Hello once again, Readers!!! How goes it! We are still working on the cover for Embracing the Flames. It has to be perfect! I have also surpassed 50K in From the Embers, so I’d say I am making progress. Woot!
But I digress.
This post is about something I have been experimenting with lately. Building up a Facebook audience. I am a strong believer that not every social media site is for everyone. You have to find what works, and I like Facebook.
But the important question is, does Facebook help you as an author trying to market? YES! If you learn to use Facebook effectively, it really can help you reach a wider audience.
How do I know?
Like most, when I was thrown into the world of being published and needing to market, I found myself sitting in front of my computer lost and confused. But with some effort and research, I have managed to figure some things out. One of which, is how to use Facebook as an author. Through reading, watching, and then actually doing, I can attest that these simple steps work.
It’s really easy. All you need it a little bit of time, devotion, and a leap of faith.
Here are my five steps to success:
- Use pictures to connect with your audience. These can be found anywhere. Using pictures is a quick way to connect without having to write anything. It’s pleasing to the eye and it also gives the audience something to share on their page, thus helping you branch out virally.
- Ask questions. Be concerned about your audience. Get to know them. They are helping you out just by liking your page, so return the favor by being interested and talking to them. Ask a simple question like: What are you reading? This is an effective way to engage and meet your audience.
- Hold giveaways. Everyone loves free stuff. If you are an author, this is a great way to not only get people talking, but to expand your audience and get reviews and such in return. It will also pull in new likes if you target the giveaway to that.
- Support other pages and authors. Branching out is easy if you believe in karma. Give and thee shall receive. Whenever you like a page, Facebook has integrated this handy “if you like this, then you may like this” option. Use that to keep finding similar pages that suit your interest and then promote their stuff as well.
- Share freebies and other things that spark you. Chances are, your readers will be just as interested, thus keeping them wanting to be a part of your page.
I know, they aren’t super complicated. But that’s the beauty of Facebook. It’s really not that complicated. You just have to decide and then stick to it. Try to post at least once a day. Take around 10 minutes to read through the news feed and comment on others stuff and then promote your stuff.
Hope this helps! If not, do not fret! There are other sites that offer tons of advice. One of my favorites is Author Media. They have tons of posts on how to build your platform.
Any who, now to leave you with a question: What social site has helped you?
Echelon out, Peeps ♥
Good advice. Honestly, I’ve had more success from my blog and WordPress than Facebook.
Yeah, I was the same way, but since I have been actively using FB, I can see a difference and it’s a great way to spread your name.
But then again, some people say Twitter is the way to go and I, for the life of me, can’t keep up with Twitter lol.
I’m not interesting enough to use Twitter to the level that other people use it. I’m trying Twitter and Pinterest, but I’ve basically connected everything to my website. One post hits all of them. I’m hoping to use FB more when I have my actual book out, but I get a feeling that my website might be the stronger of the two. I tried posting questions and other things on my FB author page, but all I ever got was a series of likes from the same people. Never any comments.
That’s how it was for me too until I held the giveaway and started trying to get my ‘likes’ higher. The more people that liked my page, the more feedback I received on posts.
It definitely takes some effort though. I linked my FB to my Twitter as well lol. I haven’t tried using Pinterest though.
I was wondering how you work the ‘like’ giveaways. Do you give it to a specific number of people or pick a random number?
I set a goal and tell them I will be holding a giveaway when I reach a certain number of likes. When I reach that number, I then do a mini-contest. Like ‘caption this photo’ or ‘share this page’ or something. Be creative. And then I give it a time limit and put the winner in a randomizer.
I noticed that, so maybe I’ll give that a try at some point. Thanks.
You’re welcome.
Crap … I never use FB for writing stuff … I’ve been told to (over and over again) – the best sites that helped me with my first book were simple bloggers that wanted to post a review and offer one for a contest … I need to embrace FB and twitter more – oh, and Goodreads.
Lol, yeah it took me a bit to get used to it and to really just go for it. Like I said, it’s all what works best for you, but if you are sociable and like to share, it can really help!!
I have a personal page on FB, and a Twitter account, and I’m confused as hell as how to meet new people on both. People who are actually interested in me and my work. I was worried that my blog might be too random, and that I’m too much of an inexperienced writer and stuff. So, to get to my questions, what suggestions do you give for writers who don’t even have anything published yet, in terms of FB, Twitter, and blogging? Thanks in advance for your advice.
Hey, Camille! There is nothing wrong with randomness! Some people like that and it could be your unique voice. As far as the advice goes, you don’t have to be an experienced or even a published writer to have a FB, blog, or Twitter. If you choose to start one, connect with other blogger’s FB pages. Like them, comment on their status, and share your work. Give snippets, teasers, images, anything to draw them in. Link your FB to your Twitter too.
Hi, it’s Camille again. I set up a FB page for my novella and/or novel Blæc Blōd, and was wondering if I “did it right”, lol. Could you look at it and give me some pointers, if you don’t mind? If you do mind, just ignore me, lol.
