Platform Killing/Better Goal/Homeschool/Devo/Thrifting

1.         Are you killing your social media presence? Check out this article by Karen Ball, at Literary Agent Steve Laube's website.

2.         A lot of writers have a goal: Get a publishing contract. Chad Allen gives us a better goal in his recent blog post.

3.         Homeschool parents have long faced opposition. Some in California recently received a letter, saying homeschool was not a legal alternative to public education. Read the story here.

4.         I read a devotional at ibelieve.com on What The Power of Praise Can Do. I thought you might enjoy it as well. We're faced with so many difficulties in our personal lives and in the world. It's good to re-focus on God.

5.         Some of my readers love going to thrift stores and yard sales. Like you, I share the passion of the hunt and the unexpected bargains. Check out this blog post by One Little Momma, who gives tips on finding great deals.

Writers:  How do you handle promotion on social media?

Readers:  What was your favorite link today?

Photo Credit:  Trevor Kirpaul

Strategy/Social Media/Illegals/Devo/Description

1.  Zoe M. McCarthy examines the subject of, "A Smart Strategy: Let Readers Write Portions of Our Stories." Think about all the obvious details we know about a hospital room and then avoid describing them in your story. She goes on to say that "...too much description kills a readers engagement." Fascinating stuff.

2.  Do you know your Social Media I.Q.? Jennifer Brown Banks summarizes the advantages/drawbacks of several social media platforms.

3.  Rick Marschall, of Mondayministry.com blog, writes we'll soon be the Illegals.

4.  Susan Panzica, at Eternity Cafe, shares her reflections on Homeward Bound.

5.  Jerry Jenkins talks about why readers skip over crucial parts of our stories.

 

Writers:  How do you increase readers' interest in your story?

Readers:  Are there parts of a story that you skim over? What are they?

Photo Credit:  xx lawrence

Social Media/Silenced/Characters/Devo/Questions

1.  Are you on Pinterest? Working Writers has an article on how to get more out of this Social Media site.

2.  Atlanta, Georgia's mayor has declared that if employees have different beliefs than those of the city, they must check their beliefs at the door. This is one of the many attacks on free speech and endanger all of us, both Christians and non-Christians alike.

3.  Marian Merritt guest posts on Zoe M. McCarthy's blog. She gives 5 easy tips on how writers can deepen their characterization.

4.  Devotional Time:  MaryAnn Diorio shares her teaching on Believing is Seeing.

5.  Karen Lange, at Write Now, asks some questions that can enrich our writing.

Writers:  What are some of the questions you ask when working on a manuscript?

Readers:  Are you on Pinterest? What kind of pins do you enjoy?

Photo Credit: mst_b

Your Social Media Basket

Recently, Edie Melson at The Write Conversation wrote about the changes on Facebook that took effect on January 1, 2015. In this post she gives new strategies to reach your readers.

One of her suggestions involves a return to blogging, guest posts, and commenting on other blogs. Social Media cannot replace the interaction we've experienced through this medium, as well as provide the stability we need.

Check out the rest of her ideas and see which ones you can implement. The big word here is: diversify.

Writers: How are you dealing with the changes on Facebook?

Readers: Where do you go to find out information on new releases and your favorite authors? Do you belong to Goodreads? Twitter? Google+?

Photo Credit:  13dede

The Agent, The Author, and The Social Media Expert

1.  Literary Agent, David Van Diest, guest posts at The Write Conversation. He addresses 5 misperceptions about writing a book proposal.

If you're anything like me, this task ranks right up there with the synopsis. I'd rather write an entire book than either of these, "please publish my book," pieces. This post might give you a bit of relief.

2.  Multi-published, award-winning author, Cathy Gohlke, talks about Planning for Courage in her latest blog post.

3.  If you're reading this, you're on Social Media. Edie Melson, at The Write Conversation, talks about Eight Social Media Posts You Should NEVER Share.

Writers:  What is the one task you dread on the publishing journey and why?

Readers:  What type of information do you avoid sharing on the Internet?

Photo Credit:  ljleavell

To Promote or Not to Promote

I've noticed a strange double standard lately. From the time we first set out to put words on paper, it's drummed into our heads that we need a platform. For those who don't know what that means, a platform involves having a public presence such as blogging, websites, speaking, and social media.

