Knowing my book would be out in the big wide world caused me to really analyze and think about what I was doing. What worked? What was effective? There seems to be two different ways of thinking and of course everything in between.
On one side, there is the author who spends maybe 50% of her time promoting. The writer feels the pressure to join the latest thing (Pinterest anyone?) and to be current with all things social media.
On the other side, there is the author who chooses here and there what to join. I’m not saying one way is more right than the other. It’s a personal decision.
Before I decided to self publish, before I took this on as a business, I might have jumped on any one of the social media wagons. Because finding success in blogging and watching my numbers grow gave me that feeling of moving forward.
I thought for sure once I was on the publishing path, I’d feel the desire to promote more. But it’s almost had the opposite effect. I’ve realized that writing is king. And now that also means formatting, organizing blog series, writing guest blog posts. But I still want to spend as much time writing too. So I went down to blogging two days a week. I had to be selective.
I joined Google + but so far not really getting into it. I don’t see a lot of interaction. It’s like a different Google reader.
I created a Facebook Fan page.
But that’s it. I haven’t joined Triberr or Pinterest. Not because I don’t want to. I just don’t have time. Maybe after this first book is out? Maybe?
One thing I see to be true. Promotion doesn’t mean much without great product. And I’ve seen authors shoot through the charts and barely touch social media. So though I want to do my share of it and be available, I will be putting much more focus on the writing.
What do you think? Has your opinion on social media evolved at all?