I remember the day, as a child, that I found out one of my friends didn't have a house phone (long before cell phones were an every person possession) - I was shocked. It just seemed to be so… isolating. Fast forward to 2008 and I find that is the same response people get when they say they don't belong to at least one of the social networks.
As a freelance writer working alone from a home office, I can relate strongly to something a fellow writer friend had to say “Being on these networks is like having co-workers.” (Thanks Sophie!) I have accounts on MySpace, Facebook, Inked-In, Growing Bolder, Absolute Write, Firefighter Nation, Published Authors, Ziggs, and several niche forums. Socially I use these sites to discuss common interests and stay in touch with long distance friends. I have dual personalities on some sites such as MySpace where I belong to specific interest groups of fellow writers, emergency services, school alumni associations and favorite causes.
I could spend several hours a day on these networks, and sometimes I do, but it isn't all play. I also use these networking sites to network my business, my name, my writing and make valuable contacts. And it works. The publisher of my latest novel, Bartlett's Rule, is Vanilla Heart Publishing in Everett, Washington; I heard they were open to queries from an acquired friend on MySpace. I have heard about promotional opportunities as an author on both Absolute Write and MySpace. As a member of large online writing communities, I have been able to learn from others as well as share my own experiences.
Here's positive proof that keeping my name out there helps to bring traffic to my author's blog here : I have a StatCounter account on both my author's page and on my business page (page); this account allows me to see the traffic visiting my sites. In the period from May 1 through yesterday, June 9, nearly 30% of the traffic to my author's page came from Absolute Write followed by 24% from MySpace pages. Other sites that brought significant traffic included Inked-In, the Vanilla Heart Publishing site, and Blogger. Each visit to my site translates into a potential customer.
Tisha Pelletier of Simply Put Marketing Communications LLC, says, “From blogs to MySpace to Facebook to YouTube to LinkedIn, all are part of the social media mix and can help you market your business more effectively.” Pelletier explains that the proper use of these social network sites and blogging can augment a small business' advertising. “If your blog or video is creative enough and grabs the attention of your market, it can lead to viral sharing -- which means more hits to your site and potentially more sales."
Whether you want to get into networking because you work alone and crave the feeling of “co-workers”, because you are home bound and desire company, or because you would like to make crucial contacts and business referrals - there are plenty of sites out there. Use a search engine to find networking sites, depending on the terms you use, you will get a variety if responses. Visit the sites and get an idea of the atmosphere and then get involved with the ones you like and the ones that seem to meet your individual needs. If you decide to join a friendly social network and still build on your professional persona, remember the image you want to project each time you make a post.
Networking sites with blogging potential are also big pluses for writers who want to show off their talents. Blogs allow you the opportunity to self-publish and discuss topics that you might not have been able to market to an editor. Blogs can also be self-promotional for your work that has been published elsewhere.
~ Tisha