Although there
are some major differences between Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and other
platforms, composing an update has some similarities.
This means you
can share links to valuable blog posts or articles, post an interesting quote,
or ask a thought-provoking question. And don’t forget, humor is good for all of
us, so sharing something that tickles your funny bone is fine, too.
Shorten Your
Links. A link, proper
name hyperlink, is the URL of a given web page. Sometimes these links can be
forty, fifty or even more characters long. If you’re concerned about how much
space you have to say what you want, you’ll need to shorten any link you
include in an update. I recommend you use bitly.com. There are other link
shorteners out there, but it’s my favorite. And yes, they’re all free to use.
Reasons it’s
poor: You have to read it
carefully to figure out what the title of the book is. You only have the name
of the author, no way to connect further, and again, there are two many
hashtags.
Now it's your
turn. Here are two topics. Practice composing updates and post them in the
section below. I'll give you feedback on what works and what doesn't.
Topic One: A blog post about writing compelling
dialogue.
Topic Two: A free ebook from a suspense author you
admire.
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What do I
say?
The first thing
to remember about social media is that it’s not about you. Think about your
audience or the audience you want. The things you share on social media should
do one of three things:
·
Give
valuable information.
·
Start
an interesting conversation.
·
Enrich
the lives of your followers.
How do I say
it?
Think in
Headlines. The purpose of
social media is interaction and engagement. So think about small bits that
entice those reading it to join the conversation.
Don’t give
away the ending. Don’t
end the conversation, get it started. If you jump ahead, drawing the
conclusion, there’s less reason for others to join in.
Keep it short,
if possible. Twitter
only allows 140 characters, so you have no choice. On the other hand, Facebook
doesn’t limit the length of your updates, but still shorter is better. After
about a couple of lines, Facebook will cut off your post and replace the end
with the dreaded read more. Now think about it, how often do
you really click and read more? Exactly my point. Try to make sure what you
have to say fits without requiring your readers to click read more.
Utilize
Hashtags. I’ve done
several posts on hashtags and how to use them, but here’s the short version.
When you put a
# in front of a group of words and/or numbers—with NO spaces—that becomes
searchable within a specific platform. For example, #write is a popular hashtag
for writers. If I’m looking to find new connections on Twitter (or even
Facebook) I do a search for #write and every recent update containing that will
show up. I can find people that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to. More on this
later, when I show you examples of valuable social media updates.
Try to
include an image. If
you’re sharing a link, a lot of times there are several images to choose from.
You won’t always be able to include an image, but the most read posts are those
with an image attached. This isn’t as important on Twitter, but sometimes
people will share a Twitter update on FB and you’ll be glad you included an
image.
Examples of
Updates—Good and Poor:
Below are some
examples of topics, followed by good updates and ones that are so good. I’m
using (hyperlink) to show where I would insert a shortened link.
Topic: Using
Hootsuite to Improve Social Media
Good Update:
Tips for
Writers to use Hootsuite to Improve your #SocialMedia Life – via @EdieMelson
(hyperlink) #amwriting
Reasons it’s
good: It’s intriguing and
doesn’t tell what the tips are. It includes two hashtags that fit the topic. It
mentions a person.
Poor Update:
Using
Hootsuite Will Improve your Social Media Life (hyperlink) #write #amwriting
#socialmedia #writers #marketing
Reasons it’s
poor: It gives away the
ending and basically stops the conversation. There’s no reason for the reader
to click on the link. There’s no mention of a name, so no personal connection.
There are too many hashtags. Try to keep it to no more than two. Otherwise
you’ll look like a spammer.
Topic: A
free or discounted book on Amazon
Good Update:
Don’t miss
eBook LAKESIDE LOVE from @EdieMelson – FREE today on Kindle (hyperlink)
#KindleFree #amreading
Reasons it’s
good: it’s clear and
concise. You know instantly what the title of the book is, because it’s in all
caps. You can also find the author on social media because the name is tagged.
It also utilizes two hashtags that are most popular for free books
(#KindleFree) and for readers (#amreading).
Poor Update:
Great ebook
from Edie Melson, Lakeside Love, free today on Kindle (hyperlink) #kindlefree
#ebook #amreading #writers
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Edie Melson is the author of four books, with two more due out January 2014. Her popular blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands of writers each month, and she’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian WritersConference. Her bestselling ebook on social media has just been updated and re-released as Connections:Social Media & Networking Techniques for Writers. She’s the Social Media Mentor at My Book Therapyand the social media director for Southern Writers Magazine. She’s also the Senior Editor at NovelRocket. You can connect with Edie through Twitter andFacebook.
Thanks for the information! I need to make my social media posts better and your blogs are always helpful.
ReplyDeleteHow can I offer another author's ebook for free? Do I coordinate with them or can I do it through Amazon?
Sherry, do you mean you want to share it's available for free? If so, just compose the update and put the Amazon link in. If you want to do a give-away, you can purchase the book and designate it for someone else. Just put in their email that's associated with their Kindle account. Those are the only two instances where you could be involved with another author's free book. I hope this helps! Blessings, E
DeleteI had to read this quickly as I have two boys sitting at the table with me chatting. :) I'm coming back to this post later when I can really concentrate on it. Thanks for the great suggestions, Edie!
ReplyDeleteJeanne, thanks for stopping by! Blessings, E
DeleteGreat tips, Edie! Bookmarking this one!
ReplyDeleteJessica, Thank you!
Delete