Tag: marketing

Facebook Faux Pas

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Lately, Facebook has been driving me nuts. I decided to take a moment and post my thoughts on some good rules to follow when you’re using Facebook.
Especially if you are using it as a public figure, like an author, actress, etc.

First off, I’ve seen so many people posting big long privacy notices in an attempt to keep their pictures and their information private. Here’s a little internet tip: Once you post something on the Internet, it’s no longer private. Even if you delete it, it’s never really gone. It’s out there… somewhere. That’s why, if you really don’t want the whole entire world to see that picture of you from Friday night’s excess… don’t post it.

And in that theme, be careful what you say. Often times we spout off in the heat of the moment, but those moments can be really hard to take back. Someone may have copied and pasted, quoted, or otherwise used your words. So watch em.

In particular, hot button issues like politics and religion. Posting endless streams of propaganda against a political opponent is annoying, offensive, and oftentimes just plain incorrect. It’s my personal opinion the FB is not really the right forum for this. There’s enough spin on the news networks without adding it to FB. In particular, with elections coming up. A sure way to alienate friends. I will admit to unfriending more than one person after 20 daily political status updates.

FB can be a powerful marketing tool. That being said, it is not our personal infomercial. If you treat it as such, what are people going to do? Same thing we do with real commercials, change the channel. Use self promotion sparingly, like a garnish as opposed to the main dish.

A personal pet peeve of mine? Telling everyone how great you are. In every post. How your own book makes you crack up. Or cry. Or even worse… Regularly quoting bits of fan mail that claim you’re a better author than JK Rowling. If the work is good, it will stand for itself. You don’t need to toot your own horn day and night. Your lips will get tired.

Be genuine. Be yourself. Be aware that other people having things to share too. Comment and participate in their lives as well. In the end, if you’re dismayed about a post gone wrong, nobody liking your status, or feeling overwhelmed — remember that’s it’s just Facebook. Not rocket science. In the end what matters most are things in your life that are offline. Your kids, spouse, family… You know, you’re real life. 😉

PS. Emoticons are a necessary evil ;p

V is for Validation

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Facebook should be renamed Vaildation-Book. But it’s not as catchy.

We, as a society, are putting ourselves, our kids, our thoughts up for the world to see. Then people validate that we are not crazy by “liking” us, or commenting. I find this incredibly interesting as a general statement on human nature. Every one needs to feel that they are not alone. That they are liked, loved and worth the oxygen they use each day.

I definitely have this mentality from time to time. Sometimes I need to take a step back and think to myself, Am I so busy seeking validation, that I am not validating others.

If you are going to use Facebook as a social media network and marketing tool, it has to be a multiway conversation. You can’t just post funny things and ignore your “friends” posts. Take time to participate in their conversations and their days. You make more meaningful relationships that way and get deeper validation than just a “like”

En-Title-ment Issues

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Here’s a word of advice for you aspiring authors. Do not get attached to your title. Because there is a decent chance you won’t get to keep it. What I mean is, you are working hard on your manuscript and it grows on you. Either like a fungus or a baby. Depends on how well its going at the time.  So you give it a name or a title in your head and you fall in love. Then you submit it to agents or publishers and someone picks it up. Then their marketing team gets a hold of it. That’s when you and your beloved title might break up.

 
It is the marketing team’s job to make your book the most attractive package it can. That means a stellar title and cover. But hey, I thought my title was pretty catchy. Maybe to me it was, but the team seemed to differ. Right here is where you can be in trouble. If you are very attached to your newborn book, it can be hard to accept any other name than the one you’ve blessed it with.
This is my current dilemna. I had named my manuscript the Philosophy of Finishing. Cedar Fort said, “Ehh” to that name. They batted around a few options for the next two weeks, but nothing else sounded good to me. Then they picked a title and subtitle that I was not fond of.  I was wondering “Oh no, did my book die? Will anyone want to pick it up.” I argued back and they put it to a vote on FaceBook.  We have yet to see the results.
fingers-c...At this point I think I need to trust in the experts. Its true that no one will love and know your book like you do. But your marketing team should hopeful have years of experience knowing exactly how to reach your audience and bookstore buyers. I’m hoping mine does at least. So at this point I’m going to let go and let the experts. I will post soon with the results of the survey. Cross your fingers that it’s something good.
But in the meantime, for your work in progress, realize that it’s the publisher that sets the title not you. And it’s in their best interest to makeup a good one. After all they are investing in you and your book. They need it to sell too. 🙂