Just when you feel comfy-cozy with your platform efforts, something happens--like say Blogger goes offline for three days--and uneasiness sets in. Every new blog you head to seems to be powered by Wordpress. Someone mentions their site got tons of hits from StumbleUpon, and you don't even know what StumbleUpon is or how it's used.
Panic sets in.
All of your hard efforts now look shabby, worn, as out of date as pinafores. You wonder if you should switch to Wordpress even though you may lose many of your followers. You consider looking into StumbleUpon and Tumblr and a shiny new Facebook Page.
The panic morphs to stress.
Can I just say "Stop the Insanity!"? (Anyone else remember Susan Powter's work-out mantra?)
I realize we all want to do the right things--the smart things--to grow our platforms, and maybe switching to a different blog service or learning a few more social networks is the right thing to do. But I'm not going to, and here's why.
Jill Kemerer Opinion alert!!
Blogger has been good to me. It's free, simple to use, and terrific for networking. I've made countless connections through its use of Google Friend Connect, Blogrolls, and ease of subscribing. My pages load quickly, and I love how simple it is to post and update. It's a gem for non-technical bloggers. (Disclaimer: I've never used Wordpress, but it has terrific features also.)
As far as the slew of other promotional sites like DiggIt, StumbleUpon, Tumblr, and such--I'm sure they're fabulous. I, however, took a hard look at my schedule, realized I have too much on my plate right now, and won't be utilizing them. Will it hurt my platform? I don't think it will.
The bottom line?
It's easy to feel competitive with other authors, but jumping on every bandwagon doesn't necessarily help our platform or fit into our life. Does the average reader find our book if it's been Stumbled? Will the reader buy more books if our website looks more up-to-date? Will the reader find our blog quicker if we use Wordpress or Blogger? I can't answer these questions. I don't know.
I do know that search engines find my blog without any problem. My website and blog are the first things that pop up if you type my name into search engines. I'm easy to find on Facebook and Twitter. And that's good enough for me.
There isn't one best way to build a platform.
Do what you're comfortable with. Weigh the benefits and costs of any major decision, whether it's switching blog services or trying a new social media network. But most of all, sit back and chill. We're building name recognition, not saving the world! (My apologies to you if you are saving the world. I'm writing romance novels. Big difference. :)
Do you ever feel pressure to expand your platform? How do you react?
Enjoy your Friday!
Showing posts with label long term strategies for author platform. Show all posts
Showing posts with label long term strategies for author platform. Show all posts
Friday, July 1, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
The Long Term Approach to Author Platform
In three years of creating an author platform, I know one thing. I don't have the same amount of time every day for social networking. I'm sure you don't either. Maybe some of you started out fast and hard, finding and following new blogs regularly and getting involved on Facebook or Twitter. You may have been exhilirated, scared, or both.
Six months later, a year later, two years later...are you social networking with the same intensity as when you started?
I can only speak for myself, but in some ways yes, in others no.
Last year, I cut back on my social networking. I read fewer blog posts. My blog readership went down and I added few new followers. But I sensed a deep need to focus solely on my writing, and I don't regret it. Also, I found myself often feeling sad when I went to blogs, Facebook and Twitter. All of the wonderful success stories depressed me. Not that I didn't share in my friends' joy--I did--but it didn't change the fact I felt stuck in one place, like a child trying to climb up a "down" escalator.
Sometimes letting your platform stagnate is the best thing you can do for yourself.
The extra time spent on my writing helped it flourish, and, as months passed, I longed to grow my platform again. Since I never disappeared from my networks, I found it fun and easy to increase my web-presence.
Here are my tips for successful, long-term social networking.
1. Acknowledge there will be periods of time when you will have less time to interact online.
2. Come up with a plan on how you will stay connected with your various networks during your busy months.
In hectic phases:
- I read fewer, if any, blog posts.
- I check in every weekday on Twitter and Facebook, but I spend less time socializing and I share fewer links.
- I don't actively find new blogs.
- I DO continue my blogging schedule.
- I try to respond to each comment on my blog, but I give myself permission to pop-in with a quick comment if I'm too busy.
- I keep in touch with my closest online friends either through e-mail, direct messages, or leaving a comment on their blogs.
3. Recognize the less time you spend on social networking, the less benefits you will receive.
- I get less blog hits, less new followers, less Twitter interaction, less new friends on Facebook, etc...
- I do not panic over this. I know that when my life settles down, I will spend more time networking and will reconnect with everyone.
4. Realize the drop in your "popularity" does not reflect on you personally. Your blogging friends still like and support you, they're just busy too. We all respond to people who reach out to us the most. When your life settles down, go back to their blogs and leave comments. You'll be back in the loop before you know it.
5. Maintain visibility on your networks. Dropping out is not good for your platform. You can drastically cut back, but by no means should you disappear completely. You've worked hard to build your platform. Support it.
