So, I spoke at a publisher event here at the Romantic Times Con (RT Con) about social media and building your brand using SocialJukebox and Hootsuite, and I wanted to share it with anyone who might want it, because I know that I wouldn’t be anywhere near as good at FB ads, AMS ads, branding, etc. without the help of many author friends / awesome people! If you’re looking forward to building your brand on Youtube channels, then first step is to gain subscribers from TheMarketingheaven.com. Doing so, can help you set up your initial subscriber-base.
The original inspiration for the presentation was because I knew so many amazing authors who just felt overwhelmed by social media. They knew how important it was in getting their name / books out there, but they also needed to actually write the books, and many also have day jobs, families, etc. and so it can feel impossible to participate in social media in the right ways (and to the right frequency) to actually make a difference. That’s why last year I thought about putting this presentation together, but it wasn’t until Blushing Books put out a call for presentations that I saw the opportunity to really do it.
I did the presentation on Tuesday, and got such a positive response from the authors in attendance that I’ve decided to make it publicly available as well. It talks about using SocialJukebox and Hootsuite to build a larger Twitter presence, AND keep your Author Facebook Page up to date and moving, and a few other things too.
> Download it free, here! <
(open as ‘read only’)
I am a big believer in authors helping authors. I think that when we support each other and make each other better, we’re only helping the whole genre. Because when our peers are more successful, so are we. Anyone that views their fellow authors as only competition, an adversary, (or a cash cow) – well, they’re probably not going to do that well for long. This is not an industry where you can succeed in a vacuum. Even the top names in the writing world have the support of good editors, fellow authors, good publicists, etc. who are sharing the benefit of their experience / wisdom to help get the books out there.
So, this is my contribution. It’s not the only method to get these things accomplished, but it works for me, and it’s done well in keeping my backlist selling consistently and expanding my social media reach. This will always be FREE, and so I would appreciate if you would email me / contact me if you see someone trying to sell it somewhere. I made it read only to try and deter that, but it’s not really possible to stop someone insistent on doing the wrong thing.
#sigh It irritates me that I even need to say that… but I do hope that it helps at least one of you! Please share this, send it to your friends, spread it around. It will only make us all better. <3
And, of course, if you have any questions / need any help, just ask!
Until next time, lovelies,
Awesome presentation! Thank you so much for sharing. :-)
One thing that you wrote truly resonates:
“Anyone that views their fellow authors as only competition, an adversary, (or a cash cow) – well, they’re probably not going to do that well for long. This is not an industry where you can succeed in a vacuum. ”
This applies to so many things in life, writing and otherwise. Even in industries where ‘trade secrets’ may abound, if you simply approach everyone in your field as a potential adversary / competitor, you are soon going to find yourself isolated and a pariah. I work in the tradeshow industry, and you only need to be on the show floor once and in desperate need of something to find out how well you are viewed by your peers. Those who ‘work well with others’ will find that helping hand when they need it, often based on how that individual ‘paid it forward’ in previous interactions. Those who don’t; they’re the ones panicking in front of their client, and flailing about trying to figure out how to handle a situation on their own. They’re also quite often the ones who you don’t find at the show a year later, because their client has moved on to someone else, or they are no longer in business.
Also, I think your comment timely in another regard. I read Thomas Curwen’s eulogy in the Times for Tom Wolfe, who passed away on Monday. Here was an author who exemplified exactly the spirit of what you wrote. “His publishers and their staffs know that he was an exceptionally good-natured, considerate, and generous man — a kind and brilliant man.” And when you have writers such as Kurt Vonnegut, Gay Talese, and Jann Wenner describe you in the same glowing terms, you know the measure of the man, and the impact he had on those whom he came in contact with. Considering Mr. Wolfe in this light, say in comparison to a certain author who was mentioned in a post on your FB page recently, I know which way I would hope to conduct myself, and be remembered as. :-)
Thank you again for your genrosity, and I hope you had a wonderful time at RT!
Regards,
MSP
*HUG* Thank you so much for understanding exactly what I’m trying to do here. If we don’t support each other, we’re only hurting ALL of us. <3 <3 I adore you!
Thank you for this and your constant generosity in passing along information. You are an inspiration not only as a writer but as a wonderful person as well.
You’re too sweet, Rose! <3