Social Media Reflections

Prior to the publication last year of my novel, Charles Middleworth, an insightful and humorous tale of the unexpected, my social media presence consisted of merely a Facebook profile with a couple of pictures (not of cats).  Shortly before the book’s release I made a foray into Twitter and have since embraced a range of social media platforms.  In this post I reflect on my social media observations to date:

Twitter – A little over seven years ago a Tweet was the sound emitted by a variety of small birds.  Today Tweets are synonymous with only one bird, the blue Twitter bird; a bird that tweets incessantly 24/7.  To date approximately 170 billion Tweets have been sent by 500 million Twitter users.

As my blog followers know I have become somewhat obsessed with Twitter and have devoted numerous posts to Twitter related subjects, ranging from studying the species that inhabit Twitter, to Twitter grievances including Justin Bieber and the ways in which authors sell books on Twitter.

Observation: The value of Twitter lies in the personal connections one makes, not in intrusive and counterproductive blanket promotional Tweeting.

TwitterBird

Facebook – Facebook remains the behemoth of social media with over a billion users each month.  Much of the promotional efforts on Facebook revolve around getting Likes for your given page/s.  However the value of these Likes is more often than not derisory.  Research suggests 99% of Facebook fans are worthless.

It is worth noting that Facebook only displays your posts to a small percentage of the people that have Liked your page.  Facebook also charges users to promote their posts after reaching the 500+ Like threshold.

Observation:  Not all Likes are equal.  The value of a given Like is derived from its origin (i.e. authors require Likes from their target-readership not other authors).

Linked-in – The site’s 238m users take their jobs seriously and turn up smartly dressed and ready to network.  They do not appreciate the ruckus of some other social media sites (i.e. Twitter) and expect decorum at all times.  Self-promotion needs to be conducted with restraint.  Some have argued that the platform’s obsession with stamping down on self-promotion has become overly aggressive of late (see this Forbes article).  Personally I do not use the site a great deal but can occasionally be found at one its numerous groups dedicated to writers.

Observation: A great place to get advice and network with others, but remember that the party hat people might find amusing on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest will probably not go down well here.  Oh and there is no need for those pictures of your cat – I don’t care if it is cute.

goodreads

Goodreads – With 20 million members and 2.5 million reviews, goodreads is the place to be to network with readers.  I find myself relishing this Bieberless enclave every time I visit.  Goodreads is a place where one is able to concentrate on book related matters without being interrupted by scantily clad South-East Asian jail-bait promising to love you long time whilst trying to sell you thousands of Followers for $10.

Goodreads is an ideal place for authors to meet readers; readers being the key word.  If one only socialises with one’s author friends on the site, then the whole dog chasing its own tail scenario starts all over again.

Observation: Etiquette is the key word with goodreads.  Its users are fastidious in embracing social norms and will more often than not meet unsolicited friend requests and self-promotion with contempt.

Google+ – There is much evidence to suggest that the Google search engine matches search results with Google+.  This is reason enough to join the 500m users in calling the place home.  It was only recently that I turned up at Google+, bunch of flowers in hand.  However I received no love, so I came back with a box of chocolates, but my efforts still went ignored.  I am determined that one day in the not too distant future I will be viewed as a valued member of this increasingly influential community.

Observation: Backed by its big brother Google, Google+ is set to grow exponentially over the forthcoming years and may well be where the party will be at.

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What happens when Adrian, an actuary, has his banal and predictable existence turned upside down by sinister forces that he can neither understand nor control?  How will he react to a revelation that leaves his life in turmoil?  Will he surrender or strive for redemption in an altered world, where rationality, scientific logic and algorithms no longer provide the answers?

‘An insightful and humorous tale of the unexpected’ – Reader

‘A sardonic delight.  If Thackeray had lived in the 21st century, then he might have written Charles Middleworth.’  – Reader

Charles Middleworth is available through most regional Amazons on Kindle (£1.96/$3.17) and in paperback.

United Kingdom – www.amazon.co.uk

USA – www.amazon.com

10 Comments

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  • Interesting overview of the social media universe. Goodreads is a pleasant environment. Due to certain employment issues I am not on Linked-in. Is there a networking site for the permanently work-shy?

    • It wouldn’t surprise me if there was a government backed site of that nature. Goodreads is great, I wish I had joined earlier. Hope to run into you there sometime. Thanks for the comment.

  • I Twittereth not. neither do I Tweet.
    I haven’t found any benefit from Linked-in.
    I have just launched my books into Goodreads, and need to do the ‘what next’ things.
    Fb I used mainly for Scrabble, until they went and wrecked it.
    Have you tried Amazon forums?

    • I am a member of the UK Amazon Kindle Forum. It used to be on Amazon but has now moved to goodreads. I haven’t tried any forums on Amazon. Have you heard good things about these forums? Thanks for the comment.

      • I am new to the Amazon and Goodreads scenes, but saw forums on Amazon and wondered …
        I also got an encouraging review on a book segment from an Amazon reviewer.

  • Thanks for sharing another interesting post Guy. I’m new to Goodreads and haven’t yet explored all that is on offer. Do you have any tips? N.B. Although I follow your blog I no longer get emails when you publish a new post (not sure why) so feel free to message me on Twitter when you publish a new post and I’ll RT.

    • Thank you for the offer Diane. Groups are a good way to meet new people on goodreads. Also the Listopia feature is one way to find like minded readers, as is the compare book button which compares what you have read to what the given person has. I am thinking of having a giveaway on goodreads later this autumn, which I hope will result in readers adding Charles Middleworth to their to-read list.

  • Thanks for sharing your Goodreads tips Guy. I’ll take a note of them ready for when I delve deeper into what Goodreads has to offer.

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