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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Jan 16, 2017 |
Building an Author Platform: How Much Information is Safe to Share Online?
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
Edie Melson- Building an Author Platform: How Much Information is Safe to Share Online?
As writers we know the importance of developing an online presence, but is there such a thing as too much information out there?
Absolutely!
The result of too much information online can range from the irritating to the dangerous. But it is possible to be smart and still have an online presence that will garner you the right kind of reader notice.
So how much is too much to stay safe online? Anything that lets your online presence collide with your physical presence without you managing the connections.
Here are some tips to help you stay out of trouble:
- Have boundaries firmly established in your own mind—BEFORE something happens. That way, when someone get too familiar, you’ll be ready to do more than just feel vaguely uncomfortable. So often I talk to writers who have a cyber-stalker and they’re not even certain whether they should be concerned or not.
- Trust your instincts. I cannot emphasize this one strongly enough. If someone makes you uncomfortable, act on your feelings.
- Don’t friend/follow/or otherwise engage someone who isn’t willing to post a picture and/or give out reasonable information.
- Don’t use any social media networks and/or settings where you check in at places. There is no good reason for someone to know where you are generally. If you’re at a conference or a big event, you can let people know you’re there if you choose, but don’t leave your safety to a computer program.
- Turn OFF your location settings for all your digital devices—phone, digital camera, ereader and tablet. Otherwise, any picture you take with those devices could have an imbedded code that gives the latitude and longitude of where the picture was taken. This is especially true if you post pictures of children (your own or even grandkids). Don’t make it easy for a predator to map out your location.
What should you do when something makes you uncomfortable?
The biggest thing is do NOT be tempted to be polite when you’re worried. This is similar to following your instincts in that we often push down our uncomfortable feelings for the sake of being polite. If someone is tweeting to you, sending you repeated Facebook messages, or contacting you in any way that makes you uncomfortable, don’t ignore your feelings.
- First, if it’s someone you know, confront the person making you uncomfortable and request they respect your boundaries. If it’s a spammer, do NOT engage. Just move straight to blocking them.
- If they don’t adhere to your guidelines, immediately block them from the social media networks where they are contacting you.
- Finally, report them to the social media network(s) where the infraction occurred.
This isn’t something you should fool around with, but it’s also something you shouldn’t be worried about. Taking these steps will keep you safe and give you the boundaries you need to stay safe online.
What steps do you take to stay safe? Have you ever felt uncomfortable by a contact? If so what did you do?
CLICK TO TWEET: Frankly, My Dear: Building an Author Platform: How Much Information is Safe to Share Online?
Edie Melson
Edie Melson—author, blogger, and speaker is a prolific writer with years of experience in the publishing industry. Her best-selling ebook has been expanded and re-released as Connections: Social Media and Networking Techniques for Writers. Her popular industry blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands of writers each month.
In addition, she’s the Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, the Social Media director for Southern Writers Magazine, Social Media Mentor for My Book Therapy and the Senior Editor at Novel Rocket.
You can also connect with Edie through Twitter and Facebook.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Oct 17, 2016 |
Edie Melson, Social Media Steampunk, and Molly Jo Realy, Woman of Mystery, at BRMCWC
I met Edie within minutes of arriving at my first Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2015. By the end of Tuesday night, she had not only mentored me in her classes, but we became friends. I still remember as the conference came to a close, she told me, “You better stay in touch, girl. We’re cut from the same cloth.” I couldn’t have a better compliment from someone I respect so much.
While you can find me at her blog, The Write Conversation, every third Monday of the month, I wanted my own readers to experience her knowledge. This month, she shares 8 tips to stay safe online.
Don’t Get Hacked!
Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that you’ll never be hacked. Especially since, as writers today, this is where we spend so much of our time. But there are a LOT of things we can do to lower the odds of it happening.
This week I want to give you some tips on how to keep from being hacked online. This advice will continue to change because inevitably, the more wise we become at protecting ourselves, the more cunning those wishing us harm become.
The majority of times we get hacked it’s because we clicked a link that uploaded a virus which opened us up to hackers.
This is the bad news, but there’s also good news. This kind of hacking is preventable, and here are some steps to take to stay safe online.
- Be wise. This seems basic, but so many times we just ignore our better judgment. How many of us have been sucked in by direct messages like these? “Have you heard the rumors your friend is spreading about you?” or “This is a hilarious video just uploaded about you.” Stop. Think. Then DON’T click that link!
- Assume it’s a lie. Awhile back, I got an email from an online company confirming a large purchase with my credit card. I knew I hadn’t made any purchases, but still had to fight the urge to panic. My gut response was to reply to the email. Thankfully, I took a step back and looked more closely at the email. I noticed several things that made me suspicious. I immediately did an online search for scams involving that company and came up with pages of recent victims. I contacted the company directly (not through the info in their email) and confirmed the email was a ruse to steal my information.
- Never give out sensitive information. Let me repeat, NEVER GIVE OUT SENSITIVE INFORMATION! Companies don’t ask for bank account info, passwords or other information over the internet. First, if you’re a customer, they already have all of your information they need. Keeping up with personal passwords is a liability for companies.
