I have profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, StumbleUpon, Blogger, Shelfari, Goodreads and many others whose names escape me. I’ve spent time on Kboards, KDP Community Forums, Yahoo Groups and again, many other forums with long-forgotten names. I’ve posted ads for my books on Craigslist as well as multiple other free online classified sites. And, in between all that I’ve written some new books. Eighteen months ago it became too much so I made some decisions. I knew I had to pare down my efforts and decide which sites were working for me and I had to eliminate the ineffective time drainers. So, I determined which three sites were the platforms that would help me connect with readers. I ignored the ones that weren’t working and I found the ones that worked. For me. Continue reading “The Only Three Social Networks I Need”
Tag: social media
Introduction to Tumblr
Guest Post
by Kat Cantwell
My mum – Lynne Cantwell, to you lot – mentioned that IU was looking for a post on Tumblr, since it’s such a black hole to so many Indie authors, but it’s becoming a ‘thing,’ of late. (At least, it is among people in their mid-teens to early 30s.) So I was asked if I could give a bit of a crash course.
Tumblr is this interesting and sometimes confusing cross between a blog and Pinterest (I suppose is the best way to describe it). While it can certainly be used as a blog, most people don’t go that route, because it’s not hard to lose text posts in what tends to be a very image-heavy medium. Tumblr is also mostly used to share things that other people post; I rarely post anything of my own, but I’m always reposting something that other people have (re)posted. Continue reading “Introduction to Tumblr”
Your Author Platform: Building the Plane While Flying It
Guest Post
by Karen Dodd
From the perspective of a newly published indie author (the glow hasn’t quite worn off yet but I’m expecting to see it on my pillow, scowling back at me, sometime soon) I want to share with you the single most important activity to engage in before you publish your book. Okay, I should say the most important activity besides writing a great book.
Is it having beautiful graphics designed for your website and social media presence? No. Is it having fabulously flashy business cards or bookmarks? No. It’s in engaging with others long before your book goes live. Continue reading “Your Author Platform: Building the Plane While Flying It”
Empire Avenue – A Different Type of Social Networking
Social media platforms have become synonymous with marketing. As Indie publishers and writers, it’s a love-hate relationship. If you are not out there, then you feel like you’re missing the boat. If you are out there too much, then you are spamming all the same people over and over.
It’s rare when you run across a platform that isn’t saturated with groups of the same people. One such platform puts a different twist on social media relationships and networking. Empire Avenue’s mission is to build a global marketplace where any individual can realize the value of their reputation and networks. With Empire Avenue, you link your social media accounts and you earn virtual dollars based on your interactions and social media engagement. Empire Avenue takes social media, gamification, and networking to a whole new level. Continue reading “Empire Avenue – A Different Type of Social Networking”