Friday, November 6, 2015

Nov7 Guest Author Jessie Cleaver


Ana welcomes guest author Jessie Cleaver


What the Tweet: Building Relationships with Social Media
I often hear from authors that they don’t know anything about social media, and they wouldn’t do it anyway. It’s all about selling, and they just don’t want to push their book on everyone all the time. I’m here to challenge that perception. Social media is not all about promotion. Yes, it’s a great way to get exposure for your latest release, get sign ups for your e-newsletter, and even reach a new audience. But that’s not what social media is all about. It’s about relationships.

            In today’s virtual world, honesty is expected, and transparency is assumed. Social media is the tool that provides readers that transparency when it comes to their favorite authors, and as authors, we need to be using that tool to its full advantage. When I say transparency, I don’t mean sending out post after post about your latest book. I’m talking about producing content that allows readers a different look at their favorite storyteller. Sharing information about a funny thing your cat did or how snow rules your life from October to May gives your readers a way to relate to you as a person. This sort of leveling keeps you at the front of their minds and on the tips of their tongues in between books. When authors share personable, relatable experiences through social media, readers are more likely to engage and stay engage to the next book.

Here are three suggestions for producing relatable content:

1.)                    First world problems and family funnies: Everyone debates about which way the toilet paper roll goes on the holder. Post your spin on it. If your hubby or child or fish or gerbil does something funny, mention it. I’ve given my Basset hounds entire personas on social media as my writing partners, Lady Barks-a-lot and Captain Licky. My readers engage most in posts about them and even ask me what they’re up to via social media outlets.
2.)                    Memes and Photos: Everyone loves a meme or a photo, and you can never go wrong with them. With themes like #ThrowbackThursday, where you post a photo from a time long ago, you have endless opportunities to engage your readers. A word of caution: don’t go overboard. Be sure to post more substantial content than just photos and memes. You want a good mixture of content to keep readers engaged.
3.)                    Word Count and Works in Progress: Readers want to know that you’re writing the next book. Daily word counts, daily lines, or even a note saying, “The manuscript is off to my editor” are highly desirable posts. Let your readers know what you’re working on.
That’s just three ways to create relatable social media content to keep your readers engaged between releases without constantly promoting your book. Give your readers a reason to remember you. Whether it’s a new recipe you tried or your word count on a work in progress, show your readers that you’re a person, too. Your readers are more likely to stay engage and further, tell their friends about you, their favorite author who posts hilarious things on social media.

Title: When She Knows: Franconia Notch Trilogy Book One by Jessie Clever

Blurb: His latest problem is her newest assignment. 

Shannon Wynter has it all figured it. Abandoned by her mother and left to care for her agoraphobic father, Shannon focuses on building her career as a journalist to the detriment of all else including her love life.

Ian Darke has his own problems. Battling past failures, Ian sets his eyes on launching a new factory for his father’s defense firm. But it’s the very father he failed that will do anything to sabotage Ian’s progress.

And when Shannon follows an anonymous tip that leads her to Ian’s factory door, the last thing she expects to discover is what she already knows.

Goodreads Link:
http://bit.ly/1SWpIy3

Purchase links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1IAMgPa
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1SWp4R9
iBooks: http://apple.co/1KM3YWs
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1M6StJw
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1DnqC4F
All Romance eBooks: http://bit.ly/1IHyZsj

About the Author:

In the second grade, Jessie began a story about a duck and a lost ring.  Two harrowing pages of wide ruled notebook paper later, the ring was found.  And Jessie has been writing ever since.

Armed with the firm belief that women in the Regency era could be truly awesome heroines, Jessie began telling their stories in her Spy Series, a thrilling ride in historical espionage that showcases human faults and triumphs and most importantly, love.

Jessie makes her home in the great state of New Hampshire where she lives with her husband and two very opinionated Basset Hounds.  For more, visit her website at jessieclever.com.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1foelMH
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1IM6UPJ
Google+: http://bit.ly/1rpRvsU
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/KZQ4TQ
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1fge8x9

9 comments:

  1. Thanks for being our guest today, Jessie, and thanks for the social media suggestions. I'm not ready to shout 'buy my book,' but when I am, I want to do it constructively.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Ana! It's a tricky step to shout buy my book, but I know we all have it in us!

      Delete
  2. Welcome to HWH, Jessie. So nice to have you here. Excellent points about social media usage. I tend to put my family stuff on my personal page, rather than my author page, though, as I do like to keep them separate. However, there are things of a personal nature I do write on my author page (like when my daughter points out errors in a book she's reading).

    ReplyDelete
  3. Excellent post, Jessie. Using FB can be time-consuming, but it's essential for an author to network with others. I think it's also important to comment on (and not just 'like') other people's posts on FB in order to engage with them, otherwise you can't expect them to engage with you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is an excellent point, Paula! Thanks for sharing!

      Delete
  4. An excellent post, Jessie, as I often have difficulty choosing what to say on Facebook.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm one of those who always laments having no time on social media...and I do often feel 'odd' about pushing myself at those I've friended.

    I love your take on it. Building relationships is the key.

    I'm getting better at posting tid bits now and again, but I definitely am not using social media each and every day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's good to keep a balance with social media and not let it consume your time. Remember: writing the next book is the important part!

      Delete
  6. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete