#SocialMediaFail Round 2

By Dana Kaye

A couple weeks ago, I posted the Top Ten Signs You're Using Social Media Incorrectly. As I continue to notice people executing Twitter taboos and Facebook faux pas, I think another list is in order. I know publishers are telling authors that social media is a must, however:

Top Five Signs You Shouldn't Use Social Media

1. You are only there to promote. If your only purpose of creating a social media page is to promote your book, then that's all you'll be doing and it won't be effective. Hopping on Twitter and FB for the month or two around your book launch isn't an effective way to build your fan base, so you may as well forget it.
2. If you don't enjoy it. If you don't enjoy posting, chances are, your friends/followers won't enjoy reading your posts either. Most of authors I follow enjoy (or don't mind) posting tidbits throughout the day, at least once they get the hang of it. But if posting and reading is a pain and a nuisance, just don't do it.
3. If you don't understand it. People who don't understand how social media works shouldn't be using it. You would never take a motorcycle for a spin without having a lesson first and the same goes for social media. Make an appointment with a social media consultant or your high-school age child and take the time to learn how it works.
4. If you don't want to interact. If you enjoy posting, but don't care to interact with your followers, then there's really no point. If you're Stephen Colbert or Shit My Dad Says and you post purely for the entertainment of others, then maybe you can get away without interaction. But if your goal is to build a following, and you don't want to talk to other people, then consider a newsletter or other form of online promotion.
5. If you don't know how to censor. I tell all my clients there are certain topics they should avoid (religion, politics, etc.) but if you're one of those people who can't help saying something AND you want to build a readership, I suggest you stay off Twitter and FB. You'll read something that aggravates you or inspires you to comment on something, but if it could be controversial and alienate some of your readers, you need to keep your mouth shut. If you can't handle that (and it appears many of the authors I see on Twitter/FB can't) then I suggest you stay off social media pages.

Feel free to add your items to the list, I'd love to know what everyone thinks!

Comments

[Eddie Velez]

Great article! It's to the point and so true. People have a BS meter and will know if it's all about you or if you really care.

[Wendy Ogden]

I agree with your points 1-4, well made.

Not so sure about 5 though. I blog and tweet on a variety of topics. Apparently this is not the way to build a following but I like reading about what moves other people whether I agree with them or not. Obviously I wouldn't want to offend anyone but I also think that avoiding alienation of readers is a strategy that could also lead to inspiring no readers.

I'm fairly new to Twitter but am really enjoying the variety and randomness of tweets and the occasional passionate outburst that appears in my feed is more likely to inspire me to follow a person.

Human thoughts and feelings are interesting and some of the advice I see, to writers and bloggers, seems more suitable for marketing tins of beans than writing.

I like your website btw