This week I read an article about Facebook and its benefits to writers. I used to have a fan page, but deleted it. I don't like Facebook, and having a fan page seemed like a waste of time.
Question: Should an unpublished author have a Fan page? What benefits are there, especially if the author already has a website?
I have a fan page on facebook. I don't like facebook, but I have one anyway. Most of the people who follow me on my fan page seem to be people who follow me on Twitter, and most of my posts to my FB page are linked directly from my Twitter account, so it would seem redundant. But, I have found it has a few advantages:
ReplyDelete-People who have 'Liked' my FB page may respond to a post they see there but missed in their Twitterfeed due to time zone differences and the like;
- The fact that posts generally appear on my FB page for 'longer' than they appear in my twitter feed allows a longer timeframe for people to follow links to my blog (and others);
-I can make longer posts on FB than I can on Twitter, such as detailed notes about where my writing is at. These are also then posted through to Twitter via a link. These are things I probably wouldn't bother to put on my website - they are too 'current' and will date too fast to bother putting on a website, but my followers may be interested to know;
-FB is easier to update with current news than a website. I can post to FB quite easily, but changes to my website require coding changes. I can do some basic ones myself, but more complex additions I need the webmaster for;
-I can use FB to easily host content I wouldn't usually put on my writing website. I have been told to keep a fan page strictly writing-related, but people interact with an author because they want to know the person, right? Some people seem interested in the house I am building, so I have some updates about that on my FB page. I simply wouldn't put that content on my website. I guess the point there is the FB page is more interactive than a website is.
I don't know that any of the above contribute to my actual marketing - that is, I don't know how effective it is. But these are the reasons I continue to have a FB page, even though I don't like FB!
I've found my fan page brings a little more traffic to my blog (though not much). Right now since I'm not published it's slow going, but it's not really my top priority, either. Way I see it, it's just another site where I can share my links and get a little more exposure.
ReplyDeleteI like Twitter a lot more though, so I spend much more time there. I guess it's just personal preference--whatever works best for you is what you should focus most of your attention on.
I fretted about this at the beginning of the summer, but I was extremely busy at the time and it kept getting pushed to the bottom of the list. Then recently I read a very helpful piece of advice: Choose which social media outlets you are comfortable with, and be present there.
ReplyDeleteI maintain a blog, a website, and a very active twitter feed. No one can say I'm not plugged into the social media world. Would it be nice if I added a Facebook page into the mix? Yes. Perhaps I'll have time for it in December after my book comes out, or maybe next month before the release, but for now I'm content.
Though I'm indifferent about Facebook, lots of other people like it; therefore I have to be there. It's as simple as that.
ReplyDeleteClayton
http://www.claytonpaulthomas
Facebook fan page: claytonpaulthomas
I'm w/you. I like to keep my FB page just for my family and friends. I have a website, blog, and goodreads for the rest. But some authors really make it work for them. I feel like each person should just choose two or three platforms and stick w/them. Otherwise the marketing/publicity side will take up all your time, and when will you write?
ReplyDeleteI do have a fan page but the users are not as interactive as I would like. I'm hoping that if I keep at it, things will improve. It's just another way for people to connect and it is extremely helpful to use with Networked Blogs.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary Ann...I think it's a personal decision. I don't think it's necessary to do every social networking outlet out there (or else nothing else would ever get done...say writing) but I do think that it is important to do a couple that feels right to the person. Stopping by to let you know that you've won the Versatile Blogger Award. See my blog for details and Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteEvery author should have a Facebook fan page. Why? Because there are 700+ million facebook users. The reason why fan pages don't work is because authors doesn't understand Facebook and/or marketing. There are apps to that when you post to your blog, it automatically posts to Facebook, Goodreads has apps to connect with it, and so on. And as you gather fans, your posts end up on their news feeds, which means it's going to all their followers (ie FREE advertizing). I could go on and on about this (and I do on my blog). It's about understanding the difference between writing and marketing. In my humble opinion, of course :)
ReplyDeleteRenee Pawlish
check out my fan page for ideas reneepawlish.author
Thanks for letting me share!
I use Facebook for connecting with my friends and family - I don't really want to bombard them with information about my book. It seems wrong somehow.
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