I learn everything the hard way and, believe me, I have a
lot to learn when it comes to social media. I have Twitter, Linked In, Google
Plus, and Facebook. The only ones I actually use are Twitter and Facebook.
Honestly, I still don’t understand about hashtags. Whatever. Once in a while I
write a post and try to get it all in the allotted character number—next to
impossible to do in my opinion. My eyes cross when it comes to all that hashtag
business.
Facebook is my favorite place for posts and keeping up
with my constituents, family, and friends. I don’t have a special page for book
promotion. I think that would be stretching the limits of my expertise.
I’m
more like Betty Flintstone stuck in techno idiocy still hanging on to my land
line phone while I try to figure out my smart phone and all those apps. Because
my Facebook page includes personal connections as well as professional, I try
to be careful what I post.
With yahoo groups becoming less popular for book
promotion, I have come to relying on Facebook to keep in touch with readers.
How to do this takes something akin to magic. I try to post things about me I
think others may find interesting or funny. I also want to engage people by
answering comments or at least “liking” their comments so they know I paid attention
to what they had to say. I only post blatant promotional posts when I have a
new story out or a blog I’d like them to read. I find too much blatant
promotion turns people off. I want to read some personal things I can relate to
from an authors sandwiched between those layers of promotion.
Manners on Facebook is sometimes tricky. I try to be
vigilant about who I invite to “friend” and whose friend request I accept. I
want people who are genuinely interested in writing and reading books, so I
always check out their Facebook pages before I accept those invitations. Once
you friend someone they can write and post on your page. You sure don’t want
them to write something you don’t want on your page or that goes against the
brand you’ve worked so hard to build. My Facebook page is not a dating service
or a soap box. Just sayin’. Beware of weirdos and predators!
Politics and religion are two topics I do not want to
become involved in on Facebook. I never post on my page nor comment on someone
else’s page on these two subjects. I’d like to keep my page all-inclusive and transcend
political and religious lines.
Another thing I don’t do is post self-promotion on
someone else’s Facebook page unless specifically asked to do so. I consider it ill-mannered
to draw attention to myself at another’s expense. Their Facebook page is their
platform, not mine. Emily Post hasn’t written a good cyber manners book about social
media—not that I know of anyway, so discovering what considerations one should
have for another in these areas can take some time and experience.
There are still things I don’t understand like requests
to “like” a page from people I don’t know. I don’t even understand how liking a
page can help someone.
What are some things you like or don’t like about social
media? Have you ever had an experience you didn’t know how to handle? What are
your pet peeves? Have you ever unfriended someone? I’m open to advice about
using social media if you have some to offer.
Social Media does not show up in my Wildings stories, or at least not yet. I'm in the 1950's generation of Wildings who still use telephones--no cell phones let alone computers. I'm safe from social media at least in what I write.
Sarah
J. McNeal is a multi-published author of several
genres including time travel, paranormal, western and historical fiction. She
is a retired ER and Critical Care nurse who lives in North Carolina with her
four-legged children, Lily, the Golden Retriever and Liberty, the cat. Besides
her devotion to writing, she also has a great love of music and plays several
instruments including violin, bagpipes, guitar and harmonica. Her books and
short stories may be found at Prairie Rose Publications and its imprints Painted
Pony Books, and Fire Star Press. Some of her fantasy and paranormal books may
also be found at Publishing by Rebecca Vickery and Victory Tales
Press. She welcomes you to her website and social media:
