I'm officially off the grid!
Enjoy your friends, family, food, the downtime--whatever's special about this season to you--make it count.
I will see YOU in 2014!
Monday, December 23, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
How To Use Twitter
Previously on the blog:
The best way to market is ALWAYS to release a new book (building your backlist). While I don't think that will ever change, I do want to focus more on marketing this year, and just "putting myself out there." I feel like if I say this on the blog, I'll stick to it. (Consider it a form of positive peer pressure). The easiest way (for me) to connect with others is through Twitter. I've been doing some research, so my next post will cover what I've learned about Twitter. I figure if the information helps me, it might help you, too.
As promised:
I don't have to tell you that technology is changing faster than we (read: I) can keep up. When I first started writing, Myspace was the way to connect with readers. Now, entire weeks will go by and I won't even think about Myspace. In fact, I deleted my account a few months ago. There was just no point in maintaining it. This was because Facebook came along, and it was a much better way to connect with friends, family, and readers. Now I'm hearing the adults are sticking to FB, but teens (i.e. my market) are moving on to bigger and better things. Methinks I will eventually have to look into Tumblr, but I digress.
I've always enjoyed Twitter, though. I like the brevity of it all. Face it: few of us have time to read long, cumbersome blog posts, and even fewer have time to write them.
So, in my quest to use Twitter more efficiently in the coming year, I sat down and determined how, exactly, I wanted to use it.
Here's what I came up with (in the order of importance).
Then, I had to decide what to tweet or what I felt followers expected from me.
While reading, I also learned a few things to avoid.
Overexposure (I had to unfollow someone recently for this. I felt *so* bad, but at the same time, my feed was so clogged with posts that weren't relevant to me that I couldn't take it anymore. It wasn't any of you, so don't worry! I can look the other way to an extent, but this just got to be too much.)
Venting/Rants (I'm the first to admit that I enjoy putting a good sarcastic comment or two out in the world, and I don't mind venting as a whole. It's when it becomes an entire feed that it gets tiresome. No one should roll their eyes and mutter "here we go again" when I send a tweet out into the world.)
Gossiping (Information travels too quickly these days--usually before the facts are even straight. I love a good scandal as much as the next person, but it doesn't hurt to take a breath or two and hold off until facts are confirmed. Also, remember that the internet is forever. How awkward would it be to have to sit on a panel with someone you publicly bad-mouthed? Yeah.)
So once I figured out how to use (and not use) Twitter, I looked into . . .
And finally, some . . .
And there you have it! Pretty self-explanatory, I think. If you're trying to figure out how to use Twitter more effectively, take what you need from this and leave the rest.
My Twitter feed is in the sidebar. ---> And I can be followed via @katiekleinbooks. I don't auto follow, but I do respond to @ replies. As a follower of mine, you can expect to see a good mix of RTs from other writers; links to information important to indies, writers, and readers; and varying personal nonsense.
My goal is to stay more connected in 2014. We'll see how it goes!
~Katie~
The best way to market is ALWAYS to release a new book (building your backlist). While I don't think that will ever change, I do want to focus more on marketing this year, and just "putting myself out there." I feel like if I say this on the blog, I'll stick to it. (Consider it a form of positive peer pressure). The easiest way (for me) to connect with others is through Twitter. I've been doing some research, so my next post will cover what I've learned about Twitter. I figure if the information helps me, it might help you, too.
As promised:
I don't have to tell you that technology is changing faster than we (read: I) can keep up. When I first started writing, Myspace was the way to connect with readers. Now, entire weeks will go by and I won't even think about Myspace. In fact, I deleted my account a few months ago. There was just no point in maintaining it. This was because Facebook came along, and it was a much better way to connect with friends, family, and readers. Now I'm hearing the adults are sticking to FB, but teens (i.e. my market) are moving on to bigger and better things. Methinks I will eventually have to look into Tumblr, but I digress.
I've always enjoyed Twitter, though. I like the brevity of it all. Face it: few of us have time to read long, cumbersome blog posts, and even fewer have time to write them.
So, in my quest to use Twitter more efficiently in the coming year, I sat down and determined how, exactly, I wanted to use it.
Here's what I came up with (in the order of importance).
How I Want To Use Twitter
Connect with readers and other writers
Promote other writers
Offer glimpses into my life/thought process. To "keep in touch."
To spread the news re: ebook deals
To spread the news re: ebook deals
Promote myself/my books
Then, I had to decide what to tweet or what I felt followers expected from me.
What To Tweet
Information about new releases/deals
Information about writing/the indie world
Information about me (what I'm doing, what I'm liking, etc.)
While reading, I also learned a few things to avoid.
What to Avoid
Overexposure (I had to unfollow someone recently for this. I felt *so* bad, but at the same time, my feed was so clogged with posts that weren't relevant to me that I couldn't take it anymore. It wasn't any of you, so don't worry! I can look the other way to an extent, but this just got to be too much.)
Venting/Rants (I'm the first to admit that I enjoy putting a good sarcastic comment or two out in the world, and I don't mind venting as a whole. It's when it becomes an entire feed that it gets tiresome. No one should roll their eyes and mutter "here we go again" when I send a tweet out into the world.)
