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Kristen Lamb's Blog
Archive for category Social Media Platform
Pen Names—Necessary Evil or Ticket to Crazyville?
Posted by Author Kristen Lamb in Social Media Platform on April 9, 2015
Today we are going to talk about a somewhat touchy subject. The pen name. Before anyone gets in a fluff, understand two things. First, I'm on your side. Secondly, this is only a decision you can make. My goal here is to make sure you guys are making educated business decisions. Thus, I won't stop anyone from having a pen name, but about 95% of the time? It's unnecessary.
In my opinion? Pen names are more hassle than they are worth and they're a fast way to land in Crazyville. Pen names used to offer benefits, but most of those benefits have evaporated because the world is digital and connected. In fact, pen names can actually hurt book sales and stall a platform and brand.
Let's look at some of the advantages pen names used to offer that no longer exist.
I Need a Pen Name for PRIVACY
Here's the thing. We are in The Digital Age. Privacy is an illusion. In fact, be too private and we fail to connect emotionally with others and thus the platform and brand never gain traction. Social media is social and being social requires a certain level of vulnerability and openness.
One of my bugaboos is when writers tell me they just want to write or they just want to sell books. They don't want to *shivers* talk to anyone. This is a personal choice. I can't require anyone to be sociable, but in a world where readers are being deluged with a gazillion choices, they are going to gravitate to who they know and who they like.
And, to be blunt, we are expecting people to part with money and precious time they don't have to read our books. It takes an average of 12-15 hours to read a novel. We are asking a lot of others. The very least we can do is talk to them and have a good attitude about it.
Being open and vulnerable doesn't mean we post our Social Security Number and the names of all our kids. It can be something as simple as, "Hey, I totally dig Star Wars" or "I like to crochet weapons of mass destruction."
But some writers don't want to do social media at all or they want to hide behind a pen name and only post "writerly things" or "BUY MY BOOK!" because, yeah, that is SUPER creative and we don't already get enough of that *rolls eyes*. They don't want to share anything personal and the pen name is there to help them gain emotional distance and keep their "lives separate."
The problem with this thinking is that, in The Digital Age, WE ARE THE BRAND.
Before The Digital Age, gatekeepers stemmed the number of books that came to market. Readers only could buy what they discovered browsing a bookstore. Now that there are millions of titles and more being added every day? Those habits and hobbies no one cared about in 1995 are what's going to help us cultivate our readership.
When we try to separate our personal persona from our writing persona, we create layers of friction and a lot of extra work for those trying to discover our books. This means we can inadvertently undermine our own success seeking the illusion of anonymity/privacy.
A lot of writers complain to me that they don't want to post things everyone else can see. Problem with that is it is TOO EASY to lose control of information posted on the Internet. Thus, my personal rule? If my mom can't see it, I don't post it.
I Need a Pen Name to HIDE
Erotica authors generally run into this problem. If what you write might cost you your job? Then yes, I agree a pen name is probably a good idea. It will be extra work, but y'all probably already knew that. What I DON'T like is often writers believe that just using another name is enough.
First, if you require a pen name for safety, security, etc. hire a pro. I recommend The Digital Dark Knight Jay Donovan at Tech Surgeons. Tell him I sent you and he will give you special rates. If we are just creating social sites under a made up name and thinking this keeps us "safe"? This is akin to locking the screen door to keep out serial killers.
If someone is motivated to find us, they can (unless you hire a pro like Jay).
You will probably have to look into the legal aspects of using another name and will likely require a DBA (Doing Business As) because, if you have any amount of success, you will need to be able to cash the check under another name, do taxes, etc.
It does me no good to use the pen name Fifi Fluffernutter because I want to hide that I write erotica, but then someone goes to buy a book and can only make out the check to Kristen Lamb😉 .
Also, I will say that having to hide an identity is very stressful. Sites like Facebook use facial recognition software for tagging photos and then those photos are searchable. All it takes is a friend carelessly posting a photo and tagging with the wrong name to implode a carefully crafted alter ego.
There are rumors that Google is wanting to acquire Twitter, meaning every tweet would be cached and searchable. As more social networks communicate across platforms and search engines become more ingrained and more advanced, hiding will get harder and harder.
I Need a Pen Name for Each Genre
NO! For the love of all that is chocolate, NO!
Remember, WE ARE THE BRAND. You guys come to my blog and trust I will work hard and deliver enjoyable content. This means when I have a book out, there is less work or thinking on your part. You know me, hopefully like me and you trust my work.
My name holds a lot of power because it promises to deliver content you enjoy. I write social media books, but I also…wait for it…write fiction.
Did anyone's reality just fracture?
People "get" we do more than one thing. In fact, those who like my blogs or social media books, might just decide to read my fiction simply because they already trust my non-fiction. With SO many choices out there, we find a writer we like and stick like glue. We don't want the hassle of trying and testing an unknown.
Readers don't only read one genre. In fact, I think that is probably fairly rare. When I look at my bookshelves, I have almost every genre. If nothing else, we will at least enjoy the kissing cousins. Suspense readers will also dip into thrillers or mysteries.
When we use a pen name for another genre, we are back at Ground Zero. We have to build another name without any help from the already existing platform. Right now, I'm finishing a sci-fi trilogy. When that sucker goes to market? I am NOT motivated enough to start ALL OVER. If my followers don't like science fiction? Don't buy it. Simple. But, there may be people who might just try a science fiction because it is written by me😉 .
It Doesn't Take Much to Implode an Identity
A couple days ago, I had an author whose agent recommended that he use a pen name for his new books that are General Fiction and not Christian Fiction. My argument is that many Christians do read outside of Christian Fiction and thus the pen name would cost him the following he already had for four other books.
He countered that they didn't want the haters who would be upset that this wasn't Christian Fiction and that these stories were grittier. But my problem is this.
It only takes ONE.
It only takes one troll putting two and two together to dismantle all that work to craft a new identity. Thus, he could potentially cost himself a LOT of readers who are smart enough to realize that General Fiction is NOT religious and who would have read the books anyway to make a small group of people happy (people who are likely never going to be happy anyway).
In the end, it is the author's decision and this might be a good case for a pen name, but note that it WILL be extra work with almost no support from the existing fan base structure.
Another writer was using a pen name because her family is less than supportive and they trolled her other sites when she tried to use her real name. Again, the problem is this. What if she becomes successful and crazy family member figures out the pen name and starts trolling the site? Eventually this writer will have to put down a boundary.
Troll my site one more time and you will die in a tragic blow-up doll accident in my next novel.
She is costing herself a TON of extra work to cater to a handful of bullies. She's losing all those close connections–schoolmates, college friends, colleagues, etc.—who actually will be her best word of mouth sales. I have people who didn't say three words to me in high school who are now avid fans because I'm the writer they KNOW.
I Need a Pen Name Because My Name is Too Hard to Pronounce or Spell
NO! That name no one has gotten right since you were a kid is now your digital BFF. If you don't believe me? Google Janet Evonnivich.
I see authors with AWESOME names for the Digital Age change it to something utterly forgettable. If your name is Skjolsvik, I don't have to know how to pronounce it, I just have to be able to recognize it in a lineup. Also, all I have to remember is it starts with Skj—. Search engines will correct me if I goof it.
I Need a Pen Name Because There is Another Person With My Name
Again, search engines can help with this. Do y'all really think I am the ONLY Kristen Lamb? When I decided to set aside fiction to become the social media expert for writers, I began by googling my name. There was another Kristen Lamb who happens to be a media mogul. I called her and told her, "There could be only one."
She thought I was kidding😀 .
Actually, I DID call and I DID say that because I'm a nut, but she IS a Kristen Lamb and ergo super fun and cool and we actually talked for about an hour.
But by producing a LOT of content and properly tagging that content, I now dominate the search for my name. And, even if I didn't? If someone knows they are searching my name for social media and they get Kristen Lamb the Cake Decorator, all they have to do is add the words "social media" to narrow the search.
I Need a Pen Name Because Using My Name is Pretentious
I hear new writers say this a lot. Why would anyone care what I have to say? They don't. When I was new, they didn't care what I had to say, either. Being a writer is fundamentally pretentious and even narcissistic. We have to believe we have something to say that is worth not only reading, but PAYING to read.
Just own it.
And if we pan back, this entire argument is more than a tad ridiculous. So no one would care what Kristen Lamb has to say, but they WILL care what Kristen Lamb writing as an imaginary person and figment of my own imagination has to say? And that isn't pretentious?
It is YOUR Decision
In the end, all I can do is give you branding and social media advice. Multiple names and pen names are a lot of work that is very often unnecessary. I see writers do this same thing with multiple blogs.
I blog about writing but I also blog movie reviews and funny anecdotes. What if my followers who like my writing posts don't like kitten stories?
Um, they don't read your post that day?
I write thrillers, but I also write cozy romance. What if my readers don't like cozy romance?
Um, they don't buy them?
If you require a pen name for safety issues, legal issues or even because it could endanger your job? TALK TO JAY. The rest of us? Our time is better spent writing more books😉 .
What are your thoughts? Questions? Experiences? Do you have a pen name and love it? How do you manage that pen name without going cray-cray? Did you start out with a pen name and now you regret it? Do you have multiple names you now need to merge? I can actually blog about ways to do that another time.
I love hearing from you!