- Stop accepting friend requests on Facebook from people you don’t know. If you’ve read my blog for long, you know that I run my personal FB profile as a public forum. BUT I still don’t allow “FRIEND” access to strangers. There was a time when we could look at common friends as a sort of endorsement for accepting a connect. That time is GONE. The only time I might consider looking further at a possible friendship would be if we had HUNDREDS of friends in common.
- Never share personal data while you’re on a public Wi-Fi. This includes logging into sites when you must type in a password. It’s okay to bring up a site you’re already logged into, but NEVER type a password in a public place. Not only is it a risk, but it’s so easy to counterfeit a public Wi-Fi and make it look legitimate.
- Use two-level authentication whenever possible. For instance, when I log into my Google account from a new device or new location, I receive a text message with an additional code I must type in. This has saved me so many times. A lot of networks offer this option and I always sign up for it. It may seem frustrating when you’re in a hurry. The truth is, when we’re rushed is when we’re not paying attention and we’re often more vulnerable.
- For PC users, invest in a good security program. And good programs don’t necessarily mean expensive programs. AVG is excellent and has free options.
- Have a different password for EVERY site you’re on. And change your passwords every six months. I know you don’t want to hear it, but I cannot emphasize this strong enough. Your password must be different for every account you have. That can seem overwhelming. If you’re like me you probably have dozens of accounts, so how can we keep up with all those passwords? Trust me, it’s not with sticky notes or a file on your computer. Every single time I share this information, someone confesses that they have a file on their computer and no one will know it’s there because it’s labeled INFO or something similar.
Instead, take advantage of some wonderful programs. Some charge a small fee, others are free—all have the highest security rating available. And they all have apps so you can access your accounts from your mobile devices.
LastPass
1Password
Keepass X (for Mac) and Keepass (for PC)
I’ve heard people suggest that these programs are a security risk. The experts disagree and so do I. Look for ones that have AES-256 encryption (and ideally two-factor authentication) to make certain your information stays safe.
There are also blank booklets available for those of you who are old school and want something you can hold in your hand. I’ve seen them at local discount stores, as well as high-end specialty stores.
Now it’s your turn, what are some tricks you use to stay safe online? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
[bctt tweet=”Frankly, My Dear . . . Edie Melson: Don’t Get Hacked.” username=”@RealMojo68, @ediemelson”]
Edie Melson—author, blogger, and speaker is a prolific writer with years of experience in the publishing industry. Her best-selling ebook has been expanded and re-released as Connections: Social Media and Networking Techniques for Writers. Her popular industry blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands of writers each month.
In addition, she’s the Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, the Social Media director for Southern Writers Magazine, Social Media Mentor for My Book Therapy and the Senior Editor at Novel Rocket. You can also connect with Edie through Twitter and Facebook.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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Feb 22, 2016 |
Here’s a not-so-secret: I love social media. It’s where I connect with others, share my life, promote authors and their projects, and yes, play my fair amount of Candy Crush. I know. Gaming isn’t the same as social media. But when all you have to offer is candy life, it counts, okay?
But not everyone feels the same. I can’t quite get my head around what I’m about to say, but I hear tell there are actually people out there who dislike social media.
Can you imagine? People who would rather get a tooth pulled than post a status update, or swallow castor oil rather than share a photo. Yes, there are actually people like this out there. I’m not naming names, but I’ve met them.
Of course, by no means do I even pretend to fully understand them, but I try.
Then, of course, you have your people who want to wade into the water but aren’t sure how. Do they dive in? How deep? Which pool? Do they know how to swim, or at least stay afloat? Can they survive in the treacherous seas of social media?
Folks, I’m so glad you asked. That’s where I come in. For the better part of a year, I’ve been slowly developing a platform to assist others develop their social media presence, as well as managing media for other people.
How To Do Social Media for People Who Are Antisocial
It was going to be a blog post but I realized it’s so much bigger than that. I currently run a semi-monthly column for the newsletter of the California Writers Club, High Desert Branch. I offer one-on-one consultations to help local writers start their internet experience. And now it’s turning into a platform, presentation, and potential book!
Last week I was given a monthly contributing blogger spot on Edie Melson’s blog, The Write Conversation. [Check me out the third Monday of each month, starting in March.] As the social media diva herself, she’s one of my go-to girls whenever I have a social media question. We met last year at Blue Ridge and I was so thrilled to participate in her social media course.
Edie Melson, Social Media Steampunk, and Molly Jo Realy, Woman of Mystery, at BRMCWC
She told me
“I hope you’ll stay in touch. We’re cut from the same cloth, and you’re going places.”
Now how could I not share that with my social media world?
And since when it rains it pours here in the desert, I was also given the opportunity to lead this week’s Firsts in Fiction podcast. The theme? You guessed it: Social Media. I’m typically the heckler of the group, the one who keeps the chat room chatting and throws “shut up!”s to Aaron and Al as we converse on the art of writing fiction.
Last week we had a few questions on how to develop social media so Aaron suggested I take the next episode and run with it. Right when I’d gotten used to thinking of myself as just another pretty face . . .
How do you do social media? Join Firsts in Fiction this Tuesday at 6:30 PST and let’s have some fun.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
