Twitter me this and Follow me that.
As a new author, I have found social media to be not only helpful but essential to get my name and books out there. And given the ever growing popularity of digital books, authors would be wise to tap into this market of online readers.
As I stated in my post last week, Twitter is one form of social media that I use. I really would not have use for it if I wasn’t an author and didn’t run The Season site and blog. As it is, I don’t think I would have as many visitors to my sites if not for Twitter. Twitter and sites like Facebook and Goodreads have help spread the word and for that I’m very happy.
But for some of these social media platforms there definitely seems to be a sense that the power rests in the tweets of that person being followed. And the more followers you have the more popular you are because people want to follow you, right? And the less people you follow and the more followers you have make you even more popular. The thought–and reality–is that you must be worth following if you have all these followers following you and you’re not even following them back. You might not want to see what they have to say but they want to see your tweets.
Ashton Kutcher has more than one million followers–or so I’ve heard. Does anyone expect Ashton to follow all his followers. No, that’s kind of absurd, right? If Ashton follows more people do you think that will compel them to go see his movies? Nobody knows right? But Ashton is super well known and is extremely high profile. He’s a different kettle of fish. Now for authors, bloggers, artists trying to grow their following, I see following someone back just a smart thing to do marketing wise and here is why:
- Followees are more likely to retweet the tweets you most want retweeted. Got a new book out? Here I’ll retweet it for you because it makes me feel important that you’re following me.
- Word of mouth. It can help to sell a decent number of goods or send visitors to your site. Do you think you have enough? Could you stand to have more? LOL. EVERYONE wants more readers, visitors, clients.
- It evens the sense that there is a power hierarchy and that followers not being followed are on the bottom. No one likes to feel that they’re not important.
- You can catch more flies with honey.
So do I mean that everyone should go out and follow every spammer that’s following them? No, of course not. What I am saying if the sense of being followed and not following gives you a sense of power, I don’t think you’re using Twitter to its full potential. If you can get x amount of followers and you’re not following that many people in return, imagine how many followers you could get if you were. And when is that last time you went looking for followers? I’m sure there are many people in the Twitterverse who don’t know you, don’t know your work and are in your target audience.
Facebook used to have fan pages. Some people don’t want to be fans–even if they like your work. Being a fan to many, connotes overzealous people whose name might be Annie Wilkes (Misery – Stephen King) who tie you to the bed and chop off your foot! Many of us don’t want to be associated with people like that. Now Facebook has the Like button. So much more innocuous don’t you think. I assume they found many more people are likely to Like you than be your Fan. I bet you I know what else they discovered. They found people have egos–some of which are very fragile and that good marketing means you sometimes need to appeal to that ego. 🙂
**Twitter etiquette – Reply to a tweeter when they ask a question or reply to your tweet with something that requires a response.
So that’s what I’ve learned in the last several months. What about you Twitter users, do you want to be followed back when you follow someone, or doesn’t it matter to you? Facebook users, were you a Fan or do you prefer the Like button? Would you rather Friend an author you like or be their Fan?
Comment and enter to win Lisa Kleypas’s STRANGER IN MY ARMS–don’t you love the beautiful new cover–and J.D. Robb’s TREACHERY IN DEATH.
You know I just don’t get the Twitter thing. I leave for a couple hours and there are umpteen tweets. How on earth do you keep up. Then there are those tweets that answer a question or make a statement that you have no clue because you don’t follow the responder. I like FB because it is all right there. There are still umpteen things to follow but at least it is right there for you to see. I guess what I am saying is I need one of those phones that have web access but then how do you live your life & follow at the same time. I guess I am just not a multi-tasker.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
I love Twitter — but I do it for myself and for some close friends who are also addicted to it. If I follow someone I don’t know (e.g. an author) I certainly don’t expect an auto-follow on their part. You can get bogged down so easily by following everyone who follows you…not enough time in the day to deal with it because I am one of those compulsive people who wants to read everything. Gah! I’m also rather mean about blocking followers — once a week or so I’ll go in and block anyone I don’t know or can’t figure out how or why they would possibly want to follow me!
I created a twitter account last year. I wanted to follow my favourite authors and hopefully pick up some friends. No one would follow me back. I felt I was talking into the wind so I closed it.
I doesn’t really matter to me whether a person I follow on Twitter follows me back. I just like hearing about whatever they’re talking about, but that doesn’t mean they want to hear what I’m talking about. As for Facebook, I like the fan pages as opposed to friending an author.
