Dee on Twitter
Last month I asked a question on my Facebook profile: If you could give up one social media platform– Twitter or Facebook– what would it be? Most respondents chose Facebook, because they didn’t get it. Although the results weren’t shocking, they were problematic. Many of those responders were authors… African-American authors. But in this “Relationships are Imperative for Survival†age, black authors need to get Twitter. They need to get it like two years ago…
Social Media affords us (all writers) the opportunity to communicate with our readership about our stories. However, we must realize that communication is a two way activity that requires both listening and speaking. And truthfully, more listening than speaking.
Oftentimes authors come to me with an interest in becoming a public speaker, but little to no one ever asks me how to become a Public Listener. The latter is the tipping point.
If you want to have a long lasting relationship with your readers you must listen to them. To do that effectively, authors need to master the art of building better listening stations.
Twitter is the foundation of that listening station, because:
- services like monitter helps the authors listen to the reading community within their zipcode
- services like summize helps authors listen to publishing industry buzz, especially digital publishing issues, bookstore needs, and reader feedback about your book
- services like tweetgrid allows you to listen and respond in real time faster than Facebook
- services like hootsuite allows you create specific listening channels like
- publishing
- bookstore
- deegospel
- bookclubs
- services like disqus allow your to listen to your blog subscribers via twitter
- and guess what services like Facebook’s many twitter applications allows you to listen to your facebook friends without being tied to your laptop
All of this vital chatter, authors miss by the second, hour and day because they aren’t listening. Granted, Facebook helps you to talk to your readers better. However, Twitter allows you to listen to them and then give them what they say they need and want.
Psst…I’m seeking listeners for my upcoming book release, A Good Excuse to Be Bad. Follow me as MirandaParker2 and DeeGospel on Twitter.
Great article Dee. I’m on Twitter but I didn’t know about the other things you listed. I will definitely check them out. Thanks
Zaria
Hey, Zaria.
Twitter for me is like a police scanner. If you want to hear the chatter going on right now about the topics you need to be successful, then you need Twitter on 247. There are mobile & software to be able to listen live. People ask me when I sleep because I seem to be online 247. I do sleep, but DeeGospel never does.
.-= Dee Stewart´s last blog ..The #1 Reason Your Book Marketing Efforts Fail on Facebook =-.
Thank you Dee for the tips. Sometimes the social networks can be time consuming and defeats the purpose of me being more productive but I just have to figure out how to get the most out of all of them. I will check out some of the things mentioned in your article.
.-= Shelia Goss´s last blog ..The 5 B’s =-.
Great advice…thx so much!
=-.
.-= Nesi Writes´s last blog ..NesiWrites: @linc0lnpark U r welcomeeeee
Great advice Dee. I’m an author and marketing vet who stresses incorporating social media into my companies marketing efforts. The idea is to “fellowship” with your readers or audience. That is a two way street! Great Stuff!
New to Twitter and not really sure how to get the full use of it, but thank you for the advance so as I’m learning I can apply some of these tips.
The key to social media marketing is to creat a design like a flow chart. You can decide which service you will spend most of your time connecting with your readers. Typically that is a blog, forum or community service like a ning.
(read this later it’s a mouthful) However, with the nings you have to set rules at the beginning and have some administrate the forum, else you will find authors pitching instead of readers connecting. i have a forum on ning that will more than likely decrease in size, because i will remove members that only plug and not connect with others. sometimes we forget to come back to these communities. that is fine with me, but when the only activity i see are plugs, then they will be removed. once you set up parameters and follow through then you can channel your messaging through these systems easier and less time consuming.
in short we need to plan before we build or renuvate what we’ve build, because these services are designed to give us time, not take them.
.-= Dee Stewart´s last blog ..The #1 Reason Your Book Marketing Efforts Fail on Facebook =-.
Great stuff, Dee! I agree wholeheartedly and say it’s all a balancing act, but once you get the process down, it’ll do wonders for you professionally.
(And I definitely know about the plugs or what I call using someone else’s group/list as your own personal list. I recently had to rethink a group because of this.)
I fought the social networks for a long time, but have been on FB and Twitter for coming up on a year and I’ve flip-flopped on the one I prefer, but try to utilize both of them. I’ve been slacking on Twitter lately though. Hopefully I can get back on track soon with connecting with folks there.
Thanks as always for such a great post! We appreciate you sharing your expertise with us.
-Tee
@Tee so true, From just listening online more I’ve gained new clients, speaking opps for myself and my clients, been featured in major media outlets that heps us cross over into mainstream conversation, which leverages the entire african american writing community. Carleen Brice, Tayari Jones, JD Mason and Virginia DeBerry have facilitated incredible conversations with the lit community at large via twitter and facebook collectively. we haven’t scratched the surface on what we can do with twitter. let me throw out a hint: tv.;)
@Nesi and @michelle, i’m glad the post helped
@Renee i agree. fellowship is the focus. authenticity and transparency
Another great article Dee and definitely something to think about. It really is all about connecting individuals and groups connecting with each other and seeing what they want what they need. I am always amazed at how much info people put out on twitter and how many idea that come from it just ti the way of an idea for a blog post or the name of a new author to read or interview. And I am amazed at how much info I put out on the days I actually sit and interact on both twitter and FB.
And I have to agree with you on the ning I am in several but only active in 2 or three because of the structure they have established I don’t feel like I am just seeing adds I feel like they have a purpose.
DD, I agree. On Twitter I favorite tweets that I need to take a deeper look at or check out a link.
Great info, sis. Love the Public Listening!
thank, robin!
I don’t know if this is gay or not, but I just want to say, I love you Dee.
As always you have lifted my spirits and given me ideas. This was a great article. You are a light in a dark room when it comes to marketing and I will admire you always.
Be blessed.
.-= Sylvia´s last blog ..If You Were My Man…. If I Were Your Woman….New Release by Francis Ray & ebook by Sylvia Hubbard =-.
lol, Sylvia. anytime. last summer i held a free twitter online workshop. i’m no sure, but pam perry and i may be doing a twitter teleseminar soon. i’ll definitely keep you i the loop.
Thanks for sharing! This is wonderful Dee!
thanks, angelia! congrats on the magazine. good to know you are still getting it done.