Social media doesn't deliver sales as well as direct marketing (emailing a list or word of mouth) and a website.
There are only 24 hours in a day and Facebook (et al) isn't where I'm spending even one of them.
The fact is that books are discounted on Cactus Rain Publishing website all day - every day. I can't make it any simpler than that.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/12/survey-social-media-brings-few-customers-to-online-retailers.html
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
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To be fair Nadine, I have made very good contacts on facebook. albeit only three that I can think of, Michael, Adele and, (I've forgotten her name.) They have been very helpful. But someone asked me yesterday, could I close my Facebook account. Without even thinking - yes. And I don't understand Twitter. Does anyone? i haven't sold any hard copies of my novel thorugh these sites, but may be downloads.
ReplyDeleteGlyn
I have found Twitter a waste of time, facebook is good for keeping in touch with family. My writer facebook was beginning to encroach on my writing time. As I have good support from friends there, I just pop in to say hello so I don't feel rude.
ReplyDeleteBlogging is where I have made great contacts and friends. Again, I am cutting down my time on them though. They are a good place for marketing, so will not give up altogether.
PS: Happy New Year!
ReplyDeletePerhaps, either is a way to support an established fan base. But like you said, you can be busy with that or write. It makes me think of all the times I've heard someone say they always wanted to write a novel. My thought is that they haven't wanted it enough or they would simply do it. Social media, for the majority of people involved, fills emotional needs. I'm not saying that is good or bad. But for start-cold-marketing, it probably doesn't have good returns and the time is better spent on forums or by developing a following through a blog.
ReplyDeleteIf I hadn't had my blog, I would never have come across you, Nadine. It is only through my blogs I have met solid supportive readers, and writers.
ReplyDeleteBlogs are a stronger platform than the social sites, IMHO.
Hello Liz and Kelsey-- welcome!
ReplyDeleteGlynis, I agree. I honestly didn't want to blog, and didn't for a long time, but I've met wonderful people who have become part of my life in ways that are difficult to explain.
Facebook has over 500 million users so if you could tap into just a tiny percentage of those, that's still significant. Facebook users also often join interest groups there and indicate their likes - and using FB to reach all those people is free. I think the REAL beauty is using their paid ads because they can target specific interests and/or geographic areas. If you're just spending your time writing for the fun of it, then sure, you'd have no need to network or market yourself. I think there's real merit in using FB. Post something on your wall and it automatically is seen by all your friends or followers. Doesn't get much simpler than that! Joyce
ReplyDeleteHi Joyce. You make good points. However, I wonder if any of my blog readers have bought a novel by someone they didn't know from seeing it on FB. Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteI have never bought a novel because of say so on FB.
ReplyDeleteAnon has a point that there are 500million users, but I don't tap into all of them.
But I use FB and will continue to do so just to put up the odd advertisement about myself.
Hi Glyn, Anon is Joyce, my web designer (she signed at the bottom of her comment). If one was promoting a work of non-fiction that could be reduced to a single word like, gardening, self-help, travel... then it would be easy to collect related followers. To a lesser extent, genre fiction might work, like: romance, mystery, or chic-lit. But for midstream fiction, the heart of fiction writing, it just doesn't work. This has been tested both formally and informally, and in fact, many big name writers in the US do not have a presence on FB or twitter. Why? Because they are busy writing. Most people buy books (when they can't borrow them) because of word of mouth recommendations or because they happened upon them when they were in the mood for a new read.
ReplyDeleteI was just trying to make the point that books don't sell themselves. And those "big name writers" you refer to have agents or managers or someone else handling the marketing and sales, allowing them to just write. For the little guys, social networking is a viable option. I think our friend Joy at Chalet does a good job using FB to her advantage. But hey, to each his/her own. FB and Twitter aren't for everyone. ~Joyce~
ReplyDeletePoint taken, Joyce.
ReplyDelete