On Using Social Media

I spent the weekend with my critique friends, NANCY GIDEON, DANA CORBIT NUSSIO, AND LAURIE KUNA. I learned that I know nothing about social media. They taught me about Facebook, Twitter, Good Reads, Pinterest, linking with other authors, and so much more. I feel like my head is going to explode! I’m sure some of it leaked out.

Let me tell you, there are a lot of things to do. On my maiden voyage, I learned the basics of what I needed, such as:

• A website you can blog on.
• Blog regularly. Set time aside and let people know what you’re up to or just share some advice.
• Get a Facebook page if you don’t already have one. I recommend you have two, one for family and friends, and another for a professional page. Follow other authors’ posts and always comment on them. People will start becoming familiar with your name.
• Visit other authors’ websites and blogs to see what they’re doing, and comment on those. It’s another way to learn and get your name out there.
• Get on as many social media sites as possible. This is a great way to reach readers.
• Find long and short excerpts from your books that will pull a reader in. You can use them in your posts or when you're a guest on someone else's blog.
• Promote, promote, promote. Reserve an hour each day for social media. Work on your blog, look at Facebook and see what other writers are doing to promote their books.

That’s what I've learned so far. And this is just the start. I'm stepping into a much bigger world and I'll share what I discover along the way.

I got quite an education about the importance of social media. If you don’t promote your books and no one can find them, what's the point of writing them?

If you're an author, what do you do to get yourself and your books out there?

If you're a reader, where do you go to find new authors to read?

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope to see you again soon!