To prove it and show my love, for the month of APRIL, everyone who leaves a comment I will put your name in a hat. If you comment and link back to my blog on your blog, you get your name in the hat twice. What do you win? The unvarnished truth from yours truly. I will pick a winner once a month and it will be a critique of the first 20 pages of your novel, or your query letter, or your synopsis (5 pages or less).
Also, for more help on how to use characters to ratchet anxiety to the nerve-shreding level, I am offering my Understanding the Antagonist Class on April 18th and YES, it is recorded in case you miss or need to listen again because this class is jammed with information.
I LOVE teaching this simply because our antagonists are pivotal for writing a story (series) readers can't put down. Yet, too often we fail to harness characters for max effect. I look forward to seeing you there! I also offer the Gold level for one-on-one. Maybe you've hit a dead end. Your story is so confusing you need a GPS and a team of sherpas to find the original idea. Instead of wasting time with misguided revisions, I can help you triage your WIP and WHIP it into fighting form😀 .
For those who need help building a platform and keeping it SIMPLE, pick up a copy of my latest social media/branding book Rise of the Machines—Human Authors in a Digital World on AMAZON, iBooks, or Nook.
building a platform that sells more books, Kristen Lamb, maintaining privacy on-line, nom de plume, pen names, reasons to have a pen name, Rise of the Machines Human Authors in a Digital World, social media for writers, social media platform for authors, when should writers use a pen name, writers and social media
Selling & Social Media–DON'T Be a Personal Space Invader
Posted by Author Kristen Lamb in Social Media Platform, Writing on April 2, 2015
We writers are kinda weird…okay, a LOT weird. We can drift to extremes if we aren't vigilant. Either we are the non-stop All-Writing-All-The-Time Channel or we're afraid to mention we have ever read let alone written a book lest we offend anyone. I get it. I struggle, too. We are artists and "selling" feels…ookey.
Yes, ookey is a word.
Marketing feels especially weird in The Digital Age. But why? Also, why is the ROI (Return on Investment) so dismal with traditional marketing tactics? Facebook ads are a notorious waste of money and I doubt the guy who programmed his Twitter to mention his new book five times an hour has seen a massive uptick in sales.
Perhaps death threats, but not sales😀 .
I feel that, as we shift from the TV-Industrial complex of the past century and into the Digital Age, we are becoming more of a global village. Information no longer runs one direction, from sender to receiver.
Because the medium has changed. The medium always affects communication, and a lot of well-intended advice fails to account for this shift.
We Heard It the First 20 Times
As much as I rail against it, we still see the relentless book spam. Yet, we are wise to appreciate that as the communication mediums changed, society, culture and values shifted as well.
For instance, we never had America + Television. Once television became a part of our everyday life, America was different. It could not go back to the way it was before television. The change was like a chemical change, a cake that could not be un-baked. The culture changed. Our habits, language, expectations and definitions of "truth" all shifted.
Same with social media.
In the traditional paradigm, "air space" cost money. To put out an ad, a commercial spot on television or even an ad on radio cost money. Even printing off flyers and paying someone to stuff paper under windshield wipers cost money. This "cost barrier" was a sort of gatekeeper that naturally decreased the number of people who would be "advertising" their products.
Then came the Internet and social media.
Now it is FREE! for everyone to talk about goods and services non-stop. The sheer volume of people all pitching their services renders them invisible at best and highly annoying at worst. There is a lot about the new publishing world that I love, but it also has created some serious problems.
How I feel checking e-mail. Remember when we LIKED getting e-mail?
Now that everyone can be published, we are inundated with constant pitching to buy books or download free books or read reviews for books. We can't escape it.
Posting multiple times a day about our book for sale is like us going to a cocktail party and opening a card table to take book orders. The medium has changed and so have the rules.
Yes, it is important to let people know we have a book to offer, but how we do that has changed.
In the TV-Industrial complex, people merely received information. There was no dialogue, so no social rules applied. We didn't take offense when we saw a commercial on TV…but the TV wasn't our "friend." We were strictly grounded in market norms. Market norms govern commerce. We pay the price on the sticker. We use coupons. Market norms are not personal.
Yet, social media seeks to harness social norms. Social norms are governed by relationships. They are more nebulous and emotionally driven.
I open the door for you and it's implied I don't expect a tip.
Where social media gets sticky is that yes, we can get the benefit of social norms. For instance, many people who know and like me from social media might choose to read my book above others even though it isn't normally a genre they'd read. Yet, we must be careful mixing marketing norms with social norms or people feel used and manipulated.
Thanks for being my friend! Here is a link to my fan page and a free book! Please leave a good review, since we are friends *wink, wink*
Yeah, not creepy AT ALL.
Language Matters
In the Golden Age of TV and Advertising, we accepted that commercials were just part of having entertainment on television. We didn't "own" any of that airspace, so we willingly acquiesced. Social media changed this dynamic, and, for the first time in human history, the Internet gave us virtual territory.
Tom Anderson was highly intuitive when he called his new social network (2003) MYSPACE. Humans are territorial. Our Facebook wall is literally OUR WALL. When strangers post ads in "our space" it is irritating and personal.
Don't be a personal space invader.
We cannot get the benefits of social norms unless we respect social norms. On social media, we use terms like "friend" and "Likes." To humans, these words have meaning, whether we consciously acknowledge this or not. When I "befriend" someone on Twitter and they immediately DM me with a spammy message to buy their book? I am offended.
Because social norms regulate social media.
Social norms don't mean we are against buying stuff from "friends," but it does mean we are part of a social dance that we should respect. For instance, how many of you have kids? How many of you have had your kids come home with boxes of candy to sell for school? Who did you go to first to offload overpriced crappy candy? Family. Then friends. Then probably some coworkers.
Because no one wants to go door-to-door selling anything, let alone $4 stale candy bars.
But see how the social norms guided who you would ask, and in what order, and even how you would ask for a sale? Many of those closer relationships are happy to buy overpriced candy, but only because they know you.
Let's look at this scenario instead.
What if I complimented a woman in the grocery store, then got her chatting about the items in her basket and what she was cooking for dinner? At first she is hesitant but as we chat she lets down her guard and talks about her cat Muffin, and how she likes to bake cookies for the church.
And just about the time she is comfortable talking to me, I ask, "Wow, if your church likes cookies, they would LOVE chocolate bars. Would you like to buy some candy?"
I bet she couldn't get to
her wallet the door fast enough.
What To Do?
All right. Some of you might be panicking a little right now. But Kristen, how can we ever sell our book if we can't TALK about it? I never said we couldn't talk about our books. I said we had to adjust our approach. Sure, tweet about your book but don't feel the need to camp on top of it ;) .
It should be clear to anyone looking at our interaction history that we are on social media primarily for the purpose of being social, NOT using Twitter of Facebook as free ad space.
We just need to apply the Golden Rule here.
Don't just blast out a bunch of links all day. Are you lacking for stuff to read? I know I'm not. How many of you woke up this morning and said, "Gee, you know what I need? MORE information. I don't have enough. In fact, I have far too much free time I need to fill. I hope I get some more e-mail."
Most people are on social media because humans are wired to be social. We are looking for connections, not another news feed with commercial breaks. If we wanted that, we'd just watch TV. I joke that social media was invented to fill a need. Many of us were seriously ticked off that Show-and-Tell was canceled after Kindergarden.
We've never gotten over the hurt.
We like Show-and-Tell. We love participating and we love watching and sharing in return. Hey, check it out! I baked a CAKE! Look at my new BIKE! I taught myself how to make a TREBUCHET!
Strangely enough, we haven't changed much since childhood. Making friends is easier over something nonthreatening like a pic of our cat who has shredded the new ten-pack of toilet paper. People can relate. It generates the foundation of all relationships…a conversation.
Meet my fur-baby, Odin the Ridiculously Handsome Cat (who, upon popular demand, got his own fan page)….
I've even memed him:
Y'all get the idea. But see how a random picture of my cat, became fun for ALL? A regular pic of my cat taking a nap transformed into something interactive. Suddenly, people who might never have before spoken to me were coming up with captions for Odin the Ridiculously Handsome Cat. Thanks Diedre Dykes!
This has nothing directly to do with selling a social media book, but it IS fun and it IS memorable and it IS the kind of content people love to contribute to and then share. These actions add up over time to create what we call "BRAND."
Interruption Marketing DOESN'T Work
When was the last time a writer tweeted several times a day about her book and that prompted you to drop everything and go buy? When was the last time you clicked on a Facebook ad to buy something?
One of the reasons I encourage writers to blog is that a blog is very useful for passive selling. Every one of you who follow this blog know I have a book for sale (and even teach classes) even though I have never tweeted about them and never posted about them on Facebook.
How is this?
I serve first with a blog and then, at the end of my post, I mention my books or any W.A.N.A. International classes that might be of interest. So I am promoting my books and classes, thousands of times a day…but I am not doing so intrusively.
Most of you are not offended that I mention my books (I hope), namely because I gave freely, and thus reciprocation on your part feels natural. You don't feel like I am ramming book ads down your throat.
No one likes a personal space invader.
My attitude is that some of you will read, click and even buy, but those not interested can simply quit reading at the end of the blog post. You might not buy one of my books today, but you know about them. So when the day comes that you decide you need to blog, hopefully my book will be in your mental databanks.
