Aug 12, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Memes (“Meems”) are photos or images with a message. The picture gets your attention, and the text hammers the message home. In this sense, it is very much an important tool in your social media box.
Frankly, My Dear . . . Memes help hammer your message home.
But memes aren’t just for marketing. They’re for drawing in your audience, and keeping them. They’re for sharing a moment of your day, a sentiment, or an aspect of who you are.
What’s more appealing to you: Someone always shouting “Buy my product!” or someone offering to buy you a lemon infusion tea? It’s the tea, right? [Note to self: Add sugar.]
So, a meme is a way of saying, “Hey. I know you’re there, and I think you might like this.” Or “Here’s the personal side of me.” Now and then, about one in every six or so posts, it’s okay to share a marketing meme.
Start with a basic photo. Pixabay and Canva are great sources for free-to-use photos when you don’t have one of your own that suits the need. Then you can use apps like WordSwag or PicMonkey to edit the photos and add texts. You can also use PowerPoint, which works great for presentations.
PRO TIP: Take time to take a good photo. Don’t rush through putting together a blurry meme. If a photo is worth a thousand words, make sure they sing the praises of your professionalism.
In this first example, I wanted to share with girls that we can climb those steps in our way and turn the journey into our favor. I searched the internet for “climb” photos, and inspirational quotes, and married the two. Voila!
basic photo: metal steps
#BossBabe Meme
Now, the following is a photo, not a meme. There’s no text. But if I were to add text, it might be a banner or a twelve-point star that reads “Happy Mail Day” or “I know what my weekend looks like.” Neither of those statements is direct marketing, but it draws your attention to the book, yes? I certainly hope so. And in doing so, my mission is accomplished. It could also state, “Bad hair day. Happy book face.” But let’s just . . . not.
Frankly, My Dear . . . Happy mail
Memes are great for Instagram, but remember to add personal photos also. People really do want to see you in your natural habitat (hence my oh-so-many photos of reading through lunch at Starbucks, or Happy Planning, or both) and how you interact with others. Unless it’s a cat fight. Y’all don’t need to be posting the negatives, okay? Thanks.
As long as your memes relate back to your brand in some aspect, or draw your audience in with a personal touch, it’s a good meme. I couldn’t get away with sharing something SciFi Zombie-esque. That’s just not me. But if that zombie’s eating a big helping of jambalaya down in New Orleans, then we can talk.
Here are some of my most recent memes:
Galatians 6:9 NLT
#BEEtheZebra Media Tip No. 1
Good writing ~ Hemingway
Slay the Day
Marketing Tip: Leave Reviews
Liz Taylor: Slay Today #BossBabe
Passion- Julia Child
Create eye-catching, personality-sharing memes and your audience will read what comes next.
How do you get your audience’s attention?
TWEET THIS: #SocialMedia Saturday: Memes Aren’t Just for Marketing. @RealMojo68 #franklymydear
TWEET THIS: If a photo is worth a thousand words, make sure they sing the praises of your professionalism. @RealMojo68 #meme
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Aug 5, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Some inspirational memes for the creative in you.
“Give them a reason to care about you. Then they’ll care about what you write.” ~ Molly Jo Realy
Frankly, My Dear . . . Hawaii
Frankly, My Dear . . . Hemingway Strong
Frankly, My Dear . . . Isaac Asimov
TWEET THIS: Social Media Saturday #memes @RealMojo68 #amwriting
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Jul 22, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Social Media Selections
I’m often asked which media platform I prefer, and why. My answer is simple: “All of the above. Because.”
Choosing one venue is like eating only white rice for the rest of your life. Not a mix. Not sometimes long grain and sometimes wild. Just. white. It’s bland. And sure, you can fix it up with some butter and Southern seasonings, but it’s still always going to be just white rice.
Your audience’s social media appetite is the same. You can’t serve them the same fodder and expect them to appreciate it every single time.
Now, we all know Facebook and Twitter are it. I mean, for realz. That’s where the action is, am I right? But I’m also a huge HUGE HUGE fan of Instagram. Because we are becoming creatures of instant attentions, an INYOURFACE graphic will grab attention before a compelling headline.
Frankly, My Dear. . . FROGINYOURFACE!
Case in point: Did y’all read the sentence above first, or glance at the visual? If you’re like me and many of my partners in crime social media cohorts, colors will get you every time. Even if you don’t like the color. It evokes a visceral response, yah? “That’s such a lovely crocus.” or “Can you believe he wore that tie in public?”
Now, I’m not saying every post should be visual. That’s just a rice salad. Nah. Don’t do that.
Think of your social media like a stir-fry or buffet. A little this, a little that. Some meat and potatoes, a side dish, and of course, dessert. Don’t forget something to wash it all down with.
And who doesn’t love a great community potluck? Now and then, invite your friends and family to participate. Share their posts and links. Go visiting. Bring back something delicious.
