Yahoo Image Search Meme
I only know about WordPress, so people from other mediums can share their thoughts in the comments.
This is the heavy hitter of Social Media Marketing because it is your realm. Facebook always has that sense of someone else being in charge. Twitter is limited to 140 characters, which forces some ridiculous shorthand. Tumblr, Pinterest, Linked In, Google +, and all of their ilk are rather limited in getting your word out when they’re compared to blogging. It is here that you speak of your books, dreams, life, thoughts, and whatever you feel like chatting about. When people visit or comment, it is them coming to your little corner of the Internet.
Aside from being in ultimate control of content and delivery here, there are two other big boons. One is that you can connect to other authors an interact through blogging. It’s easier than Twitter and Facebook for some reason. Maybe because Twitter is limited in response length and Facebook has all the comments mashed into one line. If someone comments here then I can respond and hold a lengthy chat instead of other people leaping in. I know I’ve been confused on Facebook when four people respond to a status and I have to try to hold 4 conversations that simply run in a line.
The other big boon is that you can connect your other social media sites to your blog, so your posts appear there. Look at the ‘Publicize’ part of your new post page. I have Facebook, Google +, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tumblr, and something called Path. I’ve also got my blog sending the posts to Goodreads and my Amazon Author page. There might be others, but the point is that you can transform your blog into a central hub. It helps you remain active on these other sites even if you rarely visit or don’t want to figure out how to work them. Again, it’s the exposure that’s important when doing social media marketing.
Yahoo Image Search
Of course there are downsides to blogging too. It can be time-consuming and you might feel like it’s all you do. I got really hooked on it when I started and I still make one post a day. To ease this during project times, I began scheduling my posts well in advance. For example, I’m writing this week’s posts on May 24th. I wrote the 3rd week of June’s posts last weekend. So there are ways to still blog and not be consumed every waking moment, but I will admit that it takes discipline. You’ll get more interactions and visits when you’re constantly posting, commenting, and wandering WordPress. Sadly, you won’t get much work done either and your family might list you as a ‘Missing Person’ even if you’re in the house.
Another downside is that you’ll find all types. This goes for all social media. You have jerks everywhere and Blog Wars happen. I’ve seen a few and got pulled in as well. It’s a hazard of the realm and I’m going to leave it at that.
Blogging Tips:
- Post as often as you feel comfortable.
- Follow and respond to other blogs as you feel comfortable.
- Connect your blog to other social media sites, so your posts get more exposure.
- Join in Blog Tours and Cover Reveals if you find them.
- Make friends.
- Reblog and help other authors spread the word. It’s a nice thing to do and they might do the same for you.
- Write about whatever you want. Poetry, cooking, children, the little man who lives in your hair, etc. Never forget that your blog is your world and it is where people will get a sense of who you are.
Use videos and pictures, but try to give credit or write ‘Yahoo Image Search’ if you can’t find credit.
Legends of Windemere 
Nice post, Charles… I would add to your list.. ‘have fun’.. without that, it isn’t worth it.
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Good point. A lot of people ignore that until it’s too late.
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Never too late to have fun… but you might spoil the experience unless you are up for it from the start. I enjoy blogging… if I didn’t, I would still do it for the School, perhaps… but grudging, infrequent posts aren’t going to be read or written with any joy in them.
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I’ve had a few days where it feels like I’m forcing it. That’s why I’m thinking of cutting it back a bit after my next book comes out. Tough decision to make since I’ve been daily for over a year.
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Maybe you just need a break, Charles… you have been a stalwart of the blogosphere for quite a while.
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One of these days. The truth is that a break only means I’ll be in the house doing nothing. It has been easier since I have my posts scheduled nearly a month in advance.
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*chuckles* I know the feeling… even though mine aren’t scheduled but hot off the broken fingertips… except when I am away, then if I’m lucky I find time to do one or two in advance.
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It might be that I’m running out of things to talk about. I see other authors talk about future ideas or aspects of writing, but I fear that I’ve overdone that. I’d love to keep talking about my book characters too. Unfortunately, I’m so far in the series that I can’t talk about a lot of the characters.