Since you have come to my corner of cyberspace it doesn't feel invasive when I mention my books and classes, because I mention them in MY space, not YOURS. Also, like the picture of my cat, my blogs are interactive. I tell my thoughts, then look forward to yours. I am super blessed that my comments are a vibrant and interesting community.
See how the experience now no longer only flows one direction? Content-recievers are now content-contributors and social media is far more fun because we are all engaged.
What are your social media pet peeves? Do you see red when people post ads on your walls? Or does it not bother you? Do you buy books from people who promote a lot on Twitter? Or do you not see the tweets? Do they irritate you or make you unfollow? What are some of the areas where you see the most personal space invasion?
Do you have any ideas for future installments of Odin the Ridiculously Handsome Cat?
I love hearing from you!
To prove it and show my love, for the month of APRIL, everyone who leaves a comment I will put your name in a hat. If you comment and link back to my blog on your blog, you get your name in the hat twice. What do you win? The unvarnished truth from yours truly. I will pick a winner once a month and it will be a critique of the first 20 pages of your novel, or your query letter, or your synopsis (5 pages or less).
***Note: I have been out of town and need time to calculate March's winner, so will announce that NEXT BLOG POST.
Also, for more help on how to use characters to ratchet anxiety to the nerve-shreding level, I am finally back teaching and offering my Understanding the Antagonist Class on April 18th and YES, it is recorded in case you miss or need to listen again because this class is jammed with information.
I LOVE teaching this simply because our antagonists are pivotal for writing a story (series) readers can't put down. Yet, too often we fail to harness characters for max effect. I look forward to seeing you there! I also offer the Gold level for one-on-one. Maybe you've hit a dead end. Your story is so confusing you need a GPS and a team of sherpas to find the original idea. Instead of wasting time with misguided revisions, I can help you triage your WIP and WHIP it into fighting form😀 .
For those who need help building a platform and keeping it SIMPLE, pick up a copy of my latest social media/branding book Rise of the Machines—Human Authors in a Digital World on AMAZON, iBooks, or Nook.
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Three NEVERS of Social Media for Writers
Posted by Author Kristen Lamb in Social Media Platform on February 11, 2015
These three professional blunders can hang on like the smell of dead fish and stink up our author career, so avoid them at all cost. I understand that many of you who follow this blog are new, so if you've made one of these mistakes, you're learning. We all oops (especially in the beginning), so don't sweat it. Yet, I see these three behaviors far more often than I'd like.
You've been warned😉.
NEVER Be Nasty in a Blog Comment
I am fully aware that my blog can't make everyone happy. I work my tail off to entertain and enlighten but I know I can't be all things to all people. If I'm not your cup of tea? Just click the unsubscribe button at the bottom of the e-mail WordPress sends you or e-mail me and I will happily assist you leaving (and cry later *sniffles*).
There is no need for this:
The irony was 1) I didn't even write this particular post. It was a guest post and an excellent one at that 2) It wasn't negative at all. It just wasn't coated in glitter and fluff. Professionals don't have a lot of time and shouldn't need to be handled with kid gloves and 3) Was it really necessary? I's written over 600 posts at the time, and one wasn't her cup of tea? So we just carpet bomb?
I once wrote a humor post about my many failed attempts to join the military. It was a humor post. It was posted for Memorial Day and to honor those willing to sacrifice for the very freedom this person liberally uses…
Oh, and a warning. Trolls will bait you with the, "You will censor my right to free speech" to get you to approve a nasty comment. But they forget we actually don't have universal 1st Amendment Rights or we'd be able to yell "FIRE!" in a movie theater or stand and scream profanities and threats in the middle of an Applebee's without being arrested. Don't fall for it. Your TRASH function is there for reason.
Also, blogs count as a benevolent dictatorship.
And my personal favorite?
See, the thing is, if you want to tell a blogger she has the brain of a retarded chimp, that she's a loser-poseur fake, don't do it in the blog comments (or at all, for that matter). AGAIN, the comment is there forever, complete with the commenter's name and face.
Oh, and it's spelled "expertise" by the way😉 .
Most of the time, when I get nasty comments like these I just send them to the trash. They aren't heathy for the comment community and everyone has a bad day, which is why I didn't include the gravatars or names of these nice people. But, remember, not all bloggers will be nice.
I have the right to be wrong and y'all have the right to un-sunbcribe, never buy one of my books and tell all your friends that oatmeal is smarter than I am. I get that I can't please everyone, but there is a way to disagree and remain polite, respectful and professional. There's no need for ad hominem attacks.
If someone writes a blog you don't like? Fine. But keep in mind that this person worked hard and for free to offer you something of value. All they ask in return is for some common human decency.
People have long memories regarding those who are needlessly cruel. And sure, a blogger might be a new, unpublished nobody. Doesn't mean he or she'll remain that way. We never know who we might need one day, and burning bridges is a bad long-term plan.
If you do goof and hurt a blogger, just e-mail them and apologize or apologize in the comments. A lot of bloggers (I'd like to believe) are reasonable. Own the mistake and ask for gratis.
Never Be Nasty on Twitter
Twitter is a wonderful tool, namely because it can help us go viral. Yet, that's precisely why we must handle it with care. It can go VIRAL. A random woman on Twitter tweeted a nasty remark about rapper Ice-T's wife and millions of fans pounced.
This woman had to delete her account and practically go into witness protection. I am certain she didn't think it was a big deal at the time, but it shows that tweets should be handled with care.
Sure, we can delete tweets, but often by the time we realize we need to delete one…it's already too late. Twitter goes quickly, so it can get out of hand quickly.
Never Write Bad Book Reviews
This doesn't apply to book bloggers and book reviewers. That's your job and we love that you give us guidance on what to read. But, as authors? I believe in what Candace Havens calls Writer Karma.
If I can't give a book a great review? I just don't review it. Again, publishing is a small world and we all need each other. The world is already out to throw us under a bus. We need each other to keep from turning into cutters.
***And yes, I KNOW "experts" tell writers to blog book reviews, but that's a BIG, HUGE, MASSIVE no-no in my book. First because writing reviews is a HUGE time-suck. Average of twelve hours to read a book then time to craft a review. Even if you posted once a week, that is 36-40 HOURS per month we could have spent on the novel. Second, book reviews will never go viral, EVER. And thirdly? Reviewing books muddies and undermines the author brand.
If a writer really bungled and you just cannot remain quiet? Send him or her an e-mail outlining the problems and maybe suggestions how to do better with the next book. This way correction is private and we aren't publicly and permanently humiliating a peer.
Some writers might not respond well, but I know I've gotten e-mails that actually were really helpful. Readers who spotted typos or formatting errors that could be corrected. The idiot stuff? I just ignore, but I do appreciate that it was handled privately.
If you goofed on this and now feel badly, remove the review. In the future, focus on reviewing what you love.
Our BRAND is AUTHOR, not "book reviewer." My opinion is we can't do both.
Book reviewers have to be forthright to be taken seriously. This means some books will get shredded. This can undermine how our fellow writers feel about working with us as authors.
"Hey, I publicly shredded your first novel with a two-star but thoughtful review. I have a new book coming out. Can I guest post on your blog?"
"SURE! Just as soon as you send me a lock of your hair to complete that voodoo doll I crafted in your likeness."
I have a post that delves deeper into this conflict of interests HERE. Remember, we can be Siskel & Ebert or Steven Spielberg. Tough trick to be both.
We Are Human
I'd love to tell you I've never made a mistake, that I am the shining example to all, but I've had bad days too. I've screwed up and had to apologize. Just own it and say you're sorry.
We all need grace, let's just try not to make a habit of needing it too often. We're wise to remember there's a human on the other side of that screen. The digital world is wonderful, but it takes work (and sometimes holding our
tongue fingertips) to keep it a positive experience.
Have you ever had someone shred you publicly on your blog? On social media? How did you handle it? Did you cry? I used to. Have toughened up. Do you delete the comment or leave it up so everyone will know they're a jerk and steer clear? When you see comments on a blog that are rude and in bad taste, what do you do? Do you make note of the name? Defend the blogger?
I love hearing from you!
To prove it and show my love, for the month of FEBRUARY, everyone who leaves a comment I will put your name in a hat. If you comment and link back to my blog on your blog, you get your name in the hat twice. What do you win? The unvarnished truth from yours truly. I will pick a winner once a month and it will be a critique of the first 20 pages of your novel, or your query letter, or your synopsis (5 pages or less).
For those who need help building a platform and keeping it SIMPLE, pick up a copy of my latest social media/branding book Rise of the Machines—Human Authors in a Digital World on AMAZON, iBooks, or Nook.
acting professionally on-line, branding, can authors write book reviews, Kristen Lamb, platforms for authors, professional courtesy, Social media for authors, social media for writers, W.A.N.A., We Are Not alone, writers giving book reviews
Social Media is a Waste of Time for Writers—Hmmm, Think Again
Posted by Author Kristen Lamb in Social Media Platform on January 20, 2015
We've been talking a lot about social media lately and I am always grateful for your comments and thoughts. This kind of feedback not only helps me improve my blog, but my also books, because I get a glimpse of your worries, weaknesses, fears, loves, and strengths.
As a teacher/mentor/expert, it's my job to address those fears and put you at ease or reinforce when you're headed the right direction and give you tools and tips to take what you're doing to another level.
There've been some comments that have piqued my attention lately. Namely this notion to give up on social media completely to write more books (out of vexation for the medium and the task).
