IWSG: Ask PZM – Mar 2014 – Twitter pt 2
It’s that wonderful time again, the time for Insecure Writer’s Support Group day, compliments of our very own fierce and noble Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh. If you think this group sounds like a good place for you and you’d like to join, click here.
It’s a simple process:
“Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer – aim for a dozen new people each time. Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post.”
Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
Alex’s awesome co-hosts for today are Tina Downey, Elsie, Elizabeth Seckman, and Julie Flanders! Please stop by and thank them for their generous time and effort.
Thanks!
Please help us spread the word about the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Website!!!
Ask PZM: March 2014
Part 2: How can authors use Twitter effectively to create relationships with potential fans?
Last month I discussed how to create an effective Twitter profile after explaining that Twitter is a free social media site in which people send out tweets with a maximum of 140 characters, and people on Twitter can follow anyone without asking permission (except for the few people who lock their tweets, which as authors we do not want to do).
I also said that as authors we want to be public on Twitter, sharing information about ourselves, other authors, topics related to our nonfiction or fiction books, and other well-worded tweets (no vulgarities, please) that might encourage people to be interested in us and, by extension, our books.
Okay, I’m going to assume that you now have an effective Twitter profile with a good photo and a well-written bio.
What’s next?
If you already have lots of followers, that’s good. If you don’t, use the search field on Twitter to find people interested in books, the topics of your books, and other related information.
For example, put ebooks in the search field and you’ll be provided a list of tweets mentioning ebooks. Click on the Twitter username of each of those tweets and see if you are interested in following that person on Twitter.
Now there is no guarantee that a person you follow on Twitter will follow you back (especially if that person is famous). But there is a good chance the person will follow you back if the information you share is related to the information that person shares.
By using different search terms related to your interests, you can start to grow a following.
And meanwhile, the name of the game on Twitter is sharing other people’s information rather than only tweeting about yourself and your own books.
When you look at the tweets that come up following a search, check if there are any tweets that you want to retweet. (Note that you do not have to be following someone to retweet that person’s tweet.) Simply hover over the bottom of a tweet to get the RETWEET button and click.
If someone retweets one of your tweets, you can thank that person. But just tweeting “thank you” doesn’t mean a lot to people following your tweets. I like to do this kind of thank you tweet that references the tweet and the link in the tweet:
Thx @BonnieBLatino 4 RT: Read sci fi work-in-progress THE MOTHER SIEGE on @Wattpad at http://budurl.com/MSintro
Does every tweet have to have a link?
Of course not. But sharing links on Twitter is an important activity.
For example, I stay signed into my Twitter account so that, when I read an article online that has the Twitter share button, I can quickly tweet the article title and its link to my Twitter followers.
Although many people offer a formula of what percentage of your tweets should be self-promoting, I don’t have a percentage to offer. I think using commonsense is a good rule of thumb.
And one great opportunity for authors on Twitter is sharing the tweets of other book authors. As an author it is very satisfying to share the books of other authors with your own Twitter followers.
Again, there is no guarantee that, if you retweet author A’s tweet about her book, she’ll RT a tweet about your book. But I do believe that putting out goodwill into the universe can benefit you.
If you have a nonfiction book – or a fiction book with nonfiction subject matter – you have numerous opportunities to share information from others that relates to your book topic.
What about the question of automatic follow back?
While this decision is up to you, I personally do not automatically follow back someone who follows me. I click on that person’s Twitter username and quickly read his or her bio. Sometimes I then click follow, and sometimes I don’t.
The reason I don’t always follow back has much to do with keeping my following and followers figures in reasonable balance. In the past at certain points Twitter has prevented me from following any more people until my followers number catches up to a reasonable balance with my following numbers.
While there are other options on Twitter, such as following trends, the most important activity is sharing information that may be of interest to your followers.
And as authors, I know you’ll understand when I recommend you stay on the spine of the “story” you’re sharing on Twitter. Thus stick to topics related to your own books and your own interests rather than tweeting all over the map on topics that will confuse your followers who expect a certain type of information from you.
Thus I stick pretty closely to tweeting about books and publishing, digital marketing and new tech options, and military topics. Even though I like art museum exhibits, I probably wouldn’t tweet about this because it is not on the spine of what my followers expect me to share.
One very important thing about Twitter:
Don’t join if you aren’t going to tweet at least a couple of times most days of the week. Twitter is a different animal than, say, Facebook, where it is not as relevant how often you share.
When I click through from a LinkedIn profile to a listed Twitter account and see that the person hasn’t tweeted in months, I know that person isn’t active on Twitter and I don’t waste one of my follows on that person.
To be someone of interest to follow on Twitter, you have to demonstrate active participation, and that means spending a few minutes almost each day participating on the site (whether on your computer or through a Twitter app on your smartphone).
And do remember to daily check the CONNECT option (next to the HOME button at the top of your screen) to see who has mentioned you in a tweet. You may want to respond to that mention via Twitter.
It’s all part of the Twitter experience. Enjoy!
P.S. I’m working on a new project and I’ve set up a Twitter account for this project. At the moment that I’m writing this article I haven’t yet started following people and tweeting more than an initial tweet (always put at least one tweet on a new account) because I’m waiting for something else to be set up. But do check out http://twitter.com/GathrBooks and click “follow.” Especially as an author you should like what’s coming soon.
TWEET #1 – How authors can use Twitter effectively. (Click to tweet)
TWEET #2 – Should every tweet have a link? (Click to tweet)
TWEET #3 – How to share information on twitter. (Click to tweet)
Phyllis Zimbler Miller on Twitter is at http://twitter.com/ZimblerMiller and she is the author of fiction and nonfiction books on Amazon. Her fiction books on Amazon can be found at www.amazon.com/author/phylliszimblermiller and her nonfiction books at www.amazon.com/author/phylliszmiller
She is also a digital marketer who blogs on book topics at www.PhyllisZimblerMiller.com and you can download a free copy of her YA short story PINKY SWEAR at http://www.phylliszimblermiller.com/keep-in-touch/
