Sunday, February 6, 2011

Do You Like Social Media?

Hi Everyone,

There are social media's like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace to name a few. Do you prefer these places to keep in contact with family, friends and for making new friends? Or do you prefer email, or even receiving mail through the postal service?

For me, I still love to receive real Christmas, Valentine, birthday and thank you cards more than eCards for those occasions. The reason I do is because they are more personal and if it says something special I'll keep them. Yep, I'm a pack rat when it comes to cards.

Do you like social media and is it important to you? I'm an author, and I mostly use places like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter to promote my books. For the last few days, I've read blogs that address how to use social media for promotion. I've learned that I'm doing it all wrong.

What am I doing wrong? I'm not participating on these sites, not even on my home page. You should join a few groups you're interested in. I do belong to a few groups, but most of them I have not stayed in contact with. Sometimes, I post promo on my books or let everyone know I have a new blog post. That is a no-no if you don't stay around to chat.

Time decides if I can stay around to chat even a few seconds. I have a love-hate relationship with social media. Because of social media I don't have to go away from home to promote my books, but it still eats up a lot of time

Social media can be a blessing or a curse. What do you think?

Until next Sunday, have a great safe and warm week.

Sandy
http://www.skaymarshall.com; http://www.eirelander-publishing.com

18 comments:

J Hali Steele said...

Sandy, nice post. I don't tweet or myspace anymore, never got the hang of either. But I'm addicted to FB! When I blog, or chat on FB, I spend a lot of time there, but I enjoy it. I do use it to chat with family out of the area, and friends. I've made new friends, and try to keep track of them too! As far as groups, I do stay around hoping people come out to chat, and when they do--it's fun!! :)

She said...

I prefer to keep up with family and friends either by phone or snail mail. It's always nice to receive a letter in the mail. I do twitter and facebook to keep up with authors and publishers mostly. I like the contests they run or sometimes just like to read comments of what is happening in their lives or with their books. I am just starting on blogs the last few months. I do enjoy that a lot. I belong to yahoo groups and that's fun to see what's happening. I like it when I can "talk" with others during a chat within the group but often I arrive after the chat and just read the e-mails left. I can spend a lot of time on the internet and I'm not so sure it's healthy for me. I forego the face to face for the online.

Sandy said...

Thanks, Joann. I see you on FB nearly everytime I go there, but I get in and out. lol

Sandy said...

Thank you for your comment, She.

I don't think spinning your life on the internet is healthy either. lol

I belong to 55 Yahoo Groups, but I'm just active on three or four of them. You just can't chat all day. Smile.

Stacey Joy Netzel said...

Social media is a necessary tool that I haven't quite gotten the hang of yet, either. They always say the best thing an author can do is write a darn good book. Well, I don't barely have time to write as it is, so the promo takes the hit. Someday...

Amy Atwell said...

Sandy, this post really struck home. Life has intervened and made me leave the internet for the past three weeks. I feel like I've abandoned all these social media and now I need to start all over. I think Social Media provides some extra traction for authors, but I agree with Stacey--you need to write the next great book. All the marketing won't help you if you don't have books to attract readers. Thanks for the discussion.

Linda LaRoque said...

I rarely put anything in the mail if I can keep from it and I used to write long letters to family and friends. Now, we pretty much stay in touch via email or Facebook. I've made a lot of new friends on FB and reconnected with many from high school and schools where I taught years ago. As far as promoting my books, I don't do that great a job. I need to read some of those blogs you mentioned or take a class. I've quit posting on My Space as seems I pick up viruses.

Sandy said...

Stacey, I totally understand. The writing is the most important thing to do.

Thank you.

Sandy said...

Thanks, Amy.

You can only promo your books for so long, and it's the same old thing, and that's why it's important to get new stories out there.

Sandy said...

Thanks, Linda.

That's interesting to know about MySpace. I have thought about disconnecting from them but haven't done it yet.

Donna Marie Rogers said...

My problem is I'm not great at multi-tasking, so if I'm on Facebook, I'm usually socializing, not promoting my books like I should be...LOL And like others have said, that's time I should be spending writing or editing or reading. Blogs are the same for me, which is why I don't visit nearly as many as I'd like to. Heck, I could spend all day just commenting on one friend's blog after another. *g*

Great post, Sandy!

Marianne Stephens said...

Socializing is necessary...people have to see your name and know your books. I've got to get better at Twitter...I do Facebook but need to learn more about using it!

Sandy said...

LOL Thanks, Donna.

I'm told I should do more socializing on Facebook. It's hard to find a happy medium.

Sandy said...

Thanks, Marianne.

I need to learn more, too. Sigh!

Anonymous said...

ugh socializing. It is hard. What I've read is to use each for a specific reason. linked in for professional contacts, fb for friends and family contact, and twitter for business social contact. But handling this yikes. I've heard using one day for socializing and business. On the other side of things is if everyone blogs, posts, connects, you know how many hits I get in one group site...you know...you get them too. So being so overwhelmed with the number I can't read and reply to alllll of them. I want to read all of them. I wish everyone joy and happiness but I just can't respond to that many. Does information over load and expectation sound right?
J

Sandy said...

Judy,

I rarely stay on any of these sites for more than 15 or 20 minutes. Yes, I get replies, and I try to minimize the responses to the ones that need them.

Thanks for your comment, Judy.

Karen K. said...

Definately a pain. There are only so many hours in a day.

Sandy said...

LOL Karen, I knew you would share my sentiment.

Thanks for your comment.