Social Media is a TOTAL Waste of Time
Write more books instead of tweeting or blogging. Social media is a giant time-suck better spent writing great books.
I don't know how to answer this besides, Er? *screeching breaks* Personally, I can think of no larger waste of time than researching and reading and spending countless hours crafting a wonderful book of 60,000-110,000 words and then?
No one knows the book exists so few people ever read it, enjoy it or are changed by the author's story.
It's like spending six months to a year on an oil painting to hang it in an attic.
These days, any agent worth their salt will not sign an author who doesn't have a social media brand and presence. Rarely, they will take a book from an author who doesn't…but usually it will come with the requirement the author get on-line and get to work.
I ADORE Dawn Frederick at Red Sofa Literary and once shared a panel with her. She told the story of a book she LOVED and took even though the author wasn't on social media. She was so impressed with the book she signed the author but told her she needed to get on social media and start building a platform.
After six months, the author refused. Dawn gave an ultimatum. Get your tail on social media or we drop the book and cancel the contract.
It used to be that an author who wanted to completely avoid social media went traditional. Well, traditional publishing has now seen the value of social media and almost all of them require it. They require it even if they allot budgeting for marketing. Why? Because social media helps them gain a FAR greater ROI on the marketing dollars spent.
I'll give an example. I once read a traditionally published craft book that changed my life. At the time, my platform had grown fairly large and I've worked very hard to create a solid reputation for recommending only the best resources. I tried to contact the author not only to promote the book, but to get this author to present our conference (which sells A LOT of books).
The web site was an outdated clumsy mess and the contact e-mail at the bottom was no longer any good. The author wasn't on FB or Twitter and I think I finally located this writer—of all places—on LinkedIn. Four months later the author replied, but by then the window of opportunity had closed.
I was…vexed.
Additionally, since I'd had such a bear of a time connecting to the author, I wasn't going to recommend this tedious experience to others.
Publishers have since recognized this problem and they want to remove as much friction from a potential sale as possible. Their goal is not only to sell a book but to captivate and cultivate a FAN who will buy that book, the next and the next. This is simply smart business.
Though I'm not a huge fan of ads, it makes sense that if a publisher (traditional or indie) is going to pay good money to create and launch one, that anyone interested should be able to easily connect with the author. Same with coveted AP reviews, interviews, or events. Even if we self-publish and pay for promotion, an existing platform will make the most of that investment.
A LOT of any sales is the follow up then the follow-through.
If social media is new, scary, overwhelming? Welcome to being NEW. Most of us start like this…
Social Media is for the CONSUMER
I come from a background in sales. Cardboard. Not glamourous but everyone uses it. Being the cheapest or mailing out flyers or calling non-stop was not what sold my product over other choices.
And trust me, we had BEAUTIFUL ads. I also had competition offering a far cheaper product. They also had products virtually IDENTICAL to ours. But ads and price and even selection weren't the major driving factor in sales.
Rather, it was the customer's ability to quickly and easily connect with ME.
Maybe the company didn't need corner board the day they met me. But then, that purchaser I'd spoken to in the spring signed a contract with a client in the autumn who wanted to ship truckloads of water heaters STAT. Water heaters that needed protection during shipping.
Because that purchaser had my personal cell number (back in the days when most salespeople didn't have one and I paid for my OWN), guess who closed the sale?
Most salespeople didn't want to pay out of pocket for a cell phone. They liked the old ways, the way business had always been done. Call the office. Leave a message with the receptionist, and then they'd return the call when they got back in off the road (which could be DAYS).
Even if the salesperson got the message once they checked into their hotels, it would be late in the evening. The earliest a customer could get an answer would be the next day.
Me? They talked to the minute the idea flitted across their brains (or within the hour if I was in a meeting).
It cost me $400 a month of my own money to have a cell phone with enough minutes. Back then, 2000 minutes a month was the max one could buy in a package, but I had a nine-state territory and also all of northern Mexico and believed it was a wise investment.
Work smarter, not harder….
I put out my own effort and money to make it easier for a customer to find and connect with me instantly. I didn't have to. But it sure made that $2.5 million a year quota a lot easier to meet. Of ALL the cardboard reps vying for the SAME SALE, I was the one who was Johnny on the Spot to solve a problem. I was the one they could dial and get an almost-instant response and solution.
Though cardboard and novels are different products, that tether of personal connection is powerful.
A large number of agents, especially those at the prestigious agencies, will not even consider a query if they can't google our name and see we've been working to at least connect and begin cultivating a community that can become readers.
But now many authors are going indie or self-publishing. Indie houses I can guarantee will likely ignore anyone who doesn't want to be on social media. Those who self-publish? WE ARE THE PUBLISHER. What responsible publisher with a hint of business acumen ignores any kind of interaction and follow-up with potential customers (readers)?
It reminds me of the cardboard salesmen who didn't want a cell phone. They'd missed the point that their job was to serve the customer's schedule and needs, not the other way around.
Golf is NOT Golf and Dinner is NOT Dinner
Hubby and I had an interesting debate a few days ago. He kinda turned his nose up about wining and dining and entertaining clients (we have two small businesses). But Hubby has spent most of his professional life as a procurement person and is a long-lost cousin of Mr. Spock.
But then I explained that those off-site relaxed endeavors were actually investments in relationships and even friendships. When I took customers to lunch, I never talked business. I wanted to know (genuinely) about their wives, kids, or hobbies and let them have some fun talking about the things they enjoyed. It was personal.
It's far more important to be interested than interesting.
When I would call to follow up, I asked about how their son's Little League game went or how the wife was and simply told them I'd be in the area during a certain time. Never asked for money or talked about cardboard.
I also never chastised them or was hurt if they bought from another source. I'd say, "Well, that was a smart business decision. Can't blame you for being prudent. Just hope I am there to help you next time. You know how to reach me."
Over time, because of the relaxed atmosphere, I found that customers gravitated to calling me because they knew me, could reach me, and rather enjoyed not being pitched to non-stop. They'd even pay more.
What was really cool was that certain customers eventually refused to deal with any other company but ours, no matter how cheap the competitor's price. They would even recommend me (and my product) to other companies, because I ignored the ABCs (Always BE Closing) and trusted the power of relationships and consistency.
The same can be said for social media. Blasting spam and bargains and free stuff might work for a while and on a few people, but it doesn't generate the long-term loyalty money can't buy.
Sure, back in my cardboard days, it cost me time and money and effort. My hard work rarely paid off immediately and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't harshly criticized.
But, eventually, when customers had to choose between going to lunch with someone who jammed flyers and price lists in their faces, who never shut up talking about themselves and who insisted on a signature on the dotted line by the time the check came?
Versus me?
I was far less exhausting and annoying to deal with.
Social Media is NOT a Sales Pitch
Social media is like all those lunches or quick, relaxing trips to a driving range to just unwind and chat and become friends. People should know we have a book, just like all my cardboard customers had a fancy folder filled with all our products and a sample box.
But the product wasn't my focus, people were.
To refuse to do social media would have been akin to me never traveling and sitting by the phone in my office hoping it would ring. That our cardboard would sell itself. I imagine I wouldn't have lasted long.
To misuse social media is a formula for a customer (reader) to gravitate some place they don't feel like prey. Social media used properly doesn't take much time to do, but it will take time to grow roots.
Just like it only took five minutes for me to call a buyer, ask how his kids were and let him know I'd be in the area and ask if he and his receptionist would care to join me for a bite to eat. But, though it took minutes to make the invitation, it took months of care and authentic follow-up to build a foundation of trust that created a loyal customer.
Direct Sales is Almost Universally ANNOYING
How many of you have gone to having a cell phone because the only people who called the landline were selling something? How many times have any of you said, "Sure, I'll pay for that cruise right now" after getting a random phone call. Or, "Yes, sign my up for that credit protection plan. TAKE MY MONEY!"
How many times have you found a flyer on your windshield or front door and immediately called for that product or service? Or answered the spam in your e-mail with credit card in hand?
Think of this when using social media😉 . Relax, have fun and trust this is a process and a really fun one with the right attitude.
I LOVE hearing from you!
To prove it and show my love, for the month of JANUARY, everyone who leaves a comment I will put your name in a hat. If you comment and link back to my blog on your blog, you get your name in the hat twice. What do you win? The unvarnished truth from yours truly. I will pick a winner once a month and it will be a critique of the first 20 pages of your novel, or your query letter, or your synopsis (5 pages or less).
For those who need help building a platform and keeping it SIMPLE, pick up a copy of my latest social media/branding book Rise of the Machines—Human Authors in a Digital World on AMAZON, iBooks, or Nook.
author brand, author platform, book marketing and promotion, does social media sell books, how to sell more books, Kristen Lamb, Rise of the Machines Human Authors in a Digital World, sales, social media, spamming, Twitter, WANA, We Are Not alone
Marketing, Social Media & Book Signings—Why NONE of These Directly Impact Book Sales
Posted by Author Kristen Lamb in Social Media Platform on January 16, 2015
In The Digital Age, we seem to find a lot of extremes. Either articles or blogs ranting how social media doesn't sell books, it's too hard, there are too many rules, whiiiiiiinnnnne. These folks might write books, maybe even great books, but I suppose they think readers will find them using telepathy.
Or, there are those who worship the Oracle of Automation and the Lord of Algorithms. Instead of writing MORE BOOKS, they tweet, FB, Instagram, buy flare, do blog tours, futz with the website, the cover, the algorithms…and then can later be witnessed crying in a corner with a pan of brownies and a half-finished bottle of rum.