So, why are we now hearing people criticizing promotional activities? Here are some possible reasons:

1)  There's a mistaken idea that it's somehow "un-Christian." If that were the case, it would be wrong for a business owned by Christians to advertise their products in print, TV, or radio. Bottom line, being an author - even if it's considered a ministry - needs exposure if anyone is to benefit from it.

2)  Some people feel that promoting your work somehow invalidates relationships on social media. I made some wonderful friends on social media long before my books were published, and we're still friends. We help each other with critiques, promoting each other's work, but we also enjoy fun times and pray for each other.

3)  Fear of being in the public eye could be another reason for this phenomenon. Yeah, it's a risk. You're opening yourself up to people who will give your work bad reviews or take issue with how you conduct your writing business. Welcome to the real world. Not everyone will run out and buy your books or think you're the greatest writer.

Of course there are some who do nothing but promote their work. Caring for people on a personal level, lending a helping hands to other writers, and praying for them is a privilege. Balance is key.

In an effort to be "authentic," let's not forget the necessity of letting folks know we have something to offer them via our writing (or other professional endeavors).

Writers and Readers: What do you think about author promos? Remember, every giveaway, book trailer, bookmark, or advertisement is a promo.

Photo Credit:  svilen001

A Call to Action

When crafting a business letter, we're taught to call people to action. What do you want the reader to do?  If we've written about a defective product, we might ask the company representative to:

A.  Refund our money.

B.  Send us a new product.

I'm amazed that so many authors will put information on their blogs and social media without including a call to action and a link to a sell page. Granted, there are times when we're not promoting. When we are doing a promotional post, make it easy for people to go to sell pages such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.

Here's the first paragraph I use on my promos:

The Moses Conspiracy - Only $2.99 on Kindle! Click on the link and check it out.

http://www.amazon.com/Moses-Conspiracy-Susan-J-Reinhardt-ebook/dp/B00BV8ZQ0Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1403466996&sr=1-1&keywords=the+moses+conspiracy+by+susan+j.+reinhardt+kindle

Note:  My publisher tells us to use the longer form on Facebook because it includes our book title and name. Readers know they are being directed to the correct page. It also picks up the graphic.

Between the call to action and the link, I'll insert something about the book like the current Amazon ranking, a 5-Star Review, or a short blurb.

Besides encouraging others to take action, they can do so with one convenient click--no googling, no getting another author by mistake, and no wasted time.

Writers and Readers: Do you click links on Facebook and other social media? Please share why you like checking out books, blogs or products this way.

Photo Credit:  Julosstock

Social Media and Sales

Does Social Media participation translate into sales?

If you have any doubts, look at the number of authors, celebrities, political figures, etc. on Facebook, Twitter, and other venues. What advantages does Social Media provide?

1.  Visibility - If people don't know about us and our books, how can they make a decision to purchase? They're no longer limited to print/radio/TV advertising. The Internet has made it possible to reach a bigger audience than any other time in history.

2.  Relationship -  I like getting to know other authors. When I was a baseball fan, hearing about an athlete's family and faith made me care about his performance on the field and the team's progress toward the World Series. As I've entered the publishing world, the friendships and successes of others inspire me to read their works.

Numerous people have said they purchased my books because they know me. Of course, I'd better deliver a good read if I want their continued support.

3.  Interaction - Social Media has not only made it possible to follow other authors, but also to interact with them. I can comment on their posts, ask them questions, and pray for them when they're going through tough times.

Recently, a fellow author and reader contacted me and said she purchased all 3 of my books on Amazon as a result of my Facebook posts. Others rely on my author page for news about releases and upcoming projects.

Does Social Media participation translate into sales? You bet it does!

Writers and Readers: How has Social Media impacted your career/book-buying decisions?

Photo Credit:  cieleke

The Better to Hear You, My Dear

I love reading articles on writing, marketing, and good books. Here are a few that caught my attention recently:

1.  Penny C. Sansevieri guest posted at Working Writers and Bloggers. Wow! She had some great tips on using audio to sell your books, as well as referencing other articles.

2.  Now that you've read the first article, here's a How-to Create and Market a Stellar Podcast on The Blogging Bistro. BTW, this site has some awesome how-to articles. Even if you're not a writer, you can add some zip to your blog with their guidance.

