Sep 18, 2017 |
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
(Originally published on The Write Conversation. Reprinted/updated here with permission.)
Everywhere we turn we’re hit with the message of how great social media is. Don’t get me wrong, I love social media. But I didn’t start out loving it. I began my relationship with this new paradigm by hating it.
I don’t have a background in computers or marketing or anything that might make social media look interesting. Add to that fact that I’m a natural introvert, and you have a recipe for a disaster. Truthfully, that was how my relationship with social media began—as a disaster. Here are, from my own experience, the top 10 ways to make yourself miserable with social media.
Frankly, My Dear . . . Miserable with Social Media
- Sign up for Twitter, and keep your tweets protected. This means you have to approve anyone who follows you. This make absolutely no sense at all. You’re on Twitter to get your name out there. Having to approve followers means no one (okay, almost no one) will follow you.
- Never add to the social conversation. This means you never comment on Facebook, or tweet on Twitter or take part in any of the dialogue. You just follow what’s being said and wonder why social media isn’t working. For social media to work, you have to wade in and join the fun.
- Refuse to upload a picture of yourself as your Twitter avatar. If you just keep the default Egg Avatar on Twitter you’re telling the world one of two things. You’re a Twitter newbie and don’t know what you’re doing, or you’re a spammer.
- Join every new social media platform that comes out. As of this moment, there are well over 150 individual social media platforms, and that number changes by the hour. There’s no way anyone can reasonably interact on that many. Join Twitter and Facebook, but beyond that, pick one or two more you like best and concentrate on those.
- Use Facebook as a platform to air all grievances. There’s a saying that what happens on the Internet STAYS on the Internet. It’s true. No matter how much you later regret an outburst or ill-considered post, it’s there to stay. It’s almost impossible to erase all traces of something written on the Internet and that’s especially true with social media. My rule is to NEVER post anything negative on social media.
- Spend the bulk of your writing time doing social media. Yes, social media can help you get a contract (whether it’s for an article or book). But it won’t help if you can’t write. Writers need to be spending the majority of time writing and learning to write, NOT on social media. I recommend writers spend no more than 30 minutes a day on social media.
- Post all your social media updates at once, in a short window of time. This will insure you get noticed—but not in the way you want. Hogging the stream will cause your friends and followers to stop interacting with you and even delete you from their streams faster than almost anything.
- Just do social media when the mood hits. Posting when you feel like it, instead of working at it consistently is a guaranteed way to fail. Small, consistent steps are a guaranteed route to success.
- Don’t use an ancillary program to keep track of social media. I recommend Hootsuite, but Buffer and Tweetdeck are also viable alternatives. Not sure what I’m talking about? Then read this post on Hootsuite Basics to see what you’re missing.
- The best way to make yourself miserable with social media is to NOT do it. If you don’t give it a try you’ll always be wondering what you’re missing, and feeling guilty because you know it’s something you should do.
Now it’s your turn, what part of social media has made you miserable and how have you overcome it?
Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie
TWEET THIS: Top 10 Ways to Make Yourself Miserable with Social Media @RealMojo68 @EdieMelson #socialmedia
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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.
Aug 17, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Frankly, My Dear . . .: Nippers, Bruno, and Molly Jo Realy
I’m often asked what is the difference between media and marketing?
Now, that’s a pretty loaded question and I can definitely go on, and on, and on . . . but the bottom line answer for me is, media is networking and marketing is sales.
Not everything is marketing, but if you are a creative professional, your quest should be to share what you have to offer in a way that doesn’t scream, “Buy my product! Buy my product! Buy my product!”
“Give them a reason to care about you. Then they’ll care about what you write.” ~ Molly Jo Realy
Are you on Facebook or Twitter? How about Instagram? Did you see that cute post about your friend’s dog? How about that great photo your brother/sister/long-lost cousin put up, showing their morning coffee? [Hey, I am not knocking the coffee photos, okay? Let’s just be clear on that.] That’s media. That’s where you connect.
Now, how many of those posts prompt you to look at a product? Share a link to help you find life’s answers to why my coffee cup doesn’t magically refill? Yes, I’m still on the coffee thing, okay? Hey. You have your quirks. A little coffee in me never hurt anyone. In fact, the less coffee in me, the more likely someone is to get hurt. #needcaffeinenow.
But I digress. Anywhoo. That second part there is the marketing.
When the two come to together, it’s magic.
One of the best ways to know if you’re doing it right is to emulate someone you respect who has forged the path before you. Check out inspiring blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter and Instagram accounts. Look at websites with a critical eye and take note of what you do (and don’t) like. Now, pull the threads you want to use and tie them up in a pretty bow!
Well, I was thinking bow as in ribbon, but a bow can also be, you know, a bow. And I already have a meme for that!
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Be Your Own Hero
What a perfect demonstration. Why, that’s as nifty as a firefly in the tree. They just go together, dontcha think?
So my question to you is, are you a professional media magician or an amateur product pusher? [Check out last week’s post Social Media Saturday: Memes Aren’t Just for Marketing.]
Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have an urge to drink another latte. . .
Frankly, My Dear . . .: We love our lattes!
For more on media and marketing, join me this Saturday in Bakersfield at Writers of Kern monthly meeting.