Thus, I am here to bring some balance to The Force.
Social Media Was NEVER About Selling Books Directly—Who KNEW?
I've been saying this for about ten years, because the idea of using social circles for sales is NOT new. About ten years ago, I recognized that social media would soon be a vital tool for writers to be able to create a brand and a platform before the book was even finished. This would shift the power away from sole control of Big Publishing and give writers more freedom. But, I knew social media could not be used for direct sales successfully.
When I was in college, every multi-level-marketing company in the known world tried to recruit me. I delivered papers and worked nights most of my college career. Needless to say, I was always on the lookout for a more flexible job that didn't require lugging fifty pounds of paper up and down three flights of apartment stairs at four in the morning.
I'd answer Want Ads in the paper thinking I was being interviewed for a good-paying job where I could make my own hours. Inevitably it would be some MLM company selling water filters, diet pills, vitamins, prepaid legal services, or soap.
And if I sat through the presentation, they fed me. This meant I sat through most of them.
What always creeped me out was how these types of companies did business. First, "target" family and friends to buy said product (and hopefully either sign them up to sell with you or at least "spread the word" and give business referrals). Hmmmm. Sound familiar?
The business model wasn't really about meeting people, connecting and actually liking them just because they were good people. There was an endgame…SELL STUFF (or manipulate others into helping you sell stuff).
Hey, you go to the gym anyway. Strike up a conversation. Say nice things, then give the
sucker friend target a FREE SAMPLE. People who work out need vitamins. That isn't ookey AT ALL!
The Battle of the Experts
I recall being part of a panel in NYC at Thrillerfest and the other experts were all excited about applications that could tweet for authors "saving time" or even certain tools that could measure what days and times Twitter was most active and when people would be most likely to see our tweets. All I could think was:
1) Are these people tweeting or ovulating?
2) If everyone uses this same tool, then all they will do is crowd the feed and no one will see anything. Left long enough, these "Golden Hours" will shift so people can avoid the barrage of ME, ME, ME! MY BOOK!
The panel's moderator (ironically) worked for the CIA and was tickled silly that there were all kinds of algorithms that could "predict human behaviors." Of course, I made myself WAY popular when I said, "The only way to accurately predict human behavior is if we all have a chip in our heads and someone else has a joystick."
Yes, I can be blunt. My mom is from New York. I blame it on her.
My assertion was that, if this was true, and we could accurately predict human behavior, then we wouldn't be worrying about crime, war or terrorism and that these algorithms were a mirage that gave a false sense of us "being in control" of the uncontrollable.
Also, how would she still have a job at the CIA?
Oooh, But We Can MEASURE…um, NO
In the 90s and early 21st century most people weren't on-line. Computers were still cost-prohibitive and Internet service was mind-bendingly slow (dial-up?) and expensive. Social media was in its infancy and only early adopters trusted buying on-line.
Companies could launch ads and measure click-throughs. How long did a visitor stay on a web site's page? Did the visitor click the ad on the page? Did that ad then translate into a sale? Companies still do this. I'm pretty sure authors can do this, but why would we want to?
Unlike Sephora, Gap or Walmart, most of us are a one-person operation. We don't have a team of interns to do this stuff. We also don't have a multi-million dollar corporate budget.
What IF an ad doesn't work? How many of us have time and extra money to launch a new ad?
Also, there are SO many variables beyond our control. I've seen this with blogging. A holiday, time of year (kids getting out of school), a major world news event (like Paris being attacked by terrorist cells) can all affect traffic and click-throughs. To try and study our stats and juke them for advantage is a lot of time better used elsewhere (like writing more books).
Relationships are Key
Social media is social, meaning it's about relationships. This means, 1) it will take time to build and 2) it cannot be outsourced 3) it cannot be automated.
Can you imagine trying to maintain relationships this way in the real world? Give your husband a call-in number:
For the location of clean socks, press 1. For a word of encouragement, press 2. For the item I need you to pick up from the store, press 3. For the real reason I haven't talked to you since yesterday, please stay on the line and an operator will be with you shortly.
Your estimated call wait time is three days.
HINT: Anniversary.
Social media and author brands will sell books, just not directly and not in ways that can be measured looking at clicks and stats. Social media is essentially word-of-mouth which has been selling
stuff books for centuries and no one can measure it.
The Bottom Line
Since I don't have all the articles and blogs griping about social media, I am limited here. But I imagine that, aside from telling writers social media was a waste of time that doesn't sell books, I assume not one of these complainers offered up some panacea replace social media.
See, it is a hell of a lot easier to complain than to offer a solution. Griping takes ZERO brainpower.
So, if social media doesn't sell books, then what does? Ads don't. Never have. Promotions (without an extant and vested platform) are time-consuming, expensive and have a dismal ROI (Return on Investment).
Also, if social media is so grossly ineffective, what explanation do we have for the MASSIVE power shift from BIG NYC publishing to indie and self-published authors now 1) making a reasonable second income 2) making a decent enough living to finally write full-time 3) nontraditional authors taking up an increasing portion of major bestseller lists like the New York Times and USA Today and 4) the major inflation of fiction writers now making six and seven figures?
All the ones I know of (and there are MANY) use social media to some extent. All of these authors would never have gained visibility, traction or sales without social media.How can we explain these trends without including social media as a variable?
Notice I said social media as a variable. There is NO magic formula. Hard work, more books, good books and generating word of mouth (in part with a brand and on-line platform) is fundamental. Social media has been mistakenly touted as a formula to wealth and riches, but it isn't. Neither is buying real estate using a proven program from an infomercial.
The Future
Bookstores are closing. Barnes & Noble is evaporating. Indie stores are making a comeback, but they have limited space (and need to unless they want to go bankrupt like the megastores that tried to KILL them). THIS is the future of book sales. THIS is in the cosmetics section of my grocery store. Insert a debit card and get a sample before you buy…
Oh, and these are popping up…
These kiosks sound familiar. Reminds me of one of my posts from over three years ago. I wrote a lot of other blogs that said basically the same stuff, posts that are even older. But I've written over 800 blogs and I'm lazy and have to get back to writing books. And I am not alone in seeing this trend. I'm no great genius. Other people saw this coming.
Um, clearly since I can't claim I invented any of these machines. Ok, I could, but I try to restrict lying to my fiction.
But, if THESE kiosks are down the pipeline, how can we reasonably come to the conclusion that social media is a total waste of time?
Relying totally on social media is a waste of time, but I've been saying that for years. As authors, we are wise to think in terms of our careers. Think like a business, as in short-term and long-term. Platforms and careers need a wide base, deep roots, a community of support, time and a heck of a lot of sweat equity.
Also, there are effective ways to do social media and ways that make others want to stab us in the face (which was why I wrote Rise of the Machines—Human Authors in a Digital World).W.A.N.A. ways WORK. They're responsible for selling millions of books. But they take time.
ROM has a simple step-by-step plan. Heck, don't buy my book. Browse my blogs for free. I only care about your success.
The Future IS Bright for Writers
The future for authors is wonderful, but there is no Social Media Shake Weight. Sorry. I was bummed, too. But here's the thing. The same articles/blogs that will discourage writers from social media because it doesn't sell books aren't also demanding we halt all book signings.
Book signings are fun, they are social, and they've historically been a way to connect authors to an audience in a personal way.
Until social media they were the only way.
But book signings were NEVER meant as a sole means to sell books. In fact, it was really never even the purpose of a signing. Rather it was connection with the author as a person.
Even if a writer has a line out the door, the most even a mega-author might sell is a thousand books. Let's be generous. FIVE thousand books. A drop in the bucket if you're Dan Brown. Is selling 5,000 books relevant when an author sells millions? When an author has to board a plane, stay in a hotel, sit in one spot signing for hours or even come up with a speech? And travel city to city to city for a month or more instead of writing?
Food for thought😉 .
We live in a wonderful time to be a writer. Yes, it's work, but there are a lot of reasons why this job isn't for everyone. Success in anything is about staying power, passion, and effective action (solid social media, building relationships, and writing MORE books and GOOD books).
What are your thoughts? Are too many authors banking too much on social media? Do you feel social media has been sold to writers as a get-rich-quick-scheme? Do you see other authors approaching social media in a way you know is going to burn them out? Do you know of any nontraditional authors who sold zillions of books yet didn't use social media at all? What did they do?
I LOVE hearing from you!
To prove it and show my love, for the month of JANUARY, everyone who leaves a comment I will put your name in a hat. If you comment and link back to my blog on your blog, you get your name in the hat twice. What do you win? The unvarnished truth from yours truly. I will pick a winner once a month and it will be a critique of the first 20 pages of your novel, or your query letter, or your synopsis (5 pages or less).
For those who need help building a platform and keeping it SIMPLE, pick up a copy of my latest social media/branding book Rise of the Machines—Human Authors in a Digital World on AMAZON, iBooks, or Nook.
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Why Writers Should Use Twitter (and HOW to USE It Effectively)
Posted by Author Kristen Lamb in Social Media Platform, Uncategorized on January 14, 2015
For the last couple posts, we've been talking about how to use Twitter effectively. Too many writers are like Stormtroopers—lots of
shots fired tweets that hit NOTHING.
