Posts tagged Social media

When we reach beyond ourselves, maybe, just maybe, we set in motion something that will resonate through those tied to us in ways we might not foresee.
Rebecca Altman, Reach Beyond Yourself, via @odemagazine on Twitter.

QUESTION: How do you want authors to behave on social media?

What words of wisdom would you offer to an author who is brand new to social media and who is trying to figure out how (and how often) to promote his or her books?

As you know, some authors promote their books rather shamelessly:

Another rave review for ICE ON FIRE! “A must-read tale of torrid romance in a cold climate ruled by an even more cold-hearted would-be emperor.” - The author’s mom. Please RT.

Others take a much more subtle approach:

Bio: I write stuff. It’s your job to guess what it is.

What do you consider reasonable (perhaps even classy or clever) when it comes to self-promotion via social media?

What makes you want to hit the unfollow button and toss an author’s books in the recycling bin?

Note: I’m asking your opinion because I’m going to be co-leading a workshop for authors on self-promotion (including the effective use of social media) in 2012. I’d like to round out my impressions by hearing your thoughts and opinions. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

Relentlessly focus. Prune your message and your list and build a reputation that’s worth owning and an audience that cares.
Seth Godin, on the trap of social media noise

typepad.com

There is no bigger turnoff than an author on Twitter who never checks his/her @ messages, who doesn’t respond to blog comments (or doesn’t allow comments on their blog), and who’s ‘out there’ in social media but doesn’t understand that it’s a two-way medium, not a broadcast medium. If you don’t understand and accept this, you really need to rethink whether you, as an author, should be attempting to use social media at all.
Ruth Seeley (@ruthseeley), book publicist, No Spin PR

7 Things Highly Productive People Do

They don’t get sucked into the time-zapping vortex that is social media for hours at a time. They use the phone. They have a plan. Etc. Seven secrets to managing your time more wisely from Inc. contributor Ilya Pozin.