Okay, have I overdone it with the foodie references? I know. I’m sorrynotsorry. But there’s something to be said with serving up a variety. Even when using the same platter, make sure what you’re serving isn’t always stale leftovers.
How do you serve your social media followers?
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear. . . : Serving up Social Media @RealMojo68 #socialmedia #franklymydearmojo
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . . : How do you serve your social media followers? @RealMojo68 #socialmedia #franklymydearmojo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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Jul 17, 2017 |
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
[republished with permission. And be sure to check out my post today on Edie’s blog, The Write Conversation. ~Molly Jo]
Edie Melson: Social Media Lies People Tell Themselves, Part One
I get a lot of emails and phone calls from people who really believe social media doesn’t work for them. They’ve convinced themselves that they are the exception to the rule. And because of that, they’re somehow exempt from having an online presence.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s called an exception because it rarely ever happens. Actually I’ve NEVER seen an instance where it was true. But I’m skeptical about absolutes, so I’ll grant that there might be one single person out there that social media doesn’t work for.
The rest of you need to quit claiming it doesn’t work and get busy working it.
The Four Main Types Who Fail at Social Media
First, there’s the person who has really tried to make it work, but they’ve been trying all the wrong things. Doing it wrong won’t get you much further than not doing it at all.
Second, there’s the person who’s been paralyzed by over-thinking the process. They’ve spent so much time analyzing every possible scenario they’re confused and defeated before they ever start.
Third, there’s the person who starts and stops. They work at it consistently for a week or two then stop. Then start again . . . then stop . . . . I think you get the idea. A big part of social media is building on success. If you keep stopping, there’s nothing to build on.
Fourth, there’s the go-getter that’s spending so much time on social media they no longer have time to write. So they throw up their hands and walk away.
What You Need to Do to Have a Successful Social Media Presence
- Start a blog or become a part of a group blog.
- Have a presence on Facebook.
- Have a presence on Twitter.
- Utilize a scheduling program (like Hootsuite) to help manage your time efficiently.
- Never break Edie’s five-to-one rule. For every five social media updates on a particular platform, you may only post one additional update about yourself or your product (this includes your books, a blog post, or an announcement about a guest blog post you’re doing).
- Quit overthinking the process. Social media isn’t a science. It’s relationships, and relationships are messy. So get busy, take a chance and find what works for you by DOING, not THINKING!
I recommend you start with the following minimum goals and work up from here:
- Blog once a week, if it’s your personal blog. Blog twice a month if it’s a group blog.
- Comment on a minimum of one other blog once a day, four days a week.
- Post on Facebook a minimum of three times a day, four days a week.
- Comment on someone else’s Facebook post a minimum of three times a day, four days a week.
- Tweet a minimum of four to six times a day, four days a week. (This can include retweeting something someone else has tweeted).
But no matter what you do with social media . . .
Don’t spend more than 20-30 minutes per day on social media.
Spend more than 20-30 minutes a day on social media and you’ll run into the law of diminishing returns. You just don’t get as much bang for your buck. Beyond that, you’ll be cutting into valuable writing time.
What things are standing in your way with social media?
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . .: Social Media Lies People Tell Themselves, Part One @RealMojo68 @EdieMelson #socialmedia
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . .: What things are standing in your way with social media? @RealMojo68 @EdieMelson #socialmedia
Blessings,
Edie
Edie Melson
Find your voice, live your story…is the foundation of Edie Melson’s message, no matter if she’s addressing parents, military families or writers. As an author, blogger, and speaker she’s encouraged and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Connect with her on her blog and through Twitter and Facebook.You can also connect with Edie through Twitter and Facebook.
May 15, 2017 |
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
[Be sure to check out my post today on Edie’s blog, The Write Conversation. ~Molly Jo]
Edie Melson: You are Killing Yourself With a Weak (or Nonexistent) Bio
I’ve been accused of being blunt and forthright, and I suppose the title of this post proves it’s true. But really people, don’t you realize how important those few lines at the end of a guest post or article really are? That space is valuable real estate and you’re growing weeds on it.
I’ll say it again, you are killing yourself with a weak writer’s bio.
What a Bio is NOT supposed to do:
Let me share what a writer’s bio is not designed to do. It’s not there to make me want to become your best friend. Sure I want enough info so I know you’re a real person, but my time (and everyone else’s) is in short supply, so don’t make me wade through folksy humor to get to what I need. If I want to get to know you better I’ll look up your blog and follow you on social media.
What a Bio IS supposed to do:
There are several reasons to have a writer’s bio ( and several sizes—but more on that later).
- Because people are curious and suspicious. If I’m going to read something online, I at least want to know who wrote it. I’m leery of articles that don’t have an author. Is it computer generated (yes they can do that), is it stolen (happens all the time), is the author ashamed of having written it?
- Because I may like what you have to say and want to read more. If what you’ve written resonates with me, I’m going to want to go deeper. No bio either means a dead-end (if I’m busy) or a lot of extra sleuthing on the internet. Trust me when I say this, a lot of you are NOT easy to find—but that’s another post.