3.  Once again, The Blogging Bistro is my choice for a handy-dandy blog/story starter. What's a seaplane doing in the middle of the road? Find out here.

Writers and Readers:  Do you listen to audio books, book trailers, podcasts, etc.? Why do you like/dislike them?

Photo Credit:  Raven3K

A Few Bright Ideas

Don't you love it when an idea or tip works? If I had time, I'd try a bunch of the interesting suggestions on Pinterest.

Here are some things my brainstorming yielded recently:

1.  I noticed how often I click on links to books on Facebook. When talking about my book on my author page, I included the link to Amazon. Someone clicked on it and purchased The Moses Conspiracy. Yay!

2.  Scripture tells us that we need to make our requests known to God. He wants us to ask. That got me thinking. Would that principle work with people? Why not ask my Facebook friends if they'd heard about my author page? I then requested them to visit and "like" it. I now have seven new "likes."

3.  Follow-up is vital. So is showing our gratitude. I'm so thankful for the many friends and acquaintances, who take a few minutes to comment, share posts, follow me on various social media, and do any number of nice things. I do my best to reciprocate. Relationship involves more than me, myself, and I.

Writers and Readers: Does an author request/link prompt you to take action? What makes the scale tip in that direction?

BTW - The Moses Conspiracy on Kindle can be found here.

Photo Credit:  raia4u

The Cat's Out of the Bag

At my late friend's Celebration of Life service, I shared a few brief thoughts. Part of it involved a little-known nickname she used for me. Afterward, the pastor who officiated, came up to me. "I'll never think of you as Susan again. You'll always be Suze in my mind."

Several others commented on the moniker, and I had to chuckle in spite of the sad occasion. The cat was out of the bag. Now others knew the nickname used by my uncle and a few close friends.

Any time you share something on social media, in a blog post (like this one), or in a public setting, be prepared. "The cat's out of the bag." And, guess what? There's no way to get it back into the bag. So, if you don't want it out there, don't say it.

Now you know. One of my nicknames (my favorite because my uncle gave it to me) is Suze (pronounced Sooz).

Writers and Readers: Have you ever "let the cat out of the bag" in an interview or blog post? Please share.

Facebook Foibles

One of my favorite games as a youngster was monopoly, but I didn't like landing on the "Go to Jail" squares. Who would have thought that we'd encounter a virtual, "Go to Jail" square on Facebook?

Yeah, I've done several stints in the Facebook version of jail. Those innocent questions that pop up when you accept a friend can get someone into big trouble. You know the one I mean: Do you know this person outside of Facebook? Yes or No? Answering "No" can send someone straight to the slammer with no "Get Out of Jail Free" card available.

As authors and writers, we desire to connect with each other and our readers. Facebook puts up all sorts of suggestions for friends and then punishes you if you send a friend request to them.

I recently tried to send a message to an existing friend because she's doing an interview with me. I was banned because I was in Facebook prison and supposedly didn't know her outside of the site. If she's emailing me and on my blog, I know her outside of Facebook. We know many people on other social media sites.

I say, "It's time for Facebook to stop penalizing users for making friends." What do you say about the matter?

Photo Credit:  nicobec

How Far Can You Reach?

As a new author, I've learned a few interesting things about Social Media. I'm going to focus mainly on Facebook here, but it applies to all the favorite sites.

1.  I have 2,600 Friends on Facebook, but only a fraction of them see my news feed.

2.  Author Pages on Facebook detail how many people see my posts.

3.  When The Moses Conspiracy launched, I had posts everywhere: on my blog, all my social media venues, a blog tour, etc. I announced it in a monthly email newsletter. Still, people I consider closely connected said, "I didn't know you got a contract."

How can we maximize our reach? I've both observed and experienced several ways that work:

1.  Those share buttons? Use them! They keep posts on the news feed, so more people have an opportunity to see them. Any of my posts that have gone viral were shared multiple times by others.

2.  Join specialized Facebook pages, set up author pages where available, and check notifications for author invitations to "Like" their pages. They'll usually be happy to return the favor.

3.  The best thing we can do is to care about people and apply the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Writers:  What are some of the ways you maximize your reach?

Readers:  What are some of the ways you find new book releases? Do you tell others about the books you enjoy?