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You could just write about Charles Yallowitz himself… there is enough of a life there to make good reading, of that I am sure!
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Not really. I write my books and handle the toddler every day. I hate to admit that I don’t do much.
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And what about when you were a toddler, or an imagination stuffing itself with books, dreams and games? The inner world is rich inspiration.
And looking after a toddler… don’t do much??? Please… I’ve raised them… they are always a handful!
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Not much for me to talk about, I guess. He does a lot of ‘you had to be there’ things. Lately, he’s obsessed with ‘Frozen’ so he’s been very mellow.
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*chuckles* they always do… retelling never works 🙂
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Reblogged this on Sleepy Book Dragon and commented:
Excellent advice here for bloggers of all kinds.
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I feel like I’m blogging a lot right now, but summer’s finally here and I have time.
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Time is the big thing. The challenge that comes up is not putting all of one’s time into blogging. 🙂
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I have really enjoyed being on WP. I think the hardest thing for me is to keep up with everybody else’s blog. I feel guilty when I can’t get to people’s blog as often as I’d like. I know that’s my own expectation on myself, but it often makes me back way off of blogging. I actually schedule my post a couple months in advance, but I still can’t seem to keep up! lol I think I just stink at blogging, but I do love it! 🙂
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I swear I commented on this about having the same issue, but it doesn’t look like it went through. Sorry about that.
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You are always so good about getting to everyone’s blogs. Me I’m lucky to get over to people’s blogs once to twice a week…Grrrr!
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I do need to tone it down. I’ve actually been spending the last 40 minutes reading blog posts and comments instead of writing. Toddler returns in an hour. If I’m going to finish my current project by next Friday then I need to get my act together a bit.
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LOL…that’s what happens to me when I start reading everyone’s blogs too. Go write! That’s an order!
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Great post! 🙂 And great tips. I like blogging exactly for that ease of communication and it’s such a great way to connect with other people with similar interest in a much more friendly way than facebook or twitter.
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I agree. I’ll be touching on Facebook and Twitter the next two days, but they feel so much more limited than blogging. I think part of it has to do with there being a ‘standard’ way of using them. I don’t know. Something about them makes me feel like I have to be more restrained.
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I should have scrolled down last week, because I just saw the top post over and over and thought you’d gone on vacation! Thanks for the tips! Looks like I have some catching up to do as far as your posts.
I had to laugh at that Katie Hafner quote. I feel like that sometimes!
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Oops. I forgot about that issue with ‘Sticky Note’ posts. Sorry about that. I should probably let that one go since it’s done all it can.
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Great advice Dr. Yallowitz. I started this blog for fun and am still at it. I started following yours for information and have never been disappointed.(confused yes, but not disappointed)
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Then my mission has been accomplished. If I can’t get my point across, I can at least confuse my audience to get a head start on my escape. Mwahaha!
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EVIL Mad Fantasy Scientist
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Wait, you have a guy living in your hair too!?! 🙂
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I had to evict him when he stopped paying rent.
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He’s moved into mine!
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Use anti-dandruff shampoo and he’ll leave. He hates the taste.
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You’re a busy busy man Charles and it is lovely to see that you do take time out to blog and hold conversations. I would love to have as much presence that you have.
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Thanks. Though I may be on a forced hiatus.
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I read that! Sounds like the evil computer gnomes are having a heyday. Take advantage of your time away and feel rejuvenated!
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Probably not. The hard drive is shot and has to be replaced. So I lost the entire week’s work.
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How much needs to be rewritten? I’ve lost work before and went into panic mode but the difference was that I hadn’t even typed it out it was just 50 pages in a notebook hand written. I’d say after you get back to normal you will be ready for it!
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2 chapters and a crushed spirit. Probably about 30 pages of meticulous writing. Not to mention anything else I was about to back up when it crashed. I literally had the thumb drive in the laptop and was highlighting the folders to copy when it crashed.
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