Use Social Media to Boost Your Writing Career
April 25, 2017
Note From Rochelle
Dear Readers,
Social media: love it or hate it, you need it. Whether you’re researching or promoting your book, you need to use social media. Today’s tip reviews the many ways you can use social media to boost your writing career.
Enjoy!
Rochelle
The Write Now! Coach
Use Social Media to Boost Your Writing Career
by Rochelle Melander
Social media offers writers access to people, information, ideas, and tools that were previously unavailable to most of us. In the olden days, so to speak, writers who wanted to meet their favorite authors or interview a CEO had to chase them down at conferences or pursue them through traditional channels (e.g., an agent, administrative assistant, or publisher). Thanks to social media, we all stand together on the same platform. But before you start jumping up and down and screaming how great you are on Twitter, think about how you want to use social media. Here are some of the many ways authors and other people use social media successfully. Check the ones that apply to you.
Relational
With social media, you can build community with colleagues, readers, and friends.
Most of us are already using social media to connect with our friends. As writers, social media is a tool that helps us connect with colleagues, other people in our niche, sources, editors, agents, and so forth. Speaker and trainer Phil Gerbyshak says: “Make friends first, do business second.” Why might this be good?
*Social media is first and foremost about relationships. Most of us got on social media to stay connected with people we’re connected to in real life.
*If we want to use social media more effectively, then we have to see it as a way to build relationships with more people across the globe.
*We can begin by building relationships with people around shared interests. At some point, these people may become our colleagues, friends, or readers.
Resource
We provide information and inspiration to readers.
The writers who see social media as simply a way to talk about themselves or their book have missed the boat. In order to succeed in the new world of social media, you need to be someone who provides information, inspiration, and encouragement to those you connect with online. Remember:
*Social media gives you the opportunity to inspire and encourage more people than you can reach through your books.
*Social media gives you the opportunity to be a resource for your colleagues, clients or customers and anyone else who is interested in you or your field. When you provide consistently high quality information to readers, they will begin to see you as an expert in your field. This will translate into more writing jobs and more opportunities to be interviewed as an expert.
*Helping others by providing information, inspiration and encouragement will increase your value online.
Research
Social media provides a valuable opportunity to discover the latest information and talk to the most important experts on the topics you write about. Use social media:
*To research and gather information about your project.
*To connect with sources for your project or article
*To listen and learn about what is going on in your field or niche.
*To listen and learn about your target market.
*To search for any kind of information related to publishing—including information about agents, publications, and submission policies as well as self-publishing resources.
Reputation
Use social media to monitor your brand or your online reputation.
Today writers are talked about as being a brand. Think Joyce Meyer or Seth Godin. Social media allows you to listen to the conversation online about you and your brand. You get to hear what people are saying about you, your blog, your article, or your book without holding a glass up to the wall!
Reach
Use social media to build your platform.
When agents and editors talk abut platform, they are talking about building personal loyalty to you as an author. Social media gives you the opportunity to connect with lots of people and:
*Increase the number of people who know and trust you and will listen to what you have to say.
*Increase the number of people in your networking circle who will recommend you to potential clients or employers.
Why is this important? These are the people who are already listening to you and are willing to read your blog or buy your book when it comes out.
Your turn: Note the ways you are using social media right now. Identify one new action you can take this week to boost your social media savvy—and increase your reach.
Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author, a certified professional coach, and a popular speaker. Melander has written ten books including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It). As the Write Now! Coach, she teaches professionals how to write books fast, get published, and connect with readers through social media. Get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at https://www.writenowcoach.com.
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For: Children, ages 5-12
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