Here’s the link:
http://www.facebook.com/BlaecBlod
Hey! I am checking it out now. I will message you! Looks great!
iLike
Hi Candace. I attended a writers event last year and asked how the authors used social media to promote their books and which they found most successful. It seemed most rated WordPress over Facebook. You are more likely to find writers, serious readers ( and here’s the controversial bit ) intelligent people on WordPress. Do we all want to get lots and lots of likes that never turn into sales and purchases or do we want to get a serious following? I also have a problem with Facebook’s attitude to any image you upload – they dont respect your copyright, claim images as their own and that is very serious if you are a painter or photographer. I am not knocking Facebook and it cant hurt to have a page BUT I think the way to go is WordPress which I have found to be wonderful and supportive community of like-minded people. Yes there’s Twitter and more and we should not exclude any but you cant be all things to all people..
Put it this way. If someone on WordPress makes a comment about anything I write in my blogs I will give it very very serious consideration as I am willing to learn. Couldnt honestly say that about Facebook where most comments are brief and often in text language as so many people have Facebook on their phones.
Its horses for courses and ALL my money is on WordPress!!
Thanks again for the advice!
Will follow pronto!
Oops! No offense bakersfieldlad, but I meant the thank you for Candace. Sorry for any confusion!
Hey, I see what you are saying. WordPress is a great place to write and be heard, and to read and suggest, but not everyone is aware of this. Some like the simplicity of FB, including myself. I don’t think that either is better than the other, just that they are two different types of media that when used right, could possibly work for you.
You are right when you say that WordPress is a place for serious readers and writers. But I have found that if you find your “target audience” on FB, then it can be very beneficial. A lot of bloggers (like myself) have a FB page that is targeted towards readers who don’t have time nor the interest to blog. They just want to hear about the next best read. These are the types of pages that I coerce with.
And since then, I have met a lot of intelligent authors and readers who have been very supportive. I have also noticed a slight increase in sales since I have been actively using FB. And no matter where you go on the internet, you’re bound to run into people who may not live up to your standards. I guess I just don’t pay much attention to that. To me, people are people.
This is how I view the two : FB is more of an on-the-go site that allows me to promote and share my work quickly and easily, whereas WordPress is a place for me to flesh out my thoughts and have others participate and see me on a deeper level. But like I always try to express, I am no expert. At the end of the day, it’s all opinion based and what works for one may not work for the other. Ya know?
♥
Dont worry Camille, no offense taken in fact thank you for proving my point – people are so nice and polite on WordPress! Thanks also to Candace for starting this blog and allowing the conversation. Shows why her blog is well worth following!
I liked your facebook. I think the issue with facebook is unless you know a lot of people to get you started it’s hard to get the “likes” that get others to notice you. I just opened one and I have 12 likes. I’ve read up on it really helping other established authors. I’m not sure at this point how it will help me build a forum if I know no one to like me!
Any advice, how did you get your gazillon likes?
I was in the same boat for quite a while until I started putting myself out there. I just started liking bloggers who review books and messaging them that I would partake in any giveaways they had going on…usually offering an ebook copy. Most reviewers work by sending the readers to your facebook page or whatever link you give and ask them to like your page and then come back to their page with their number and that’s how they are entered to win. Most of the people that have come to my page are avid readers and are genuinely interested in the novel and/or what I post for the day. Either way, it’s getting your name out there. Just another way to do so.
Check out these pages:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paranormal-Reads/210602165622398 http://www.facebook.com/IHeartBooksOfficial
http://www.facebook.com/onemorechapterreviews
They are very nice blogger/reviewers who have a huge following on FB and are extremely polite and helpful.
♥
Thanks Candace…ummm…how do I message them???
On the left side of their FB page is a button that says message. Sometimes it doesn’t show up for me if I am under my page and I have to go back to my personal FB page to message them.
Sigh…no personal page…
Well dang, woman! Lol…it doesn’t give you that option with your page then? That’s weird that you can’t see it. Any way, just like the blogger pages and when you see that they are going to hold a giveaway, comment on that post that you want to offer a book (or whatever you choose to give) and they will promote your page!
“Thanks Candace…ummm…how do I message them???”
Isnt this a standard feature of every single Facebook page? Dont they all show the option to message the individual and you dont have to be a friend. There should be a message button somewhere…
I haven’t been able to use it on my author page, only on my personal page. It’s the one mishap that I find annoying. Hopefully they will fix this.
Hello & thanks for this post its great. I prefer fb to twitter as there’s more space to write but twitter seems to be really popular in literary circles. I have a question, how do I ‘like’ other pages as my page? Also what is your fb page as I can like it as well, thanks.
Hey! You can search for them in the same place where you look for people and you click like. My page is at the top of my blog on the right, the little FB symbol. Sometimes FB can be finicky when it comes to liking others pages. But once you like one, they usually offer other suggestions so you can branch out.