Tuesday, July 14, 2009

I do Facebook

Okay, okay, so what's new, huh? Everybody is doing Facebook. Right? Well, maybe not everybody but a lot of people are doing Facebook. All right, so maybe the masses are doing Facebook.

At any rate, I'm doing it, too. And I'm continually amazed at what I don't know about Facebook, and how much I have to learn. I think the Facebook gods keep slipping some new things in on me while I sleep.

Facebook is a wonderful marketing tool for writers. Wonderful. To me, it's one of, if not the most connected Web 2.0 out there. Of course, I could be wrong, but for me, it's the bomb.

Just remember, I don't know everything and am still learning it's advantages, but here are a few things I know work for me:
  • I can feed my blogger blog into my Facebook profile
  • I can set up my own blogger blog Facebook page with followers
  • I can Tweet and update my Facebook status
  • I can write an article for my Examiner column and send it to my Facebook profile
  • I can set up fan pages for both of my pen names and attach to my main page
  • I can add a sign-up box for my newsletter (and add other html stuff)
  • I can set up discussions for my books
  • I can chat with friends and fans.
  • I can share pictures of my kittens, my grandkids, my travels, the grape tomatoes growing in my backyard....
  • I can take silly quizzes and play games and send people drinks and sign up for a cause and send friends good karma and save a sea animal or an endangered plant....
Okay, yes, so not only is Facebook a great marketing too, it's also dangerous. Can we say time sucker? This is why I set aside only so much Facebook time per day. Most days. Really.

I started out thinking of using as a marketing tool but now find I'm also drawn to just the silly fun of it. And in the end, that's probably all the better, right? If you feel like being silly with me on Facebook once in a while, just come on by. You might just learn what kind of Southern Food I am, or what score I got on the Grease Songs quiz. Think you can beat me?

Maddie James's Profile
Maddie James's Facebook Profile
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Come by and see me! My Facebook page is at http://www.facebook.com/maddiejames1 or you can click the badge above. Let's suck time together. What say you?

7 comments:

Fran Lee said...

Will do, Maddie! Great post, BTW!

Maddie James said...

Thanks, Fran. And oh, by the way, I was thinking when I was taking my walk just now, that I would LOVE to know how all of you use Facebook. I'm still learning!

Paris said...

What a great blog! thanks for all the great information.

Maddie James said...

Hi Paris. Thanks! I am sure there is much more to know. Are you on Facebook?

Terry Odell said...

I'm on Facebook, and being able to filter friends has helped a lot. I like the blog feed, but I block all those quiz apps. I'm afraid if I did any more with it than I already do, I'd never get any writing done. I've avoided Twitter, even more after my page fills up with people Tweeting every ten minutes and feeding their conversations to Facebook.

I haven't set up a fan page or a group page -- I'm too afraid nobody would join.

Glynis Peters said...

I'm on facebook, but do not use it properly. I know I will spend too much time on there, so steer clear after I have said hi to my family and friends in UK, US, Cyprus and Canada. I joined Twitter yesterday, now that is weird for me.

Maddie James said...

Honestly, it truly is time management. I set aside about an hour a day to update sites, connect with readers, and do a little promo. I try not to go over that. I spend minimal to no time on reader loops/lists, so this meets my promo needs in a different way. And besides, I enjoy it. One of the things I talk about in my writing workshops on marketing (these are upcoming!)is making sure that whatever marketing/promo strategies you use, make sure they are things that you enjoy doing. I think it takes time to learn what works for you, and doesn't. Facebook, so far, works for me! I understand that it's not for everyone.

Thanks so much, to all of you, for stopping by. It's great to get all sorts of comments and ideas to consider!

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