TWEET THIS: Are you a professional media magician or an amateur product pusher? @RealMojo68 #socialmedia #marketing #coffee
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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Aug 21, 2016 |
Saturday, I had the opportunity to present “Growing Your Social Media Swarm” to the Writers of Kern, a branch of the California Writers Club. I was excited to learn the audience also had non-writers interested in learning better building techniques.
One of the first slides in my presentation is one you’ve seen for years on this blog.
If you build it, they will come.
Remember back in the day when I revamped my blog, and my brother created this wonderful graphic for me? It’s years old, and it still thrills me.
It’s a reminder to take those steps toward better social media. “If you build it, they will come.”
Social media (emphasis on social) is more than just “look at me.” It’s a mutual support.
Many years ago (okay, we’re gonna pretend I didn’t use the word “many” here, okay? Thanks.) in college, I attended a reading and lecture by W. P. Kinsella, author of Shoeless Joe, which became the inspiration for the movie Field of Dreams. Mr. Kinsella and I spoke after, and he encouraged me to keep writing. “It’s a special gift that takes years,” he told me. “Don’t give up.” To this day, Field of Dreams is still one of my favorites.
When you place your focus on “social”, “media” is just the means by which you connect. As writers, we are the first generation to have instant worldwide access. [You can thank Al Gansky for that soundbite.] Why wouldn’t you want a piece of that pie?
Before building your social media platform, it’s important to know a few things:
- Facebook and Twitter are da bomb. That’s where you’ll reach 100% of your target audience. The other sites are just icing on the cake.
- What do you want to be known for? If it’s being a creative, design your posts to share creative ideas. If it’s business management, you may want to share ideas on personnel, budgeting, and the like.
- Who do you want your target audience to be? This is the money shot. Find a unique way to present who you are with what you know, and you’ll be set.
Running a social media platform takes time. Effort. A little brain-powered creativity. Here’s the good news: You don’t have to do it alone.
Remember the emphasis on “social”? It works both ways. You want to share content to help connect you to a broader audience, right? Well, reverse that. Someone else out there has information and links you’re interested in. Find them, promote them. By sharing someone else’s posts and pages, you’ve still supplied your audience with information, while helping someone else gain status in the social media foray.
See? They built it, you came. Now it’s your turn. Build it, and they will come.
This is where I pat you on the back and say, “Good game. Now, go get ’em!”
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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TGIF: A-P-P-R-E-C-I-A-T-I-V-E-L-Y
Social Media for the Anti-Social
May 29, 2016 |
Hey y’all (I said “y’all,” y’all!)!
I’m back from my second year at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.
Was is everything I hoped it to be? Yes and no.
Yes, because there was much to learn, more to affirm, and an abundance of camaraderie.
No, because in this midst of all that, there were some treasured folk that were deeply missed.
I’ll tell y’all about it later (I said “y’all” again!), but this post is about what I learned about social media. In particular, it’s about one post that taught me about social media.
You see, there’s this thing we call Lobby Time. In the early mornings (not really), between classes (sometimes) and after the evening group session (always), most of us gather in the lobby. It’s where we connect, hang out, let our hair down, play Magic or other games . . . You get the picture.
And speaking of picture (see what I did there?), I took one. There I am chatting it up with some friends-turned-family and I think, This would make a great photo. So in the midst of their discussion, I lifted my cell phone and click. I took a photo.
This photo.
Lobby Time at BRMCWC with Alton Gansky and Lori Roeleveld.
Great photo, dontcha think? I sure do.
The man on the left is Al “Pops” Gansky. He’s Aaron’s dad and the co-host of our weekly Firsts in Fiction Podcast. It was a year ago at Blue Ridge that we met face to face for the first time. [Read: And They Say Getting There is Half the Fun.] He kind of adopted me.
The woman on the right of the photograph is Lori Roeleveld, a disturber of hobbits. She’s an excellent blogger, and a true friend. She calls me sister.
So why wouldn’t I want a photo of some of my favorite peeps?
And why wouldn’t I post it on Twitter and tag them in it?
And why wouldn’t they respond?
So apparently, it’s become a thing. Like, a thing-thing. Like, an internal, #BRMCWC, photo-gone-viral thing. This was taken Monday night. The conference went until Thursday afternoon.
Do you know how many people were talking about this photo by Thursday afternoon? Well, what’s This Girl to do when the conference director says, “Send that to me ASAP so I can share it.”
Of course I sent it to her.
Here’s the thing. It’s not the photo. It’s the reactions.
So many people love so much about this photo, but it all started with Lori’s Tweet-back:
“When did I start to resemble Al?”
And since she has her own Twitter followers, they saw her reply to the photo. And each time, we tagged Al in the retweets. So others saw it.
And kept the conversation going.
And directed others to it.
Two days later, I passed Lori in the hall. As she had broken her foot last week, I paused to ask how she was doing. She gave me a tired smile and said, “I’m alright except for starting to look like Al.”
It’s a good thing my peeps have a sense of humor.
I can honestly tell you upon pain of death that this is one of my most popular tweets ever. It’s certainly one of my favorites.
Sure it’s not a Kardashian. Or Justin Bieber with his pet monkey. Or a Kardashian with Bieber’s pet monkey.
But it is a pretty fantastic photo of some pretty fantastic people that received some pretty fantastic attention.
And all I did was take a photo.
{View the original twitter pic of Alton Gansky and Lori Roeleveld at BRMCWC, and join the fun, here.}
So what’s the moral of this story? Have fun with your photos. And now and then, warn a girl.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
