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Back to Balance… and Marketing
Posted on January 14th, 2010 12 commentsA few weeks ago I mentioned that one of my current goals is to balance things in my life in order to rejuvenate and celebrate the joy in what I do every day. (That’s not to say I’ve been miserable, simply that it’s incredibly easy to get swept up in the myriad of ‘shoulds’ and forget to have a complete and utter blast.)
As if hearing the cries of aspiring (and published) writers, literary agent Nathan Bransford posted his ideas on marketing and balance. The long and the short of it is that writers should have some sort of Googleable web presence, but that trying to do ‘everything’ in terms of promotion–and there are a zillion ways to do this these days–you are going to dilute yourself and not do anything well.
Here, here.
It all comes back to balance. (I love it when things come full circle.)
Lately, I’ve been reading here and there little somethings that reflect my own thoughts on Twitter and Facebook and all those ‘follow/friend’ social networking opportunities. That is: Don’t follow everyone just to count coup. (There is an actual term for those who do this, but my brain is letting me down.) Their advice (and mine too): Follow those you are genuinely interested in.
In other words: So what if you have 1200 followers? If you are following 1200 people we know exactly how you obtained those 1200 followers. You can’t possibly read all those tweets and create a true relationships with those followers. My warning is: Don’t kid yourself into believing all those followers are a true platform and that they are all going to run out and buy your book if you ask them to (if you are an unknown).
Interesting fact that I can’t back up (it’s in a book around here somewhere–Later note: Here’s an article on Dunbar’s Number): People bottom out around 150 relationships. After they reach that threshold, they are unable to maintain and sustain more relationships. True relationships take time, energy and memory making them genuine and rewarding for all involved.
Now, a little clarification on my rant–there is nothing wrong with using social networks and gaining a following. You don’t have to know someone’s favourite colour or know their lineage to have a relationship that will result in them supporting your endeavours. In fact, I recommend building online platforms and using social networking sites. I guess what I am trying to say is: keep it genuine. As Nathan says, if you don’t ‘feel’ it (blogging, tweeting, etc), your audience is going to know. So, do what you are good at. Do what feels genuine and it will get you a whole heck of a lot farther in your promotion or platform building.
Nobody can do everything. And nobody can do everything well.
So, another tough question for you blog readers–where is the balance between writing and promotion? How do you keep it fresh when you are blogging and tweeting and facebooking? Or do you?
marketing AgentQuery, Facebook, goodreads, literary agent advice, my space, Nathan Bransford, online book promotion, online platform building, online promotion, online relationships, platform building, promotion, social networking, social networking writers, twitter for writers12 responses to “Back to Balance… and Marketing”
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I blog. I love blogging. I could do it all day if time and moeny allowed. I love my commenters and I love my bloggers. To me this is akin to sitting around the campfire with hot cocoa and marshamallows. Life doesn’t get any better.
Twitter is something I do to pass along good information I glean from the blogs I follow or reasearch I have done. My relationships here are mild and more of an info exchange.
Facebook is something I do for the sake of checking out my kids activities. Again, it is something I check on and post on a few times each week–max.
I also participate in some forums and writing communities. These are second family to me. I would share my pumpkin pie with my cyber buddies from any one of these boards. And my last margarita if asked.
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That’s my problem–I enjoy blogging and hanging out on forums. To the point where I could spend waaaaaaay too much time on some sites. And not enough writing.
I’ve never gotten into some sites like Facebook and I like to your Twitter in a lot of the same ways you do. Maybe I’m saved after all?
It’s difficult to build a ‘genuine’ platform. It takes a lot of time, dedication, and hard work! But some of it sure is a blast!
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Great post, Jean! I’ll admit, I’m not a terribly frequent blogger. It just doesn’t come naturally to me, and when I do blog, I like it to be something others will find useful versus everyday stuff. I keep thinking I’ll get into a grove and take things that happen in the course of my day and turn them into a post, but it never happens.
Twitter on the other hand, I can handle. I do follow a fair amount of people and have a fair amount of followers, but nearly all of them are writers or into steampunk. But like Cate, I use it primarily as a way to pass on and receive information, though I have developed a fair amount of friendships also.
I guess 140 characters is more my speed. ; )
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I like blogging and visiting blogs too. I use Twitter, but only for a bit a time or two a day. Or not at all, depending on the day.
I haven’t done the Facebook thing yet – trying to avoid adding one more thing.
It does take time – probably too much time, but I’m having fun!
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I really enjoy blogging, Twitter, and Facebook. I’m a people person and it’s just a natural, fun way to get to know more people. I truly enjoy the relationships that I build.
But just like Jean, I sometimes spend too much time chatting and not enough time writing. And I do realize that writing comes first.
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Good post, Jean! I LOVE blogging but the key is finding balance. I don’t do the Twitter thing and Facebook only sporadically. Oh, yeah, I left you something over on my blog. Do with it what you will. No pressure.
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Jean, I think you’re my writing soul sister. I hope this means that when one of us succeeds, the other will follow in short order!
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Good point on having a good deal of followers in Twitter, Calista. If you’ve got followers who are interested in your topic, and are following you for that information, I’d say you have a true audience. And I must say, you do rock the Twittersphere!
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Jemi, I am very impressed with your blog. It is new, yet you have a devoted following already and your topics are fresh. I have no idea how you do it! I know you are a busy gal. We all need to find our niche and as Calista’s seems to be Twitter, I think yours is blogging.
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Thanks for commenting, Mercedes. I think people persons (people people?) naturally groove out and rock social networking and are able to connect with many people in ways that others may be unable to do. It sounds like you are the type who will have crowds of friends and friendly faces in every city when you go on book tours. Rock on!
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Balance, balance, eh Yvonne. It always comes back to balance. You’d think we were gymnasts or something.
I’m intrigued, what did you leave for me? What is it? What is it?
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Wahoo! Sounds good soul sister, Cate. (I love that!)
P.S. Who’s going to go first?
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Welcome to my Website and Blog
I am an aspiring fiction writer (children's, women's and commercial) and a represented nonfiction writer. I am also a member, critiquer and site moderator over on AgentQueryConnect.com. Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to jump in the conversation and leave your thoughts in the comment section.
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Cat Woods January 14th, 2010 at 15:41