7 Social Media Secrets of the Savvy

1) Make sure what you write benefits others.

Stacey Zink, historical romance writer, says, "I try to ask myself, 'Is this something that is going to encourage someone or be of some type of benefit before I post it.'"

Stacey adds, "I love to encourage people, so if I have a chance to encourage a fellow writer on Facebook or Pinterest, then I will take it."


2) Promote other authors.

From Stacey Zink: "I will gladly share their links or promote their free books, because I know it can make a difference in their lives and it only takes me a moment to click a button. On Facebook, we have a chance to be a blessing to someone every day."

Roseanna White, author of several novels including Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland, states:
I "share when others' books are free or on sale, if its a book my readers will connect with."

Lindsay Harrel, women's fiction writer shares these thoughts on promotion:

"I like to link to other people's articles that really struck me. Or tag other people. Or give them props. It's such an easy way to give encouragement and brag publicly about someone else, and I love it for that."


3) View Facebook as a ministry.


Stacey Zink writes: "I suppose I look at facebook as a ministry, even if not in the traditional sense. I may not preach from the Word of God every day, but I hope that my posts reflect the love and grace of God."



4) Be real.

Carrie Fancett Pagels shared the following: "I was a psychologist for 25 years and I don't want to be straight-jacketed when I am making comments on Facebook. If I want to use exclamation points I will whether they are considered professional or not!!!! (See my point!) And psychologists are told to STAY off of Facebook. I use caps a lot but am not yelling. Maybe people think that I am. I have arthritis and my fingers hurt more to try to bold something but on Facebook I don't know even how to do that, LOL! Anyway be genuine, be yourself."

(And Carrie well illustrates another important point. Don't take yourself too seriously.)


"My whole goal with my posts is to remind my friends that I'm a writer and my readers that I'm a real person," says Roseanna White.


5) Keep a good mix of posts.


Alleymate Pepper Basham keeps the following criteria in mind: "When I put something I want it to be three possible things: 1) a good hook--oooh, that's an interesting thought. 2) funny--ah, that brightened my day. 3) (RARE) deep, thoughtful, and short.


Roseanna White also states she likes to have a good variety of posts.

"Usually about once a day or so I'll post something personal, but clever. Often it's the hilarity that my small children speak, or a silly thing I noticed. Why? Because people love to laugh, and kid witticisms tend to stick with them. And then I'll sprinkle in updates on my writing. If I've just reached a big milestone, I'll share that, because people love to celebrate with others."


6) Stay interactive.


Roseanna writes about her most frequent posts: "But more often I try to post something that's interactive--asking for help on naming a character, a book, thoughts on a plot devise, or something fun I encounter in my research that invites reaction, like "I just discovered this but am choosing to ignore it--shh, don't tell!"


Lindsay Harrel writes: "Essentially, Facebook is a way to get to know others better, and as an author, you are NOT just all about your writing."

7) Don't forget the MAIN thing.

In closing I would like to cite two Scripture verses that Stacey Zink mentioned that I think are fantastic thought for writers to keep in mind.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.

In two weeks, I will be sharing more social media strategies from Kristy Wedge Cambron and others.

What are your secrets to writing quality Facebook posts?

Julia enjoys writing women's fiction whenever she can find a chair free of smushed peanut butter sandwiches and lego blocks. She is a wife and homeschooling mama of two littles. She also is a reviewer for Library Journal, Title Trakk and Christian Library Journal.

What I Learned from Reading Your Facebook Updates...

After ACFW, I joined Facebook after multiple recommendations to do so. Thanks to Karen's wonderful post I have great ideas for how to use my time on media wisely. I've downloaded HootSuite and love it, although I haven't completely figured it out. 

Next I began following Edie Melson's fantastic blog, The Write Conversation. Every Monday, Edie has special features on Social Media and let me tell you she is a master on this subject. 

I will admit I am so media savvy (er, not so much) that I asked her how to use hashtags. 

In order to learn more, I have been observing others Facebook updates. I get anxious to read updates from certain authors, other times I find myself bored with reading the same old.

1) "Its all about me, baby. Me and my book. Which by the way, is only $5.00 on Amazon for the next 24 hours." 

Don't get me wrong. I have had occasion in the last several days to rejoice over a writer's first publication in an anthology, another who has their first agent, and an author who just signed a new three book contract. I'm  THRILLED to see these updates!!! 

And I get EVEN MORE EXCITED if I knew more about the author than just about their book. You don't have to share everything in your personal life, but I think forming some sort of connection makes me feel like I'm more than a vehicle to sell your book.

2) Talk about your writing, but not always. 

Tie it back to your writing, we want to know how you're doing. We get excited about other writer's ideas and we love to know that your heroine looks like the gal you just ran into at Wal-Mart. Others might not care about it, but as writers we get a strange excitement about others ideas.

Just don't make every post about your ideas.

3) Promote other authors writing more than you promote your own writing.

Edie Melson recently gave some great advice. She only allows one out of every 5 of her posts to be about her. Promote other's good news. Advertise your favorite blogs, just because. Renee Ann Smith, Jessica R. Patch and Cheryl Wyatt do a fantastic job of promoting others above themselves. 

4) Make us laugh.

I'll be honest, my favorite by far are posts that make me laugh. I always delight to see updates from Roseanna White because I love the wonderful and witty tone she adds to everything she writes. Pepper Basham and Janice Thompson also have fantastic updates that often make me smile. Like Pepper's recent update about writing Bible verses in Elvish.

5) Let us respond. Ask questions.

What are you cooking in your crockpot? Ask us what we're cooking. It might seem mundane, but it is refreshing to see posts that ask a question to the readers instead of just sharing about the author. 

And anything about your book is automatically more interesting if I can give feedback on it. Such as Pepper's recent question about her kiss scene.

6) What makes you tick? What is your heart cry? 

What are the reasons behind why you write what you write? Do you have a heart for women in crisis situations? Want to minister to cancer survivors? When something is your passion, your heartbeat comes out on the page and I feel that passion for your subject of interest, too.

For instance, Kathi Macias has been posting about a homeless man who is tied in to her recent release. My heart cries for him as he looks for his family.

7) Put up great photographs

A friend of mine puts up great pictures of God's creation. My brother regularly posts pictures of his dinner. This might not be very interesting, except he is a chef and so his plates are very artistically arranged. Laura Frantz posts great pictures of historical costumes. This is a great way to promote your book if you think carefully about your pictures.

Laura has found a great historical niche. I love historicals and love glimpsing at pictures of beautiful dresses, imagining what your heroine might wear. We WANT to see the first glimpse of your cover. Especially if you are holding it and eating a sandwich like a certain Writer's Alley debut author. 

8) You don't have to be our best friend, but let us into your world for a minute. 

Whatever is unique to you, whatever only you can share...that's what we want to hear about. 

Do you sculpt bonsai? Are you a Disney vacation planner? Have you planned weddings in real life as well as in your books? Do your heroines ride horses and you own some? We WANT to know more...

I love those that can teach me something new about something I'm interested in...

How about you? What types of updates do you love reading? Any tips you use in composing your updates?

Julia enjoys writing women's fiction whenever she can find a chair free of smushed peanut butter sandwiches and lego blocks. She is a wife and homeschooling mama of two littles. She also is a reviewer for Library Journal, Title Trakk and Christian Library Journal.