Sorry to say I don’t twitter. That’s for people who have more time on their hands than I do. I do spend a bit of time goign to places on the Internet where I can read reviews of books and a few blogs. I rely on those for my information about books. I go to book signings and share information with the book club I belong to.
I actually don’t use Twitter.
I don’t do Twitter but I do love facebook! I don’t care much whether it is as a “friend” or “fan” I just like being able to get news on which of my favorite authors have some new book coming out, or giving a contest.
On twitter, if I follow someone I don’t expect them to follow me back. On facebook, I don’t have a preference regarding like or fan. It is easier than asking someone to be a friend though.
I do use Twitter, although it can be overwhelming at times. Most of the people who follow me are writing friends, which is fine as I love to hear what is going on in the romance world. When my first book comes out in Feb 2012, I hope to pick up some fans as well.
The thing about Twitter is that it moves so fast. There is always something incredibly interesting on it, and if I let myself, I could stay on it, following links all day long! So, there are many days I don’t get on at all (I write with a toddler and a new baby on the way, so computer time is scarce…). I know that’s not the best way to forge and grow the relationships I’m trying to build on Twitter, but there it is. Maybe later I’ll become a better time manager and be able to write, parent, FaceBook, blog and Twitter and still stay sane 🙂
Twitter can be a great tool, though, I think. I just need to learn to harness it better.
I’m another who doesn’t get twitter. I follow some blogs & a little on facebook and have little time left for more in my day without infringing upon “reality & life” so to speak.
I use both Facebook and Twitter. I like that they let me keep up with what’s going on with all of my favorite authors. Also, I am able to learn about info in the publishing world and learn about ongoing giveaways. As for Twitter, I really don’t care if someone follows me or not. I don’t really think I say or do anything of importance on there so who cares who follows me.
I am just a reader so on Twitter, I don’t really care if people follow me or not. I don’t tweet anything important or release industry news. I didn’t mind the fan pages on FB, “Like” or “Fan” is the same to me.
I have a twitter and facebook account. I follow a lot of authors and scrapbook artists, but it makes no difference to me whether they follow me or not. I also didn’t mind being a fan of my favorite authors verses likeing them. I might feel differently if I were an author trying to promote my books though.
I don’t use twitter, but I do use facebook. I love to cove to Lisa Kleypas book. I can’t wait to read that one. I just love her books.
Social media has changed the publishing industry. Appreciate your interesting insights. Thanks again for another great book giveaway!
I just started a Twitter Account on Monday, still don’t know what I am doing, as I told you, total twitter virgin here! Since I am an aspiring writer and do have a review blog, I figured I should get out there, publishers expect it, it is right in some of the guidelines now for submission, “do you have a presence on the web?” So I figured, I better! I have had a few authors follow me back, how thrilling! ( you included, cheers~)I don’t expect an auto follow, but it is cool when I get it! I am still holding back on facebook, that doesn’t thrill me much.
I don’t twitter, but I do Facebook. As far as whether I prefer to like or become a fan, it doesn’t matter to me. If I like someone, I consider myself a fan of theirs.
You know, I don’t twitter or facebook or anything of the same like…. I’ve never felt the urge!
I use twitter to talk to people, to vent very quietly about my daily troubles and to promote my book and my blog posts. I also retweet my twitter buddies and any interesting posts. But mostly I talk. Do I follow everyone who follows me? No. I do check them out though. If every posts they make has a link I won’t follow. If the content appears to be promoting a business (and it looks like spam tweets) I might block them. But if we’ve tweeted (had an actual conversation) I’ll follow. I do follow people that don’t follow me too. I really don’t expect them too but I like to keep up to date with news. Twitter is brilliant for that.
I’m on Facebook. I have an author page. But I spend more time on twitter.
I just signed up for Twitter to enter a few authors’ contests. I don’t think I would have joined otherwise. Since I’m mostly following authors and not close friends, I would think writers just don’t have time to “follow” everyone that follows them.
I must admit I’ve never twittered – seems very time consuming. I actually didn’t want to facebook either but both my grown daughters convinced me and so now I do “like” some authors (really doesn’t matter to me what term is used lol) but I also got hooked on some games so, alas, it too is very time consuming.
My point about Twitter also is that if you’re using it as a marketing tool (authors) is that it can be better utilized if you don’t have people merely following you. The readers who are following you seek you out. They are probably already familiar to you and reading your books. If you’re trying to expand your readership or increase visitors to your site, you have to go out and follow the people mostly likely to be interested in what it is you’re marketing.
