The Importance of Using Social Media if You Are a Writer

     I recently was in a writers group and the discussion came up about whether a writer should be on more than one social media site?  First, let me just say that social media is great for branding yourself or your business.  Social Media helps you and your business to get discovered.  But, does a writer need to be on every social media site out there?  This is the question that I have wondered about at times.  Personally, I don't think so.  I think if you start out with maybe three or four main social media sites and go from there that eventually your name will get out there.  I think the thing that you need to realize about social media is that it is no good to you unless you use it regularly.  I have found many writers starting out on many social media sites, only to become overwhelmed by having to maintain all of them.  (Here is a video talking about how to build your author platform and dealing with social media below).

     One of the most important things to remember if you are a writer starting out on social media the last thing you should be doing is selling your books to people.  Most people don't want to be sold to all the time on social media.  Most people usually are on social media to get to know people from all over the world or to learn something, or they want to introduce themselves to you.  The last thing people want to see on social media is buy my book, buy my book, buy my book!!!!  Now, I am not saying that you shouldn't eventually tell people about your book or books but it should be in basic conversation.  Of course, now if you are doing something special with your book, like offering it for free for a time you can always mention this, or maybe you are currently writing a book and you want to talk about it, such as: the plot, difficulties you are having, maybe struggling with writers block, etc.  You can announce a pre-order of this book if it is available, but it should only be in passing as you talk about the writing of your book. Remember people on social media don't want to hear buy my book, buy my book, buy my book if you haven't first stopped to get to know them and offer some kind of value and help to them.  Why should someone care about your book, if you don't have any interest in them other than as a customer?  Stop spamming and start getting to know your potential readers first!

     Also, social media is a tool to get to know people and your potential readers, and as a writer, it should be used first and foremost for this.  You also need to remember that you are a writer first and that you should schedule only a certain amount of time on social media per day so that you don't ignore your writing over it.  (I personally have a digital timer and I make sure to stick to my schedule of time for each social media site, and then for my writing).

     In my next blog article, I am going to discuss the various ways to publish your book and whether you should have all of them. (eBook, Paperback, Audiobook, Hard Cover, CD)

     So stay tuned!