I can admit, when I got on Twitter (when it was invented) I didn't get it. I would—KID YOU NOT—freak out when people I didn't know followed me. WHAT? Are you, like, a stalker? Yes, I was missing the ENTIRE point of Twitter. Hey, we all start somewhere.
Do you have to do Twitter? No. No one will take you to writer jail because you didn't. Is it wise to use Twitter? ABSOLUTELY.
I strongly recommend Twitter for two main reasons. First, couple Twitter with a good/consistent blog and this is your best formula to go viral. Secondly, Twitter helps us find READERS (and helps readers find US).
Going Viral
We will rarely go viral from Facebook because the nature of Facebook is more intimate and the platform moves much slower. People are less likely to discover us/our work from Facebook than they are Twitter.
In fact, I would imagine that many of you who subscribe to this blog, likely found me via Twitter. And since my tweets are written in a way to attract only the brightest and best-looking and talented….😀. Y'all get the point.
This is why I want authors to blog and to blog off their author WEB SITE. Someone sees a tweet for a post that looks interesting and click and enjoy the post and guess what is in the sidebar for sale? BOOKS.
***Or, in my case the footer of each post since I did all the dumb stuff so y'all don't have to.
This is a non-invasive way to cultivate readers and sell books. We have a post. We serve. We entertain. We aren't doing the:
Hi, I'm a writer. BUY MY BOOK! BUY MY BOOK! BUY MY BOOK! I can't feed my family unless you BUY MY BOOK!
Show don't sell. Our blog gives potential readers a glimpse of who we are. They sample our writing voice and see we are professionals since we post more than every harvest moon. We have taken time to engage without asking for money. Twitter is the road sign guiding people to the rest stop of their choosing.
Enough people like a certain rest stop? That is when we go viral.
Going viral is AWESOME. Trust me, when you see THIS on the bottom of a post? GREAT FEELING.
And yes, there are a lot of shares on Facebook, but many folks discovered the posts on Twitter then chose to share with their more intimate community on Facebook.
My post Brave New Bullying and Amazon Attacks has 328 comments and still climbing. And I say this VERY humbly because all I do is my job. But, it is not uncommon for this blog to have triple-digit comments. Twitter is a BIG reason for that. And I've been blessed to go viral many times and not always for writing or social media posts. I blog about everything.
I STILL have people arguing over What Went Wrong With the Star Wars Prequels even though I posted it years ago. FABULOUS comments. Very well-thought out. Some thousands of words long.
Cultivating Readers
There is one bone-headed statement that makes my head hurt. And I have heard it from all levels of writers from noobs to NTYBSAs. In fact, one BIG author once said, "I don't like Twitter. Only writers are on Twitter."
*head desk*
I replied, "There are over 280 MILLION active Twitter users. They're all writers. Really?"
What I then pointed out was that this author tweeted writing quotes, talked about writing, blogged about writing. It was the All-Writing-All-the-Time Channel. If my goal is to catch a lion, but I bait the traps with peanut butter, who is the fool for griping about catching mice?
Many of us are writers because we were interested in SO many things, writing was the only way we could do them all. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an archaeologist-medical examiner-ballerina-oceanographer-ninja-Navy SEAL. I'd imagine most of you had similar career plans at age 7.
We became writers because we have an insatiable love for so many things. And we have unique eyes and an imagination to bring those worlds to life. We breathe life into variations of 26 letters in various combinations to create entirely NEW worlds and characters SO real they make a bigger impact on lives than a lot of living, breathing humans.
Yes, we have a God complex.
Thus, when using Twitter, I DO recommend #MyWANA, #amwriting, etc. We NEED a group of professional peers. But never mistake your colleagues for your audience. Too many writers are all talking to each other, selling the same people who already have more books than they could finish in a lifetime. We are worn out.
Twitter Access
In my book, Rise of the Machines—Human Authors in a Digital World I go into far more detail, but here's the highlight reel. What do you write? Who is the most likely person (who is NOT an avid reader who will read anything) to read your book?
If I write military thrillers, might be a good idea to follow the military hashtags—#USMC, #Army, #Navy, #USAF. Make friends, talk to people. Maybe even ask for advice. Admit you're a writer and you want to nail the details. Humans are a super-helpful bunch.
If I write about vampires? #TrueBlood #vampires #supernatural might be good places to pop in and take a look.
Christian authors? #Jesus #Christian #lifechurch, etc.
Write about cowboys? #rodeo #horses
Suspense, mystery, crime? #DowntownAbbey #DiscoveryID #SwampMurders #JoeKenda #AR15
Sci-Fi? Try #starwars #startrek #physics, #geek, #DrWho, #Nova
Use a little imagination. I find it funny that writers have the capacity to dream up parallel universes, new forms of magic, unknown technology and yet, when we get on social media? #writers, #books #readers is how creative we get.
But this is why it vexes me when people just write off Twitter as useless. Twitter is probably THE MOST effective way to find our potential readers, talk to them, and eventually cultivate a relationship that will hopefully spread to that person's network.
Twitter DOES have the capacity to help us go viral, but it is still an investment daily of US. I have a little over 13,600 followers. Other authors SMOKE me on number of followers. But I would rather have 5,000 VESTED followers then 30,000 people who could care less what I have to say.
I've tweeted almost 27,000 tweets. Granted, I've been a member of Twitter for seven years. Not a SINGLE tweet of mine is from an automated system. All ME. Small chats every day add up. Just hop on, talk a little, share a link, talk to people, then back to work.
Buying Twitter Followers
This dovetails into my next point. In the beginning (say, back around 2008-2012), I feel outsiders cared more about the number of followers than they do now. "WOW, she has 40,000 followers. She must be IMPORTANT." But, over time, our audience has wised up.
Sure, feel free to buy followers. But, in my mind, that's like hiring a prostitute to offer us a long-term committed relationship. Purchased followers aren't vested. They don't care. They make the numbers look good and maybe stroke our ego, but our goal should be to create relationships that might translate into book sales.
Not ALL Sales are Direct
When we take time to be human and talk to people without an agenda, they appreciate it. It's also good for our souls since most of us feel icky simply talking to people so they will BUY something. Never underestimate the word-of-mouth power of someone who may never buy your book.
I have all KINDS of people I talk to who aren't authors. BUT they have friends or family who are. Whose books do you think they recommend?
In the end, using Twitter wisely is a fantastic investment that doesn't take a lot of time. A handful of tweets a day over time grows deep roots that eventually yields fruits.
I LOVE hearing from you!
To prove it and show my love, for the month of JANUARY, everyone who leaves a comment I will put your name in a hat. If you comment and link back to my blog on your blog, you get your name in the hat twice. What do you win? The unvarnished truth from yours truly. I will pick a winner once a month and it will be a critique of the first 20 pages of your novel, or your query letter, or your synopsis (5 pages or less).
For those who need help building a platform and keeping it SIMPLE, pick up a copy of my latest social media/branding book Rise of the Machines—Human Authors in a Digital World on AMAZON, iBooks, or Nook.
Kristen Lamb, Rise of the Machines Human Authors in a Digital World, social media for writers, Twitter, twitter for author social media platform, twitter to find readers, using Twitter to go viral, WANA, We Are Not alone, writers using Twitter
Be a Peep NOT a Pain–How to Use Twitter Effectively
Posted by Author Kristen Lamb in Social Media Platform on January 12, 2015
Last time we took a satirical look at Twitter with 8 Ways to Make People on Twitter Want to STAB US IN THE FACE. Here's the deal, we are in sort of a New Gold Rush with this Digital Age publishing paradigm. That means "experts" are everywhere. But, just because someone claims to be an expert doesn't mean their advice is worth more than the Vista Print cards their title is printed on.
This means it is incumbent on US to do our homework. Hey, yes, I am an expert, but to stay at the top of my game? I love learning new things.
Yet, here's the deal. If someone is charging you to teach you how to blog, yet their blog has NO comments or single digit comments or they aren't following their own advice (blogging when they feel like it)? Probably not the best expert to hand cash to.
And, just my POV, but I think anyone with social media services to SELL (outsourcing) is not in the business of empowering an author. Social media is HIGHLY personal these days. People don't want to talk to a bot or something an assistant wrote. They want to talk to US and outsourcing just pisses them off.
And if Anne Rice can do her own Facebook posts? So can we.
Today we are going to talk a little bit about how to use Twitter. Why? Because I have some really unique methods to help you guys build massive social platforms (meaningful platforms) with far less work.
What the Heck is that # THINGY and What Does it DO?
To be effective at Twitter and discovering and cultivating readers we have to understand the hashtag and how it works. If we don't know how to properly use a tool, we can easily become a tool, if ya dig😉. Too many writers mistakenly believe they need to be on social media eight hours a day to build an effective platform.
Um, that would be a no.
My tips involve the hashtag conversations, but if you don't know what a hashtag is or what it does, the tips will make no sense. Feel free to scroll down if you happen to be hashtag savvy.
For the rest of you, you might find yourself asking, What the heck is that # thingy I see all the time?
Here's the deal. If you bought and read my latest best-selling social media book, Rise of the Machines—Human Authors in a Digital World, then you downloaded TweetDeck or HootSuite at the first available opportunity. Wait, what? You didn't?
Okay…we'll wait. *whistles, checks watch*
Kidding! But, seriously. Download TweetDeck (or a similar application. Yes, HootSuite is fine and plays better with Apple). Trust me. It will make life simpler.
