Stephen Heitz, managing director of interactive at Lavidge, offers four tips to authors who are new to social media. First, be sure to claim your social profiles on all of the high traffic platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Don't feel obligated to be active on all, but at least register your information. Second, start out with short and simple posts so that you don't overwhelm your followers, or yourself. Third, find your biggest supporters on each platform and reach out to them for advice on the best way to approach that specific platform. Finally, actively seek out feedback from your community of followers. This will help keep them engaged while providing you with valuable insights.
Through my awesome publisher Iuniverse I have tried the LA Book Fair and also on my own on a live streaming over the net radio station in one of my target audiences, but with apparently little if any noticeable effect. I have friends all across the country and even internationally through my car club, but they are a totally different audience. As a first time author at age 73, I too am not very savvy with social media. So I hope I can put your tips to work with better results. However, my first encounter with Facebook resulted in my email box being swamped with over 100 spam emails all within a matter of minutes, and I've been wary of it ever since. (BTW my pen name is Mark Rogers.) I am on Linkedin, though just as my real name and not as my pen name. Thank you ever so much for your advice!
It is comforting to read about another author of the same age. Westbow Press will publish my book in December. I'm just waiting now for the galley to reach port. I'm busy promoting my cover and a summary on social media and genealogy websites. The publisher will be of "some" help with marketing but I'm mostly on my own. I'm being asked by two new acquaintances about the publishing process and will look at Archway as a fit. Thanks for mentioning your publisher. Regards. Allen
Thanks very much, Stephen Heitz, for your info! I've been doing my own marketing on Facebook, Amazon Author Page, Goodreads, and a few other sites. Having been published the first part of Nov. 2017, soon I'll see how the sales went for the 4th Qtr {only a couple of months}. It's hard to wait for the total sales reports. Writing seems easy compared to marketing a book. I'm appreciative of your podcast. Being a 1st time author at the age of 74 and not being savvy with social media, I need all the help I can get. Archway publishing is awesome, I think, and especially in my elder years.
Thank you for the information. It has reinforced a lot of what I have been going through in building my social platform.
Thank you very much for your advice. I really found the information very valuable.