similar to a forum. A Fan Page looks professional too. How To: Go to your regular FB page from the Home section under your picture Click on “Ads & Pages. Click “Create a Page”, Create a Page for: Select: “Artists, Band, Public Figure.” Page name: I used Kathy Kulig Author. Then follow prompts to add your profile, photos, articles for the discussion section, etc. When you’re ready Click SHARE to make it public and you’ll invite ALL your Friends from your regular FB page to like you. Cool.
- Plaxo Pulse: www.Plaxo.com - Another social network that's more business-oriented.
- Linked In: www.LinkedIn.com - A business-oriented network. It's like an online resume.
- Goodreads: www.Goodreads.com - A social network where people can list books they've read or are reading, discuss books and post reviews. Authors can list their published books within their profile. You can also link your blog here too. Authors can publicize upcoming events, share book excerpts and post video book trailers, even run contests.
- Library Thing: http://librarything.com – Library Thing is a ‘social cataloging’ or ‘bookshelf’ community similar to Goodreads. Authors can build buzz via reviews. Book giveaways are organized on a monthly basis.
- Myspace: www.Myspace.com - By Wikipedia's definition: "Myspace is a social networking website offering an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music and videos for teenagers and adults internationally." Myspace isn’t used much anymore except by the younger crowd. So if you write YA. I may be worth spending some time with this network.
- Twitter: www.Twitter.com - Twitter is quite different, and I'll go into more detail on this one. Twitter is a free instant messaging service where people can connect to each other through short posts (called Tweets) listed in a blog format. Posts must be 140 characters or less. You set up your account and profile, then connect with others (Tweeples) by "following" them or clicking on their link. You cannot request friends like you can in the other social networks. People have to choose to follow you. All the Tweets from those you are following will be listed on your home page.
So how do people find you on Twitter so that they can start following you? A couple ways. One is through a keyword search. If you have a good profile bio, your site will come up when people search certain keywords -- like Romance Writer, Erotica, Romantic Suspense, etc. The other way is by their viewing your Tweets on other people's sites. People also check out followers of other Tweeple.
Once you have your regular Twitter account, I highly recommend signing up for TweetDeck. www.tweetdeck.com It’s easy! And it makes organizing Tweets so much easier.
If you're wondering who's Twittering about you, check out TweetBeep: http://TweetBeep.com. It's a service that will alert you anytime your name, book title, product, or company is mentioned or Tweeted about!
How do you network on Twitter? Twitter is a social network so be social. If every Tweet is about you, people will get bored. ReTweet (RT) other interesting Tweets, congratulate someone’s good news, read a good book? Saw a good movie? Finished writing your book? Post Tweets and leave your website address or link to your blog, a link to an interesting article. Be positive and upbeat and you’ll gain followers. Provide helpful, friendly information and you’ll pick up followers or gain RTs. Whine and complain all the time and people will block you. And once you click SEND, it’s there for the world to see forever, including the editors and agents you may hope to be impressing someday. Be professional.
Who’s on Twitter? Everyone! Writers, readers, reviewers, booksellers, publishers, and agents. Tip: On TweetDeck set up separate columns for your friends and a separate one for your publishing professionals. Much easier to follow the Tweets. Go to my Twitter site and see who's following me: http://Twitter.com/KathyKulig
Remember only 140 characters max. If your URL address is too long, use the Bitly creator. Go to www.bitly.com and paste in your long URL address, and it'll give you a condensed one. Bitly also helps to track the hits on those sites.
Here's an example: http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-8624-327-dragon-witch.aspx
Using the Bitly creator, the above link becomes: http://bit.ly/fHfH33
HOW TO USE THE NETWORKS FOR MARKETING AND PROMOTION
- Post the links to the social networks on your website. I have them on my Contact page and also on my blog. Tell as many people as you know to link/connect/friend you and give them the URL.
- Post messages or comments but don't make them too self-serving. Like I said, all about you, all the time turns people off. Be polite, professional and courteous. What's posted in Cyberspace stays in Cyberspace for EVERYONE to read forever. So think twice before posting. Respond to a post without saying anything about you, your books, etc. But, leave a short signature line with your name, your latest book or upcoming book and your website address. Say yes, I read her book and I loved it. Or, I really enjoyed your blog post today, especially the part about ... Remember it's not always about you.
- When requesting or accepting new friends, try following up with a brief personal note. Say I read your article, saw your great review, like (something specific) about your site, etc. Warning: Don't post too many messages or accept too many friends at one time, at least on Facebook, or you'll be flagged as Spamming and Facebook will freeze your account. If they do, it's only temporary for a few hours or a day. Read their rules on Spamming so you don't have your account permanently shut down. That's rare unless you abuse the site and ignore the warnings.
• Excellent book recommendation about social networks: Kristen Lamb’s WE ARE NOT ALONE http://bit.ly/gMnPmo
Balancing your writing time with your online networking time is important, too. I limit myself to ten, fifteen minutes to a half-hour every day to accept new friends, request friends, post and read comments, and to make updates and edits. If I have deadlines, I may not go on for days. The online social networks can help connect to readers and other publishing professionals and for marketing and self-promotion, if you use them properly and follow certain etiquette. It's also a valuable tool for gaining name recognition.
Kathy Kulig (www.KathyKulig.com) invites you to connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Plaxo, LinkedIn, and Goodreads. Visit her Contact page for direct links.
©2009Kathy Kulig www.kathykulig.com
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