Platform

Social media has taken the concept of “platform” to a new level. As writers, we know we need to have one, but sometimes it’s hard to figure out what to do. After all, there’s Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Shelfari, Goodreads, Pinterest, YouTube, and several other sites that you can use to promote your work. You also need to have a website, and a blog doesn’t hurt either.

I’m sure you’ve heard before that publishing houses like writers who already have a platform and established followers. Does that mean you can’t get your book published without a platform? Absolutely not. But as Christina Katz points out in Get Known Before the Book Deal (read my review here), a platform takes a long time to develop, and it’s a good idea to work on your platform before you are published.

I’ve heard that publishers rarely put big money into book promotion for authors, and expect the author to do most of the legwork. That is why it’s so important for us to get busy, get ourselves out there, and get known. If you’re a non-techie like me, that spells instant trouble. And if you’re like me and have a life that involves work and family, that spells double the trouble.

My solution was to find help. I could not have done my fantastic author webpage on my own (www.JoanneHirase.com), nor could I have figured out how to make a Facebook author page (https://www.facebook.com/Author.Joanne.Hirase), or optimize my Twitter (www.Twitter.com/@JHiraseStacey), and LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/joannehirasestacey) accounts. Thanks to 2 Rivers Communication and Design, my name is out there. I haven’t delved into the other social media sites yet, but it may be in my future.

Yes, we need to put the time into self-promotion, but we also need to make room for writing. After all, if we don’t produce something, there is nothing to promote. Self-promotion can be difficult, but in this digital and fast-paced world, it is necessary.

If you don’t have the time, energy, or know-how to have a strong online presence, ask for help. There are several experts out there that you can hire, or who can give you the guidance you need. You don’t have to have a presence in every social media site, so target the ones you think will be most valuable for you. After all, you can always jump into another site later. Just start somewhere and see where it takes you.

Marketing with Social Media

Before I waded into the world of social media, I did a lot of research. I wanted to know as much as possible about LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter so I didn’t make a fool out of myself. I read several online articles, watched several videos, and still hesitated to jump in.

Why? Because I received a lot of conflicting information.

There are differing viewpoints about setting up profiles, what to share, what not to share (I’m appalled at some posts I’ve read), how often to share, and I just wanted basic information to start with.

Enter Social Media Marketing for Dummies by Phyllis Khare (see my review here). I was able to glean from her book, the general material I needed to open accounts. What I figured out while reading the book is this: social media needs to be professional if you’re trying to market yourself as a writer.

That doesn’t mean you can’t put in cute pictures of your kids or your dogs. It doesn’t mean you can’t tell us about the fabulous dinner you had the night before. Being personal and personable are great qualities. But your posts need to reflect you and your brand and not turn off any potential publisher, editor, agent, or reader.

I’ve seen people make political statements, religious statements, rant about retailers, carry on about other people. If that isn't your brand, it can be a polarizing topic! Yes, we should all have opinions, but we should be mindful about how far we spread them. I know I don’t want to antagonize anyone who could potentially move my writing career forward. Being an attorney, I also must pay attention to privacy and ethical issues. It’s a huge topic that every bar association is talking about, and until the rules are settled, social media for attorneys can be unsettling.

Social media has helped careers; social media has hurt careers. Think about your message before you post to ensure that it is relevant and helpful, and not harmful.