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Social Media Strategies for Writers and Authors

Facebook Comments: Are You Using Them as The Effective Engagement Tools They Are?

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Facebook Comments: Effective Engagement Tools

Most Facebook posts have 4 options:  Like, Comment, Share, (Plus 1 surprise)

Let’s focus on the engagement power of the Facebook comment.

We choose to add comments on Facebook posts to:

  • Agree or disagree with the post, the poster, or a commenter
  • Back up or counter the original post with proof (written, media, links)
  • Offer a unique opinion on the post (sometimes having nothing to do with the post)
  • Move the attention on this post to another post or entirely off Facebook (with a link)
  • Start communication on the topic between commenters
  • Simple conversations between Commenter-Poster or Commenter-Commenter having nothing to do with the post

Every single comment is an opportunity to Like or Comment further.

Facebook Likes are usually seen by the human eye as a popularity contest; the more Likes, the better the post.

Little impact is made when a Facebook post is liked without any further consideration.

However, a Facebook comment is where the engagement happens. Comments are the MOST engaging part of Facebook post options and can yield the best results long term.

You have to spend time in the post working on a comment.

You let the poster know your level of interest with comments – good or bad.

If you are looking to engage your followers and fans long term, post content that gets people talking.

Follow up – at least by liking each comment – and further engage by replying to each comment. Keep that conversation going, however small.

Over time, you become more memorable to the people with whom you communicate.

Facebook’s fussy algorithm also pays attention to all the interaction on your post, rewarding you by showing it to more people in the newsfeed, where you gain more exposure.

Twitter Removes Photo and URL Characters from Its 140 Char Limit

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Twitter Removes Photo and URL Characters from Its 140 Limit - The Networking Web - Catherine Saykaly-StevensDid you get the notice? Images and URLs will no longer count towards Twitter’s 140 char limit. What does this really mean?

Images and URLs will no longer count towards Twitter’s 140 char limit. What does this really mean?

There’s been so much talk this year about Twitter considering expanding the 140 character limit. The possibility has been met with much chatter on both sides.

  • a 140 character limit makes it difficult to get your message across.
  • a 140 character limit is micro-blogging and has become a distinctive form of online communication.

Think of Twitter as the present tense. Whatever is happening in the world, with your friends, families or colleagues, it is happening right now on Twitter, and you can watch it unfold in real time. Old mediums like television or radio are no longer the place to find breaking stories. Facebook may still be the all-time favorite social platform, but much of your newsfeed is older news that Facebook chooses to show you. Twitter is always real time.

Do you know this frustration?

How many times have you reworded and reworked a tweet because you needed just – 1 – more – character – space?!

🙂

Short content is what makes Twitter great, and it shows. Shorter tweets tend to reach farther and receive more retweets than full-length tweets.

  • Short and sweet
  • Get to the point
  • Least time spent
  • Hook them, then redirect them to a longer post

There are only two real changes:

  • Post an image link now and no characters dedicated to that image will count towards your 140 Twitter limit.
  • Post a URL link (shortened anyway) and now no characters dedicated to that link will count towards your 140 Twitter limit.

Enjoy the extra few characters. If you require more, throw your words on an image and spend time thinking of a compelling title instead.

Why Authors / Writers / Everyone Should Use Twitter Lists

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The Networking Web - Catherine Saykaly-Stevens - Author and Speaker - Why Authors, Writers, Everyone Should Use Twitter Lists

The more people you follow, the denser your Twitter home feed becomes. You may lose perspective when your feed is flooded with multiple random posts.

Separate all those voices into logical groups so you can focus on 1 theme at a time. Use the built-in Twitter lists, which can be public or private. You’ll be surprised how the smaller groups will help you gain clarity and have a better idea what to support that group, join the conversations, and post relevant content.

For example:  If you view a feed of only local authors, and many tweet and converse about a writing event in town, isn’t that an event you should inquire about and join this conversation?

1) Create Lists

Read through your feed and find those you are most interested in watching. Create lists for your many groups.

Here is a suggested author’s starter-list:

 

FamilyFriends

Work/Co-workers

[My city]

Local authors

[Same genre] authors

Top [genre] authors

Author Support

Publishing

Bloggers

Top idea generators

Social Media gurus

 

  • Assign people you are interested in following more closely to their Lists. The same person can occupy more than 1 list.

 

  • Every time you meet and follow a new person, immediately add them to a Twitter list. If you don’t, you will lose them to the chaotic, overrun, Twitter home feed.

 

  • It’s fine to view your Twitter home feed. Also choose

 

Bonus: You can subscribe to other’s public lists. If a good one already exists you can view it too.

 

Learn to love lists!

 

Don’t worry; it is unlikely that you’ll run out of lists. They are currently capped at a limit of 1000, with 5000 tagged in each, but don’t do that. Keep your lists small. If you have too many then you risk repeating the original problem, too many chaotic voices.

 

Do you have a favorite list that others should start using?