1) Blogging ~ So many think that this is out of vogue, but I’m here to say it isn’t so. People love to read blogs when they have time, and while people do not have a lot to spare, it’s still worth your while to have a blog with some punch. A variety of great content is the key, and the place should be pleasing to gaze upon. Content will vary with your brand and should be maintained to bring people back again and again. I love doing the promo blog hops and various different posting days on blogs of all sorts. For me, the reason it’s on the list is that there are still a lot of people who don’t like Twitter or Facebook or any other social media for a variety of reasons. It is also another venue where readers can find you. This is the number one reason for doing social media of any kind.
2) Twitter ~ Whoever came up with the 140 character tweet is a genius. Twitter is my all-time favorite for social media. I love to tweet but don’t do it so much anymore because I used to find myself tweeting for hours and realizing at the end of the day I tweeted more than I wrote. I know that some people find it hard to track conversations and do promo, but it can be done. And all in 140 characters. This particular social media teaches one to write lean, clear and concise. What more could be better for a writer?
3) Facebook ~ As much as I hate to admit it, Facebook is one of my favorites. However, it can be a deep time sink if one does not limit themselves. It is a great gathering place for FB parties and is a great place to meet readers. It does have its drawbacks since no one knows what makes it tick. One day everything is fine and the next you have a group or two missing. They have the big brother thing down in spades, and if that bothers you, you need to move along. Personally, I try to limit my time to an hour a day unless I know of a family thing going on that I need to use the instant messaging system for. Otherwise, I read, like, share, read some more, share a lot and try to keep the promo relevant.
4) Pinterest ~ I am just getting starting in this area and for someone who is very visual, I’m amazed that I didn’t find it before now. Pinterest is the place to post pictures about your stories like who you see as your hero or heroine. Just be careful what you post as some people don’t like their pictures posted here. Many do and you’ll find boards full of movie stars and models and other celebrities. However, one does have to be careful, and I usually purchase my photos before I put anything up. Still, this is a wonderful way to give some visuals to your work. Readers love it.
5) Yahoo Groups ~ These groups have gone out of vogue slightly since they started years ago, but I have seen a resurgence in them this past year. These are the message boards of the writing world. Matter-of-fact, it was boards like this that I started being on the internet with. Here readers and writers can mingle and share snippets, have contests and just general share information with a group of like-minded individuals. To me, there are some ways this is more social than the others because you are answering individuals and not getting lost in cyberspace.
In my opinion, these are the top social media hangouts that every writer needs to do. Today, it’s not as easy to get the same online persona everywhere. When I started, I could so when you see oddlynn3 on Facebook or Twitter you know it’s me.
Getting started is easy, and the best way is to jump in feet first. Or you can do it slowly and just dip a toe in. You have to pick your main persona and try to keep as close to that one as possible. Of course, the number one thing would be to get your own name on it all. But that’s easier said than done. When  I got my website years ago, I snatched up every domain name I could along with quite a few other ideas I had.
When I went to get my Twitter and Facebook set up, Lynn Crain was gone and oddlynn3 was born. I figured it fit because I do tend to write some odd things now and then.
Once you have yourself all hooked up, pick a time and stick with it. I normally do all my social media in the evening because I live in Europe and the people I connect with are in the States. So for them, it’s daytime. At your chosen time, go to that social media and see what’s up. Share other authors, read new posts and just cruise around to see what’s going on. Add your two cents when it’s relevant and always be yourself. Even though face time isn’t involved, people always know when a person isn’t being themselves or telling a tall tale.
I would love to hear your stories about social media, what your favorites are and how you as an author or reader use them. One lucky commenter will win a copy of my latest book, Night of the Blue Moon, so don’t forget to leave your email addy.
Thanks to Delilah for having me and all of you, who are reading this post!
Blue Moon Magic
One father.
Two mothers.
Four siblings.
One incredible story about that special night which changes them all. Forever.
Night of the Blue Moon
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