I don’t use Twitter or Facebook. So I don’t know much about it. I think with me I would follow authors as a fan but not sure. Although it would be nice to have a few book author friends.
I do not twitter.
On FB I prefer like over fan.
I don’t Twitter and I’m not on Facebook and don’t really know the etiquette. I do see a lot of requests from authors to visit their Facebook page and like it and then they’re entered for contests and prizes.
I absolutely adore Twitter, I’m on it all the time! When I follow someone I don’t know personally, I don’t expect an auto-follow (especially if they’re a celebrity of some sort), but I do appreciate a reply when I ask a question. Authors who don’t respond to questions make me kind of sad.
I’m old-school Facebook–when it was just about social networking–so I don’t use Facebook for Fan-ing or Like-ing.
Not a big time twitter user and don’t feel worthy being followed… but I understand its power!
I would rather be a Friend of an author. I do like the LIKE button as well. I don’t twitter…something else I’d have to learn to do..so much to do and so little time. The less twittering, etc I would spend doing the less time I would be actually READING an author’s book. I would rather read.
I like being “friends” with the authors that I read. I don’t twitter. Facebook is enough for me!
I like twitter, it’s a great way to get up to date info from authors. For me it doesn’t really matter if someone follows me back or not. On Facebook I actually prefer the Like button instead of being a fan/friend.
On Facebook, it doesn’t really matter, I know what “like” really means, but it does have a nicer feel to it I guess. On Twitter, I feel flattered when a busy author or celebrity follows me back, and I do feel more like retweeting them or spreading the word more for them because they took the time to follow me. For people who follow me first I don’t feel quite the same, but I will follow them if I know who they are and they look like they actually have something to say, not just promo.
I have a Twitter account, but really don’t have the time to keep up with it. I do a little better with my Facebook page, but I have been out of town on a family emergency this past week and haven’t even been able to check that. If you are at a computer all day, it is much easier to keep up with these accounts and your emails. Those of us who get on for a few hours at night if we are lucky can barely keep up with the sites we like to visit.
I don’t twitter, but I was ok with being a fan on facebook. I just wish they wouldn’t keep changing everything all the time. I can never find what I’m looking for, so I rarely spend any time on facebook anymore.
Ihave facebook and twitter and Ireally don’t care because i barely use them
I just don’t get Twitter, but I’m a Facebookaholic!
I have twitter and FB. Twitter is only for ‘extra entries’ for me when i enter a contest. Even though i do follow bloggers (but it’s rare that they follow me back !) and authors (some of them DO follow me back, how awesome !).
As for FB, I ‘use’ it to get connect with Authors and some of my friends. And i prefer ‘as friend’ rather than ‘ as fan’.
I don’t tweet because I figure it would just be a time burner, and I don’t use Facebook because it’s completely unsecured and facilitates identity theft. I don’t see this changing anytime soon. I do follow quite a few blogs though.
I don’t have a Twitter or Facebook account so I don’t know much about them or how they work.
I am strictly a reader, don’t have accounts with Twitter or Facebook.
I follow back only people that have same interests/passion. So I don’t expect to be followed back when I follow someone (but I really appreciate ! ^^). I prefer the Like button, Fan sounds like little crazy. You can appreciate someone work without being a huge fanatic ! I think say “Friend” is a little hypocrite (do you really know that author/person ?). But I like to friendly talk with author, it’s always intrusctive and pleasant !
I’m obsessed with Twitter. I personally don’t care if an author/fellow blogger/etc. follows me if I follow them. The only thing I care about is being answered or talked to. If I ask you a question, answer it… please! Follow me or not, I don’t care. But at least answer my questions!
I don’t twitter, nor do I intend to do so in the future.
I like the old-fashioned blogs and author websites.
Easier to understand, familiar and a very satisfying way to get the information I want.
I mostly go on Twitter to see what my favorite authors are doing. Doesn’t matter if they follow but; it is nice if they do. I think it’ nice when they answer you but; I can understand they are really busy to answer all.
With regard to Facebook, I know a lot of authors so I like to friend them. However I also like to ‘like’ their pages for support.
I’m not an Author. I don’t twitter or Facebook. I’m an avid reader and follow Author blogs.
Carol L
Lucky4750@aol.com
I don’t really do twitter. However, I have “friended” quite a few of my fave authors and liked their page. I would think twice about “friending” authors, though. If they are offering their personal page for “friending” by their fans, then I would friend them but if not, then I would not.