- If you have a blog, find a way to post regularly. Maybe your posts will be shorter, but make sure they're there.
- Find five minutes to check in with Facebook and "like" the comments your friends leave. You know the Friend Suggestions in the sidebar? Send a friend request to two of these each day to continue growing your Facebook presence.
- Find five minutes to check in with Twitter and respond to mentions or say hello to your friends. Chances are your friends share #WW (writer Wednesday) or #FF (Follow Friday) lists. Add two or three new people they suggest and your Twitter presence will continue to grow.
6. When the busy time ends, double or triple the amount of time you spend on social networking to increase your online presence. This might last a week or two, whatever you can afford, but every minute will be time well-spent.
7. Published authors: Ramp up your social networking at least two months before your next release. Try not to wait to reconnect with your networks until a few weeks before a release because you will be heavily promoting your book. Social networking is a conversation, so take extra care to chat with your networks before heavily promoting your book. Remember, people buy books from people they like!
Anyone working on an author platform will have to adjust to the commitments it brings. Try not to feel guilty at not being able to keep up with everyone equally and at all times. Building an author platform means we're going to follow many more people's blogs, Facebook updates, and Twitter feeds than we could ever keep track of. Let go of that burden. Do your best to interact with your closer online friends and new contacts.
Do you have long-term strategies to nurture your author platform? Care to share them?
Have a fabulous Friday!
Six months later, a year later, two years later...are you social networking with the same intensity as when you started?
I can only speak for myself, but in some ways yes, in others no.
Last year, I cut back on my social networking. I read fewer blog posts. My blog readership went down and I added few new followers. But I sensed a deep need to focus solely on my writing, and I don't regret it. Also, I found myself often feeling sad when I went to blogs, Facebook and Twitter. All of the wonderful success stories depressed me. Not that I didn't share in my friends' joy--I did--but it didn't change the fact I felt stuck in one place, like a child trying to climb up a "down" escalator.
Sometimes letting your platform stagnate is the best thing you can do for yourself.
The extra time spent on my writing helped it flourish, and, as months passed, I longed to grow my platform again. Since I never disappeared from my networks, I found it fun and easy to increase my web-presence.
Here are my tips for successful, long-term social networking.
1. Acknowledge there will be periods of time when you will have less time to interact online.
2. Come up with a plan on how you will stay connected with your various networks during your busy months.
In hectic phases:
- I read fewer, if any, blog posts.
- I check in every weekday on Twitter and Facebook, but I spend less time socializing and I share fewer links.
- I don't actively find new blogs.
- I DO continue my blogging schedule.
- I try to respond to each comment on my blog, but I give myself permission to pop-in with a quick comment if I'm too busy.
- I keep in touch with my closest online friends either through e-mail, direct messages, or leaving a comment on their blogs.
3. Recognize the less time you spend on social networking, the less benefits you will receive.
- I get less blog hits, less new followers, less Twitter interaction, less new friends on Facebook, etc...
- I do not panic over this. I know that when my life settles down, I will spend more time networking and will reconnect with everyone.
4. Realize the drop in your "popularity" does not reflect on you personally. Your blogging friends still like and support you, they're just busy too. We all respond to people who reach out to us the most. When your life settles down, go back to their blogs and leave comments. You'll be back in the loop before you know it.
5. Maintain visibility on your networks. Dropping out is not good for your platform. You can drastically cut back, but by no means should you disappear completely. You've worked hard to build your platform. Support it.
- If you have a blog, find a way to post regularly. Maybe your posts will be shorter, but make sure they're there.
- Find five minutes to check in with Facebook and "like" the comments your friends leave. You know the Friend Suggestions in the sidebar? Send a friend request to two of these each day to continue growing your Facebook presence.
- Find five minutes to check in with Twitter and respond to mentions or say hello to your friends. Chances are your friends share #WW (writer Wednesday) or #FF (Follow Friday) lists. Add two or three new people they suggest and your Twitter presence will continue to grow.
6. When the busy time ends, double or triple the amount of time you spend on social networking to increase your online presence. This might last a week or two, whatever you can afford, but every minute will be time well-spent.
7. Published authors: Ramp up your social networking at least two months before your next release. Try not to wait to reconnect with your networks until a few weeks before a release because you will be heavily promoting your book. Social networking is a conversation, so take extra care to chat with your networks before heavily promoting your book. Remember, people buy books from people they like!
Anyone working on an author platform will have to adjust to the commitments it brings. Try not to feel guilty at not being able to keep up with everyone equally and at all times. Building an author platform means we're going to follow many more people's blogs, Facebook updates, and Twitter feeds than we could ever keep track of. Let go of that burden. Do your best to interact with your closer online friends and new contacts.
Do you have long-term strategies to nurture your author platform? Care to share them?
Have a fabulous Friday!
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