What is a #? That little # symbol is going to help you build a worldwide following. I know. That's partly how I did it.
So what is it? Well, when you first join Twitter, you are all alone…save for the celebrities that Twitter gives you, but it isn't like you and Lady Gaga are going to chit chat (though Kim Kardashian might be available). This basically means you are going to have to make some friends or Twitter is gonna be a seriously lonely and confusing place.
Hashtags will help you meet people who love to talk about the same things you do. When you place a # with a keyword at the end of your tweet, Twitter slots your tweet into a conversation shared by people all over the world bound by topic.
Some popular writer hashtags are:
#writegoal (place daily writing goals and keep each other accountable), #amwriting, #pubtip, #indie, #amediting, #nanowrimo, and the one hashtag to rule them all is, of course, #MyWANA.
Thus, when I tweet about my blog, it might look like this:
@KristenLambTX Want to know how to use Twitter to help build your platform? (shortened link goes here) #MyWANA #nanowrimo #pubtip
My Tweet now will not just go out to my specific followers, it will be seen by the THOUSANDS of people all over the world who might be participating in those three popular hashtag conversations.
Why I recommend you download TweetDeck is that you can slot each hastag into its own column and then follow the people and conversations. When it comes to social media, we must interact and be vested in others, or we risk being perceived as fake and selfish.
The hashtag is to help us meet and converse with others effectively. It is not a new way to spam our fellow tweeps.
Thus, to help you guys out, today we are going to talk about three Twitter Tool Tactics, but then I will follow each Tool Tactic with a Tweep Tactic. I never criticize unless I can offer a solution.
Without further ado…be a tweep, NOT a tool.
TOOL Tactic #1
Using an auto-tweet system with hashtags.
BAD idea. This can get you banned to Twitter Limbo.
I'm utterly, completely, totally against authors using auto-tweets anyway. If our face and name are our Twitter identity, then our tweets need to be us tweeting IN PERSON.
These days, even large companies can't get away with auto-tweets. Granted, no one expects to have a conversation with @BestBuy. They will, however, expect conversation from us.
And don't even TRY to cheat. People are smart and will smell an automatically generated message a mile away…and then promptly ignore you, report you or unfollow you.
At the very least, they will think you are a big fat phony, and, in an age of people looking for authenticity, that is bad. It won't win any friends, so I recommend just avoiding anything automatically generated.
We really don't need a Thank you for following me. Check out my awesome blog (link) sent to our direct messages. It's not personal. It's spam….and it seriously pisses us off.
It really is better for you to tweet less, but it be genuinely you, than it is to assign a machine to pump out your message. Millions are gravitating to social media to escape spam. Bring these tactics into their sacred space and the penalty can be steep.
And "experts" and writers argued with me over this for YEARS and then THIS happened. Check out this post regarding Twitter and The Boston Marathon Bombing. Many writers (and celebrities) did major damage to their brands because of automation. In a world that can shift in a microsecond? It will cost more time to repair the damage than any automation might "save" us.
But, okay, you feel you must auto-tweet. Don't say I didn't try to talk you out of it. Do NOT include a hashtag. It is very likely you could clog up a whole column with your spam…um, tweets.
Maybe you didn't mean to, but since you weren't present, you didn't get to see the mess your auto-tweets were creating (think Mickey Mouse and the brooms). Then people get angry and they report you and Twitter bans you from using the most powerful tool you have to connect with people worldwide.
You could accidentally gum up all three hastag conversations like this:
@KristenLambTX Want to know how to use Twitter to help build your platform? (link goes here) #writegoal #nanowrimo #pubtip
@KristenLambTX Want to know how to use Twitter to help build your platform? (link goes here) #writegoal #nanowrimo #pubtip
@KristenLambTX Want to know how to use Twitter to help build your platform? (link goes here) #writegoal #nanowrimo #pubtip
@Kristen LambTX Want to know how to use Twitter to help build your platform? (link goes here) #writegoal #nanowrimo #pubtip
@KristenLambTX Want to know how to use Twitter to help build your platform? (link goes here) #writegoal #nanowrimo #pubtip
Now, I might have meant well, but folks on Twitter use these hashtag conversations to interact with a broader pool of people. If they see my tweet over and over and over and it is taking up the whole column, do you think it inspires them to like me?
Or hunt me down with torches and pitchforks?
Also, the reason that I recommend TweetDeck (HootSuite) is that you can see if your tweets are gumming up a column. I scan the #MyWANA column to make sure I don't already have a tweet talking about my blog in that column. If I do, I use another hashtag #amwriting or just wait to tweet about my blog.
When I was new, I only tweeted 3 times a day to self-promote my blog. Morning, afternoon, evening to catch different Twitter crowds.
Once you hit a certain critical mass, others will spread your content for you. Until then, feel free to tell us you have a post. Just don't get crazy…
TWEEP Tactic #1
Be a Genuine Peep
To rule the Twitterverse, we don't need to be interesting just interested. Focus on others and relax. That book will sell better if we are forging relationships than it will if we are camped on top of a kitschy promo campaign that's as appealing as getting a handful of flyers under our windshield wipers. We can even make some really amazing friends.
Forget traditional marketing. It's DEAD and OUTDATED. It's like strutting around the Digital World in a mullet and a Where's the Beef t-shirt. Might get attention? But not the right kind of attention.
TOOL Tactic #2
Nonstop self-promotion.
Yes, we know you have a book to sell…really. Using Twitter as a free and easy way to spam people is annoying and grossly ineffective. It is also traditional marketing, which doesn't sell books. Never has and here is why. The best way to sell a lot of books is to write an excellent book. Then go write some more.
TWEEP Tactic #2
Be COOL
Again…be cool. Just talk to people. Socialize. Let others genuinely promote you. It's more authentic anyway. And not the "Let's Team Up and I Sell Your Books and You Sell Mine." We actually have an IQ higher than a sea sponge. I NEVER recommend a book I haven't read and that I do not OWN.
If we are promoting a work we LOVE, people feel our passion. Passion is what ignites a fandom. Manipulation just ticks people off. Shocking, right?
TOOL Tactic #3
Not changing the hashtags when we RT (retweet).
We all need to pay attention to this tip. All of us, at one time or another forget to delete or change the hashtags at the end of an awesome tweet we long to share. Ah, but we can unintentionally gum up an entire column with the same information and that is bad juju.
Why this can be really bad is this can kill a hashtag. People will start ignoring the # or close the column or not use the # because it is always backed up with redundancy. Only you can prevent Column Constipation.
NO ONE wants to see the same tweet 20 freaking times. Social media is a community so we should use good manners.
TWEEP Tactic #3
Now that you know what hashtags are, add them or change them when you RT for others.
I might see a writer who has an outstanding blog…but she didn't add any hashtags. So, when I RT, I stick in a couple. Try not to do more than one or two. This isn't a hard and fast rule, it just (to me) feels less "spammy."
But, what if one of your peeps has a GREAT blog and they did use hashtags? If you RT and leave the same hashtags, then you risk gumming up a column with the same link. So change them.
@KristenLambTX Want to know how to use Twitter to help build your platform? (link goes here) #indie
RT @KristenLambTX Want to know how to use Twitter to help you build your platform? (link goes here) #fiction #writer
Now my message will go into two totally different columns. This helps more writers SEE my blog and I don't risk clogging up the conversation. People who follow the # conversations will really appreciate that. Also, it makes it where I don't have to add 8 hashtags to the end. I know my tweeps will help me out.
At the end of the day, Be a Tweep, Not a Tool and success will surely be yours. Thought? Comments? Recipes for world domination using a cupcake maker and trained hamsters? Share!
I LOVE hearing from you!
To prove it and show my love, for the month of JANUARY, everyone who leaves a comment I will put your name in a hat. If you comment and link back to my blog on your blog, you get your name in the hat twice. What do you win? The unvarnished truth from yours truly. I will pick a winner once a month and it will be a critique of the first 20 pages of your novel, or your query letter, or your synopsis (5 pages or less).
For those who need help building a platform and keeping it SIMPLE, pick up a copy of my latest social media/branding book Rise of the Machines—Human Authors in a Digital World on AMAZON, iBooks, or Nook.
how to build a twitter platform, how to properly use twitter, how to use hashtags, Kristen Lamb, Rise of the Machines--Human Authors in a Digital World Kristen Lamb, social media expert writers Kristen Lamb, social media platforms for authors, spamming and twitter, Twitter, WANA, We Are Not alone, Writing, writing tips
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Commercial bankruptcies from the December 2009 issue
Published: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 5:29 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 5:31 p.m.
Compiled by Jeff Brooks for the Ocala Business Journal. Creditor meetings are held in Suite 1-200, Courthouse at Jacksonville, 300 N. Hogan St., Jacksonville.
Chapter 7
Definition: Sometimes called straight bankruptcy. May be used by businesses or individuals. A portion of the debtors assets is liquidated and distributed among creditors by a court-appointed trustee to satisfy debts. In some occasions action can be brought against a debtor by creditors. Cant be filed more than once in six years.
Raffaela Marie Giaccio. aka Grade A Auto Parts, 2661 S.E. 52nd St., Ocala. Complaint deadline: Feb. 8. Attorney: Richard A. Perry. Trustee: Gregory K. Crews.
Chapter 11
Definition: A debtor usually proposes a reorganization plan to its business operation and pay creditors over time. People in business or individuals also can seek relief in Chapter 11.
