Facebook for Writers
Facebook started out as a way for college students to connect, Ivy Leaguers to be exact. (Did you know that Facbook’s humble beginnings started out when Harvard student, founder Mark Zuckerburg , hacked into the the system and created a program for students to compare their college ID cards?) In fact, until a year or so ago, you had to be a college student at an approved school and you needed a valid university address to sign up for a Facebook account. Then, Facebook spread to high schools students, and now, everywhere. Anyone, anywhere can sign up for Facebook as long as they have a valid e-mail address. And, with social networking becoming extremely popular today in e-commerce and Internet marketing in general, Facebook created the “fan page” as a way to give companies and brands a chance to harness the power of this social networking tool.
Aside from creating a personal Facebook profile, the fan page allows writers to create a page dedicated to their “brand.” A writes’ fan page on Facebook allows users to engage with readers by sharing news, links, photos and more.
Writers can utilize to enhance their online presence and increase search engine visibility, but at the heart of it, can also connect at a meaningful level by doing the following:
- Connect with friends, family, fans, and more
- Engaging in conversation through status updates and commenting
- Create events to invite people to readings, parties and appearances
- Create more conversation by utilizing discussion boards
- Upload pictures and video, including book trailers and interviews
- Share links, such as posts to reviews and article
- Link to your website, blog, and sites that sell your book
- Share news about your friends, too
- Have fun!
Some folks may use their personal Facebook profiles as a means to promote themselves; however, as a following grows many may wish to keep profiles personal for people they know in real life, while the fan page is centered around the writing and a more broader base.
Social-Media-for-Writers.com will provide tips on how writers can use Facebook to promote themselves and thier work, as well as stay in touch with readers. Search the Facebook tag on this blog to read more.