Gossiping (Information travels too quickly these days--usually before the facts are even straight. I love a good scandal as much as the next person, but it doesn't hurt to take a breath or two and hold off until facts are confirmed. Also, remember that the internet is forever. How awkward would it be to have to sit on a panel with someone you publicly bad-mouthed? Yeah.)
So once I figured out how to use (and not use) Twitter, I looked into . . .
Best Twitter Practices
(The information varies from site to site--data sometimes conflict--but from what I've gathered. . .)
Tweet between 4-7pm
Tweet often
Tweet at least 5 days a week
Twitter engagement is higher on weekends
(but Thursdays and Fridays aren't bad, either).
It's okay to tweet the same post again a few hours later (not every five minutes!) for those who might've missed it the first time.
Good Tips to Follow
Stay positive
Try to have conversations with people.
Include a link or a photo whenever you can
Retweet (RT) others
Ask for a RT.
(Truth? I'm not a fan of begging for people to RT my posts, but if there's something I want people to see, I definitely get more RTs when I ask for them as opposed to when I don't.)
(Truth? I'm not a fan of begging for people to RT my posts, but if there's something I want people to see, I definitely get more RTs when I ask for them as opposed to when I don't.)
And there you have it! Pretty self-explanatory, I think. If you're trying to figure out how to use Twitter more effectively, take what you need from this and leave the rest.
My Twitter feed is in the sidebar. ---> And I can be followed via @katiekleinbooks. I don't auto follow, but I do respond to @ replies. As a follower of mine, you can expect to see a good mix of RTs from other writers; links to information important to indies, writers, and readers; and varying personal nonsense.
My goal is to stay more connected in 2014. We'll see how it goes!
~Katie~
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
INDIE LIFE--Access to Information
It's Great to be an Indie because . . .
You have access to information. Really. Important. Information.
And you have it when it matters most.
And you have it when it matters most.
Knowledge is power. Real time sales information is
essential. Are social media posts working for you? An advertisement you took
out? Have you stopped promoting altogether?
With traditional publishing, you
only have access to numbers months after the sale. Indie writers can examine numbers
daily on a variety of platforms to determine what (promotion-wise) is working
and what isn't.
And while I don't recommend obsessing over daily numbers, it's good to have the information available. Use it to your advantage.
Because being Indie doesn't have to mean going it alone.
JOIN US FOR INDIE LIFE!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
On "Getting Back Out There"
So, I kind of disappeared for a while, only popping in occasionally (usually to post about new releases or a sale). I blame the new baby. (Any time I can't get something done, I blame the baby. Poor baby!) I'm slowly trying to get back into the swing of things, though--find a groove, so to speak. That means I really need to be better about updating this blog. In a world where blog hits are down statistically, mine are increasing. Don't know why that is, but I'm thankful you stopped by just the same. :)
One of my goals for the upcoming year is to improve my marketing skills. When Cross My Heart was first released, I didn't have to do a thing. I released, you liked and raved, and Amazon algorithms did their thing. There have been so many changes to the algorithms since then (and self-publishing in general), that sales have to be fought for these days. Because of the quick nature of self-publishing and the internet, things are in a constant state of flux. What works one week won't work the next. Advertising sites that were once popular and that were guaranteed money makers are now dead in the water. I'm even hearing that blog tour participation is down. (That lasted what? Six months?)
The best way to market is ALWAYS to release a new book (building your backlist). While I don't think that will ever change, I do want to focus more on marketing this year, and just "putting myself out there." I feel like if I say this on the blog, I'll stick to it. (Consider it a form of positive peer pressure). The easiest way (for me) to connect with others is through Twitter.
I've been doing some research, so my next post will cover what I've learned about Twitter. I figure if the information helps me, it might help you, too.
Placeholding until then!
~Katie~
P.S. I have a twitter feed in the sidebar. It contains either 1) personal nonsense, 2) retweets of others, or 3) where to find a good ebook sale. If you don't follow me already, I'm @katiekleinbooks. I don't auto-follow, but I do try to respond to every personal (@) message. :)
One of my goals for the upcoming year is to improve my marketing skills. When Cross My Heart was first released, I didn't have to do a thing. I released, you liked and raved, and Amazon algorithms did their thing. There have been so many changes to the algorithms since then (and self-publishing in general), that sales have to be fought for these days. Because of the quick nature of self-publishing and the internet, things are in a constant state of flux. What works one week won't work the next. Advertising sites that were once popular and that were guaranteed money makers are now dead in the water. I'm even hearing that blog tour participation is down. (That lasted what? Six months?)
The best way to market is ALWAYS to release a new book (building your backlist). While I don't think that will ever change, I do want to focus more on marketing this year, and just "putting myself out there." I feel like if I say this on the blog, I'll stick to it. (Consider it a form of positive peer pressure). The easiest way (for me) to connect with others is through Twitter.
I've been doing some research, so my next post will cover what I've learned about Twitter. I figure if the information helps me, it might help you, too.
Placeholding until then!
~Katie~
P.S. I have a twitter feed in the sidebar. It contains either 1) personal nonsense, 2) retweets of others, or 3) where to find a good ebook sale. If you don't follow me already, I'm @katiekleinbooks. I don't auto-follow, but I do try to respond to every personal (@) message. :)
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