No Chapter 11 cases were filed last month.
Chapter 13
Definition: Sometimes called the wage-earner plan. Provides protection from creditors to individuals, including those who are sole proprietors of a business, while they repay their debts from current assets.
No Chapter 13 cases were filed last month.
Footnotes: dba (doing business as); fdba (formerly doing business as); aka (also known as); fka (formerly known as); adba (also doing business as); afdba (also formerly doing business as).
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.
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Okahoma State's passing attack, uniforms get high marks
Saturday was a historic day for the Cowboys, and their grades from the 70-28 beatdown of the Jayhawks reflect it. High marks to the offense and the defense. Heck, even the uniform combination was spot on.
It didn't matter whether it was Brandon Weeden and the first teamers or Clint Chelf and the backups. The Cowboy passing attack was sharp all day long. Weeden was 24 of 28 for 288 yards and five touchdowns while Chelf was 14 of 21 for 206 yards and two touchdowns. A combined 77.6 percent completion rate? Yowza.
Kansas gave up more than 600 yards rushing earlier this season against Georgia Tech, so it seemed like a big ground day was in the offing for OSU. But the Cowboys managed only 106 yards on 27 carries. Even though they did their damage through the air, they didn't get much production from Joseph Randle (seven carries, 23 yards), Jeremy Smith (three for 39) or Hershel Sims (seven for 22). Just an average day for the Cowboy run game.
Black helmets. Black jerseys. Orange pants. The Cowboys' best look of the season. While the black jerseys and black pants against Arizona looked sharp, the black helmets moved Saturday's combo to the top of the heap. We hadn't seen the flat-black helmets yet this season. Sharp look.
Even in a game like this, everything can't be an A. The Cowboys gave up a touchdown on the Jayhawks' first possession of the game, then punted on their first possession of the second half. That's about all the Cowboys did wrong, though.
The attendance of 58,030 was the second-largest home crowd in school history. A 49-point lead and looming rain sent lots of folks to the exits at halftime, but you really can't blame them for skedaddling. The fact that about 10,000 stayed to the cold, rainy end is impressive. Here's guessing those were some of the same folks who stayed for that Tulsa game.
The OSU backups got some serious playing time against Kansas. Weeden and Blackmon were on the bench before halftime, and it wasn't long before most of the other starters joined them there. While the Jayhawks scored 21 points after halftime, the Cowboys' second-teamers scored 14 points.
In a blowout like this, it would've been easy for the Cowboys to get sloppy. Didn't happen. OSU had only five penalties for 35 yards and just four of them came after halftime when the rout was on.


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text:
The Dane lost about FOURTEEN MINUTES in the two individual TT's in last year's Tour de France. He might have to TT better than that to win, eh? Perhaps he will draw inspiration from the Yellow Johnny.
The Dane lost about FOURTEEN MINUTES in the two individual TT's in last year's Tour de France. He might have to TT better than that to win, eh? Perhaps he will draw inspiration from the Yellow Johnny.
The chicken has ZERO chance of a GC win.
If your relationship still works, you could be training harder.
Mellow Johnny, and yes you are correct.
FS: Fuji SL1 frameset, 55.5cm toptube, excellent condition.
I'd say the Chicken has a very slim chance.Originally Posted by Dead Extra #2
Last year's performance is not a fair comparison. He was riding for Menchov,and focused on KOM. Therefore no incentive to work in the TT's.
I don't think it's at all likely he can win this year. For one, he has to get to the point that Rabobank is working for him and not Rasmussen working for Menchov.
However, if he could gain another chunck of time in the Pyranees, and limit losses in the TTs, I wouldn't bet the ranch against him.
Last edited by merlinextraligh; 07-17-07 at 12:49 PM.
he went from 3rd (podium) to 7th because fo a TT. I think he had incentive for that TT.
1) Presumably he won't make the mistake of riding a full on TT bike with a disc on a technical course again. (a major differnece that day was Armstrong made smarter equipment choices).
2) He may well start the next TT in yellow, which makes a difference from 3rd.
Disagree. Albi will be fun to watch.Originally Posted by Dead Extra #2
You could beat him. On a bike that where you got fitting advice on this freakin' forum.Originally Posted by patentcad
That's how bad he is...
In the Bike Business, I am!!!
This is not to say he will win a TT or even come close, that would be a joke. But he may be able to limit his losses and the day after the first TT is a very nasty mountian stage. That combo may crack a lot of riders. But the combo gives him a chance. I won't write him off until Sunday unless he cracks in the TT.
Last edited by Keith99; 07-17-07 at 06:10 PM.
keep in mind he ofter lurks.. thats about it. this is the first year he is going for the mellow yellow. I think he is better than many suspect. remember , he is usually all about the polka dot jersey. Time trial doesn't matter for that, simply points. he would often chill in the pack or even lose time on flat stages and just rack up some Mountain Points when they mattered most. I don't think he can win, not with the scumbag leech Valverde and Evans and Contrador being so strong currently. Sastre will win anyway... he's a great time trialist.....yeah right... but he's good enuff at it.
that video is perfect
I forgot about how he almost wiped out a fan on that last crash.
"I knew the bride...."
While I agree, he has a slim chance. Do you actually believe he was going all out in the TT's last year? If you do, then you don't understand stage races. Only those with a GC chance or a chance at winning the TT go all out. Everyone else treats it like a rest day. Last year, all chickenman cared about was the king of the mountains, hence he road the TT easy. He still sucks compared to the others, but not 14 minutes sucks.
Rubber Side Down
dont forget he may have been paractising i dont think any pro would want what happened last year again
found this on eurosport
mind you i've got bikes hanging in my shed doesnt mean i can ride them fast !
chicken's chances to win are definitely slim, but they are there. obviously he needs to ride the best 2 TT's we've seen out of him so far and then assrape everyone in the pyrenees. i love it. it sure is alot more interesting then watching lance beat everyone in the mountains then the time trials.
I think there's a good chance that he's been seriously playing possum on the issue of the time trial. No way to tell unless he does or doesn't blow up in the ITTs coming up, but it would be interesting if everyone let him get away with the assumption that he wouldn't keep up later.
"Having modest aspirations RULES." --patentcad
"You know who I feel bad for? Arab-Americans with a real, genuine interest in cropdusting." -- Brian Regan
blogging about nothing, when the mood strikes
lolololol ahahahaahaha if he's playing possum on the TT issue, then it would be THE most complex, longest implementation of strategy ever seen in any sport. lol the guy just isn't a TTer- just look at him. hopefully he can perform better than he has though.
This weekend will tell all re Rasmussen. First the TT and then next day the mountian stage that has the best profile for him to gain major time. (Back to back HC climbs to a mountiantop finish with virtually no flat between them). Someone cracks on Sunday. The question is who.
He mentioned in an interview that he "had not worked at all on time trials", yet there's another rider who is saying he definitely has been.
It's not that he needs to turn into some time trialing demon, it's just that if you avoid falling every ten seconds it takes a lot more to put time into you.
"Having modest aspirations RULES." --patentcad
"You know who I feel bad for? Arab-Americans with a real, genuine interest in cropdusting." -- Brian Regan
blogging about nothing, when the mood strikes


text:
Brent oil futures climbed above $50 a barrel on Thursday for the first time in nearly seven months. » Read More
U.S. crude oil extended its strong run Wednesday, and "Fast Money" traders picked the best ways to play the commodity's climb.
CNBC's Jackie DeAngelis discusses the day's activity in the commodities markets.
Discussing how high oil can go, and whether recent moves matter, with Kyle Cooper, ION Energy Group, and John LaForge, Wells Fargo.
Oil prices were higher on after the U.S. government reported a larger-than-expected drop in crude stocks.
Executives at ExxonMobil and Chevron will face a showdown over climate policies at their annual general meetings Wednesday.
Over 8.1 million people now work in the renewable energy industry according to a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency.
Oil prices are likely to rise this year but it won't be a linear process, the head of European energy research at Citigroup said.
More than two-thirds of Gulf banks reported an increase in unpaid loans in the first three months of the year and more defaults are likely.
Royal Dutch Shell will increase the number of job cuts in 2015 and 2016 by around 20 percent as a result of low oil prices.
Investors love big dividends, but some companies lack the earnings to afford it. How to know if a dividend is masking cash problems.
Sam Zell said he's investing less today because he sees fewer opportunities and selling more because he doesn't get buyers' optimism.
Seth Kleinman, managing director and head of European energy research at Citi, explains why he thinks oil prices will reach $65 a barrel by 2017.
The bank's need for reserves to offset losses on oil and gas companies could rise in 2016, executives warn.
CNBC's Mary Thompson on the floor of the NYSE with what's moving markets this morning.
Crude is still not trading at a "fair price" to encourage necessary investment, Qatar's energy and industry minister said Tuesday.
Brazil can still turn things around, but it won't be easy, Columbia University's Marcos Troyjo says.
U.S. sovereign bond prices were lower Tuesday as investors digested seesawing oil prices and awaited a Treasury Department sale.
While the oil markets remain volatile, there are a handful of stocks in the sector that are the best bets right now, says Andy Lipow.
Electric cars remain a noteworthy sight almost everywhere but Scandinavia, where Norwegians have bucked the trend by buying alternative-fuel vehicles.
CNBC's Jackie DeAngelis discusses the day's activity in the commodities markets.
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