Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Trying To Be Everywhere At Once...And Failing

Jennifer and her online presence.

When I first became a writer, I was told I had to market myself and have an online presence.  I’d already joined Facebook with a personal page, and I soon added an author page, which I’m only somewhat successful in directing people to. I soon followed with Twitter. Later, I added Google+, Foursquare and recently, Pinterest (although I haven’t done any publicity about that). And of course, I have a website and a blog, and I contribute to other blogs, such as this one, weekly or monthly.

That’s a lot of time to spend online.

Social media is fun. It gives people who mostly stay home a social outlet to interact with others, similar to the water cooler at an office. At least, that’s what I’ve used to justify my almost constant time spent switching from one form or another throughout the day.

Lately, however, I’m noticing that I spend more time than I should in a virtual world. I’ve also noticed I’m not as happy as I used to be. Now, there may be other reasons for my lack of happiness, but I think it’s time I started to do something about all of this. And perhaps there is a connection between amount of time spent online and happiness.

My website is essential for me as an author. My personal blog is essential for my mental well-being—it’s one of the places I vent, I kvell, and I publicize my writing achievements. It’s a mix of personal and professional, so I talk about everything that interests me—writing, religion, politics, parenting, the news. Maybe I shouldn’t mix those things together, but it’s who I am, and I’m not changing that.

The blogs I contribute to are important as well, because those are writing blogs and allow me to reach an audience I otherwise might not reach.

I like Facebook. I shouldn’t. It’s a huge time-suck. But I like it. It allows me to meet people, chat with old friends and be entertained. It also allows me to join online writing groups. And my author page is another way for me to get my writing out there.

Twitter is, for me, a necessary evil. I’m gaining a lot of followers who are reading my blogs and more importantly, retweeting my blogs to others. My readership is slowly increasing. I still don’t like it, but I’m learning to use it more efficiently and effectively.

I’m being very snobby with Pinterest. I’m only following other writers. I’m not posting much, but it’s a great way to create a visual storyboard for my books. And I find fun book hideaways and writing quotes.

I just deleted my Foursquare account. I tried it for awhile to see what it was like. Other than checking in to different places, I can’t find a use for it. Why do I need a record of restaurants I go to? Why do I care where others go? If my friends find a great restaurant, I hope they’ll tell me. Or better yet, take me there (especially if chocolate is involved). But there’s not professional point and it’s making me feel a bit stalkerish. So, I’m done.

Google+ is probably my next thing to get rid of. I tried it, can’t really figure out a purpose to it and am really just posting things because I think I should. But I haven’t seen a benefit and I’m connecting with a lot of strangers, without getting to know anyone. Oh, there, I just convinced myself why I should delete my account. J

Like anything, I think the key to all of this is moderation. Once I’ve pared down WHERE I am, I’m going to pare down HOW OFTEN I’m in any of these places. I suspect I’ll find myself a lot more productive.

And hopefully, happier.



12 comments:

  1. This sound exactly like the revelation I had a year or so ago. I can tell you (and I'm sure you've read on my blog several times) unhappy was a miserable place to be, and along with a few other adjustments, cutting way back on all the social media craziness and weeding my life garden, I feel SO much better and am happier than I have been in a long while. It's helped my writing in that I have a solid focus again. I think, against traditional thinking, it's perfectly okay to be all of you on your blog. When we box ourselves in, I think it squashes us not only as people but as writers. It stifles our voice. If you need a hand to hold as you hit the delete button on some of these things, I'm your girl! You can do it and I promise you'll feel like dancing afterward. :)

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    1. I might just take you up on that hand, Denisea. Thanks!

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  2. I agree about social media taking up a lot of time, but I look on it as an 'online presence' rather than a marketing tool. Over the years, I have made a lot of online friends, as I am sure you have too. Facebook is the only one I use regularly now (in addition to my blog and this blog.) I rarely use Twitter, as I got tired of all the 'buy my book' adverts. Similarly with most of the yahoo groups, many of which seem to be devoted solely to advertising books and blogs. Never heard of Foursquare, and, like you, don't really see the point of Google+ (or of Linked In either).
    I'm happy with the things I do, and hope you'll find the 'happy medium' yourself too.

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    1. There's an art to using Twitter, which is why it's so frustrating when using it to build a book audience. I'm hoping to find my happy medium soon, Paula.

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  3. Keeping up with social media takes as much tine as writing a book. I have to confess, I've largely put it on the back burner. It's so terrible of me, but I find I don't even often look at the posts coming through from the publisher group anymore. Facebook is an occasional thing for me...and I still really haven't figured out how to use it exclusively as a promotional tool. I do still contribute regularly to my blogs, but I do that to keep in touch with my author friends. (waving hello to my girls here at HWH) But I rarely check in on other blogs, as it seems to be a lot of what Paula says...advertising of other authors. Wouldn't it be nice to find a blog solely devoted to readers?!

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    1. My publisher has a Reader page on Facebook, but the only people who seem to use it are authors, and not even for promotional stuff!

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    2. Any page, blog, or group supposedly for readers inevitably ends up being swamped with adverts/promotion by writers(in my experience!)

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  4. I am just learning FB. Have this blog and one other. Do a lot in several online writing groups. Have never Twittered, find Pinterest a time suck, don't need Google+. Will do a website soon. Never figured out how to long into Triberrr. So many online communities. I figure my limited time is best spent writing.

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    1. I do like Triberr because it gets lots of people to repost my blog, therefore allowing me to reach people I wouldn't normally reach.

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    2. I left the Triberr group I was in originally because I discovered 'I' (through the automatic system) was posting links to X-rated blogs (i.e. extreme erotica!). I think you need to be very careful about which Triberr group you choose to join!

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  5. Regarding Facebook, I don't think it is effective when used only for promotion purposes. The idea (in my opinion anyway!) is to get to know people by commenting on their posts etc. I have made a lot of friends through FB (and have met several in 'real' life as a result.). It's very time-consuming but I enjoy it for the 'social' side, as much as anything! If any of my FB buy any of my books, that, in a sense, is an extra bonus!

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    1. I agree with you regarding Facebook, Paula. I think each type of media has a strategy for using it effectively and the key is to determine which is the most useful for your purposes and then to master the strategy. I'm trying to streamline.

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