Photo Credit:  penywise

Social Media Resource Report

Social Media Resource Report

The book tables at The Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference yielded a social media title that I HAD to pick up. Michelle Campbell-Scott wrote,"Goodreads for Authors: How to Promote Your Books With Goodreads." 

I haven't finished the book yet, but it's user friendly. At the end of each chapter, she has a summary for those who are in a hurry to get tips. The author gives statistics, showing Goodreads as a premier location for authors to reach readers. For the techy challenged, like me, it gives step-by-step directions with lots of illustrations.

I'm up to the chapter on Goodreads Giveaways. Since I'm planning to do one soon, I can't wait to see her suggestions and detailed instructions.

This book will remain on my shelf as a handy reference guide to Goodreads. I hope the author will follow-up with books on other social media sites.

By the way, the cashier at the conference asked me about Goodreads. After a brief conversation, she dashed over to the table and picked up the last copy of this book. How's that for word-of-mouth advertising?

Friday Round-Up - #237

How Do I...?

Recently, I've seen a lot of Twitter links in blog posts. You can click on the link and tweet a sentence from a post. This is a valuable tool to draw people to your blog.

Here are a couple of articles on how to accomplish this task:

Susan Stilwell guest blogs at The Write Conversation.

Caitlin Muir also gives detailed instructions on Author Media.

Writers and Readers: Have you seen these click-to-tweet links? Have you used them? Please share your experience either with producing one of these links or clicking them.

Have a blessed weekend!


Photo Credit:  cieleke

Are You Visible?

During the winter, ice and snow make visibility an issue. Not only can't you see others, but they can't see you inside the car. So, we take time to scrape away the ice and clean off the snow before attempting travel.

As a newly-published author, I've discovered some interesting facts:

1. Just because I have 2600 friends on Facebook doesn't mean they can all see my status updates. Only a fraction of them are getting the word about The Moses Conspiracy.

2.  I send out a monthly email update to about 160 people. Most of them will delete it without opening the document. More than one expressed surprise about my book news, even though I've talked about it in the past three months.

3.  Blog followers often sign up for a giveaway or out of curiosity, but are they all faithful readers?

With great pressure on our time, we all sign up for things with the best of intentions. If you drop from the radar screen, all except your closest friends and relatives will forget about you. So, how do we maintain visibility?

1.  Maintain your Social Media connections. This includes taking an interest in others by reading their blogs, commenting on their Timeline posts, tweeting, etc. True connections/relationships take time and effort.

2.  We all have many responsibilities. I try to set aside between 1-3 hours a day. This is more than the average person can handle, but whatever you have, use it wisely.

3.  Take advantage of guest posts, promo opportunities, book clubs, and other venues that reach beyond your normal contacts.

Writers: What are some ways you maintain visibility?

Readers: Do you read author newsletters? What piques your interest in a communication?

Chocolate Chip Cookies & Social Media

Those of you who've known me for awhile understand my favorite foods are chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk (for dunking, of course). A friend told me about the whole food way of eating recently, and I was impressed. Unfortunately, the aforementioned treats do not appear on this diet.

My initial trips to the grocery store yielded few purchases, and I walked out in a daze. What do I eat? Words like, "gluten free, organic, and natural," chased me down the aisles and left this bargain hunting champ suffering from major sticker shock.

Little by little, I'm learning the ropes. Organic meats (no hormones, additives, natural feed) go into my cart. My grocery store marks them down on Monday mornings. You gotta be quick to get the deals. Organic veggie omelets grace my table 3 times a week, and raw nuts and carrots are new snacks.

But...let's not get crazy here. The milk and cookies stay. Period.

As a writer, I'm not quite so adventurous with Social Media. I took to blogging like a chocoholic is drawn to Godiva, but Twitter, My Space, Good Reads, Facebook, and Pinterest nearly sent me over the edge. A friend dragged me kicking and screaming onto Facebook. It took some deep breathing, but I've adjusted. My Twitter account rarely chirps these days, and they send me, "We've missed you," messages.

Maybe someday I'll join Pinterest and Good Reads. Maybe someday I'll go the full whole foods route and leave all things chocolate chip behind.

Maybe.

BTW: Diane Estrella, from That's What I'm Here For, is featuring me on her blog today. :)

Writers: What Social Media outlets strike fear in your hearts?

Readers: Have you connected with writers on Social Media (other than blogs)? What resources do you use to discover new authors/books?