- Because I want to share the post through social media. I know I can share it even if there’s no bio or attribution, but then my followers run into #1 and #2 above. And they complain to me. I’ve worked hard to build a strong online community, so I refuse to send out things that will knowingly frustrate them.
What You Have to Have:
- Links. You want to be found, by readers, by friends, by other writers. That’s hard to do when you don’t at least leave us a trail of breadcrumbs. Here are the links you need:
- Blog/website
- Facebook
- Twitter
These are the bare minimum.
- A sentence or two about your credibility. For me it’s a quick line about how long I’ve been in the industry and how many books I have.
That’s it. You probably thought you needed all sorts of things, but you don’t. Now you’re probably wondering how you organize all this information and I’ve got you covered there, too.
Compose Your Bio:
It’s important to remember a bio isn’t a resume. It’s not necessary to include information that isn’t relevant to what you’re writing.
- Keep it Relevant: For example, if you’re not writing about how to sell something, it isn’t important to mention your job fifteen years ago as an outside sales person.
- Organize it with the important stuff up front. I know our families are important to us, that’s not what I mean. This is a business and although I’m happy to learn you have a successful marriage, that’s not the first thing I need to know. So start with your credibility, then move into how I find you and your books.
- Include EMBEDDED hyperlinks when you send a bio for someone else to post. Don’t type out the full URLs, but actually embed the link to the words BLOG, TWITTER and FACEBOOK, as well as any others that are relevant. The reason you want to have the words already linked is because of the word count guidelines you’ll run into. You don’t want to waste your word count on a hyperlink—especially if you only have 20-25 words.
How Many Bios Do I Really Need?
In a word, several. Depending on the guidelines of where you’re submitting it could be as few as 20-25 words or as long as several paragraphs. I try to keep several current versions of my bio in a file for easy access.
Here are some examples:
25 word bio:
Edie Melson is an author, freelance writer and editor with years of experience. Connect with her on her blog – The Write Conversation, Twitter or Facebook.
50 word bio:
Edie’s an author, freelance writer and editor. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Social Media Mentor at My Book Therapy, and Social Media Director for Southern Writers Magazine, as well as the Senior Editor for Novel Rocket. Visit her on her blog, Twitter, and Facebook.
100 word bio:
Edie Melson is the author of four books, with two more due out January 2014. Her popular blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands of writers each month, and she’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. Her bestselling ebook on social media has just been updated and re-released as Connections: Social Media & Networking Techniques for Writers. She’s the Social Media Mentor at My Book Therapy and the social media director for Southern Writers Magazine. She’s also the Senior Editor at Novel Rocket. You can connect with Edie through Twitter and Facebook.
150 word bio:
Edie Melson is the author of four books, with two more due out January 2014. As a respected freelance writer and editor with years of experience in the publishing industry, she’s connected with writers and readers throughout the country. Her bestselling ebook on social media has just been re-released as Connections: Social Media and Networking Techniques for Writers. Her popular writing blog, The Write Conversation, gives her the opportunity to share what she’s learned and mentor others. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, as well as a popular faculty member at numerous others. She’s also the Social Media Mentor for My Book Therapy, the Social Media Director for Southern Writers Magazine, and the Senior Editor for Novel Rocket. Be sure to connect with her through Twitter and Facebook.
300 word bio:
Edie Melson is a leading professional in the writing industry. She’s a sought after writing instructor; and her heart to help others define and reach their dreams has connected her with writers all over the country. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, as well as a popular faculty member at numerous others.
She’s a prolific writer, publishing thousands of articles over the years, and has a popular writing blog, The Write Conversation. Edie is a regular contributor on the popular Novel Rocket and Inspire a Fire websites, as well as social media director for Southern Writers Magazine.
In keeping up with the leading edge of all things digital Edie has become known as one of the go-to experts on Twitter, Facebook, and social media for writers wanting to learn how to plug in. Her bestselling eBook on this subject, has recently been updated and expanded and re-released as Connections:Social Media and Networking Techniques for Writers.
Fighting Fear, Winning the War at Home When Your Soldier Leaves for Battle, is Edie’s heart project. This devotional book for those with family members in the military debuted on Veterans Day, 2011. Look for her two newest books for military families debuting in January 2014: While My Son Serves and While My Husband Serves.
She’s a member of numerous civic and professional organizations, including Blue Star Mothers, the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, The Christian Pen, and American Christian Fiction Writers. She’s also the Social Media Mentor for My Book Therapy, the Social Media Director for Southern Writers Magazine, and the Senior Editor for Novel Rocket.
Edie has been married to high school sweetheart, Kirk, for 30+ years and they’ve raised three sons. You can also connect with Edie on Twitter and Facebook.
I think you get the picture, and now it’s your turn. What questions do you have about a writer’s bio? Share them in the comments section below.
Blessings,
Edie
CLICK TO TWEET: Edie Melson: You are Killing Yourself With a Weak (or Nonexistent) Writer’s Bio
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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