tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post7044462266239441800..comments2023-09-28T10:59:26.381+01:00Comments on Living, writing and other stuff: Guest blog – Social Media: a double-edged sword.Bill Kirtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07675643113010061969noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-82314006461991050342011-10-25T13:10:33.061+01:002011-10-25T13:10:33.061+01:00There's that magic word, Anneke - READERS - re...There's that magic word, Anneke - READERS - real people. As one accumulates 'friends' and/or 'followers' through the social media, one gets the impression that the world is populated by writers, all with books to flog. It's a false impression, of course. Reading is still popular and the numbers of books bought keeps on increasing. The resources of the major publishers make it easier for them to get their titles noticed but you're right, those of us who aren't in their stables need to be active in the real, practical world as well as the virtual one.<br /><br />My own experience of giving library talks and workshops is that there's a genuine interest in writers and the processes of writing, and individuals do buy my books as a result. But that doesn't translate into huge sales and I don't know the secret of how it might.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07675643113010061969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-27808686649337603382011-10-25T10:12:10.017+01:002011-10-25T10:12:10.017+01:00I'm looking forward to the next (guest)blogpos...I'm looking forward to the next (guest)blogpost about 'how to connect with readers'<br />Sometimes I get the impression that since everybody is focussing on social media (Twitter, Facebook etc) nobody remembers the older marketing strategies anymore.<br />How about advertising through e-mail or snail mail, offering extra's on your website (stories, a chapter of your book)? And even if your book is an e-book, your readers aren't made of bits and bytes. Apart from connecting with them through the Internet, you could go to a local library and have a chat about e-reading, your book, a subject related to your book and so on.<br />I'd love to hear about other people's experiences, from the past and the present.Annekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06321038108914191304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-76889231084367131522011-10-25T09:31:17.232+01:002011-10-25T09:31:17.232+01:00I find I'm doing the same thing, Marley - not ...I find I'm doing the same thing, Marley - not on an 'I'll buy yours if you buy mine' basis, but because the books sound interesting. It's also meant I've read outside my normal 'preferred genres' range and been pleasantly surprised as a result. The down side is that I still buy the books I would have anyway so my to be read list just keeps growing.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07675643113010061969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-27204549171996271122011-10-24T18:03:25.098+01:002011-10-24T18:03:25.098+01:00I've been thinking along these lines myself bu...I've been thinking along these lines myself but with an addition. The writer/publisher/conference/workshop/book buying cycle has always seemed to me to be somewhat of a self-perpetuating animal. We've all heard the second most common advice we get behind "Writers write". It's "Writers read." Ergo, we are also readers. Since the advent of Twitter and FB (I hate it) I'm now finding myself purchasing more of my fellow writers' books, I think - or maybe I'm just connecting with them personally. Did that make sense?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-5565078937981780372011-10-24T07:33:24.341+01:002011-10-24T07:33:24.341+01:00Very interesting. Having just, after quite a lot ...Very interesting. Having just, after quite a lot of reluctance, dipped a toe into Twitter, I can see how addictive it could become. It's like being let loose in a sweet shop. <br /><br />Think you're absolutely right about the need to protect our writing - and thinking - time. I also agree about the need to connect with readers of our own particular genre. This whole ebook adventure ain't gonna work otherwise, I feel.Maggie Craighttp://www.maggiecraig.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-39726049125695017262011-10-24T01:26:22.477+01:002011-10-24T01:26:22.477+01:00Rosemary- It's something we're ALL trying ...Rosemary- It's something we're ALL trying to figure out...a bit frustrating at times.<br /><br />RBWRBWoodhttp://www.rbwood.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-63573900005861986852011-10-23T20:34:48.216+01:002011-10-23T20:34:48.216+01:00What a timely and very interesting post, Richard -...What a timely and very interesting post, Richard - thanks for putting a lot of my thoughts into words. I completely agree about limiting our time on social media (I'm still trying to get the balance right). And I was just thinking about that very problem - how to reach the readers. Still working that one out.Rosemary Gemmellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09311840205603508422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-37443340165305682932011-10-23T15:26:59.708+01:002011-10-23T15:26:59.708+01:00Thanks Janice. You (and Richard) are dead right ab...Thanks Janice. You (and Richard) are dead right about this. We all spend lots of time schmoozing with other writers while readers are lurking somewhere in the undergrowth. Mind you, you've been pretty good at finding readers yourself - my guess is that specific targeting and lots of hard work are the answers - or part of them, at least.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07675643113010061969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-82633098246658691812011-10-23T12:37:50.632+01:002011-10-23T12:37:50.632+01:00Interesting post. I agree, it's so important f...Interesting post. I agree, it's so important for writers to know who their readers are or at least where to find them - and as much as we love our fellow writer's support and encouragement - we must remember they are not our target readership.Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01831786754054878605noreply@blogger.com