TWITTER TIPS
G'day folks,
As I write this, Twitter has gone public and raised an extraordinary figure. So, here are some tips for you, especially for authors marketing books, courtesy of Brian Feinblum.
Promoting Books with Twitter - For
Authors & Publishers
Twitter presents a unique social media platform. It is known for providing the latest information - -to the second – with its short, instantaneous updates on breaking news in 140 or fewer characters. For authors/publishers, Twitter is invaluable, and connects to everything that you are doing to promote and market your book.
Twitter
is one of the fastest-growing sites. It allows for people to connect to each
other 24/7, globally. To get started, you just need to sign up for an
account. . Simply sign up for an account registered under a name that
includes your full name (primarily if you have multiple books) and/or your name
and your book title (if you’re looking to solely promote one title). You can
register for an account at http://www.twitter.com.
Next, you
will want to create your user profile or bio. Be sure to throw in relevant
keywords in the copy. Add a photo - -do not leave this blank. Use a photo
that is professional and shows your face, but not your full body.
Your
first step will be to look and learn. Watch what others are saying and doing.
Observe before diving in. Next, you should “follow” news outlets and
publications that are in your genre or related to your subject matter. It is
okay to follow hundreds or thousands of people. There is no limit. People
want to see that you are active. Next, consider following media outlets,
publishers, authors, and those in your genre as well as the field or industry
you write about. Twitter is all about creating a network to follow who
might follow or promote you in return. You can always drop some of the people
that you are following if you feel it is not a beneficial relationship.
Here are
some helpful pointers for you:
Handle
Your
username, such as @theprexpert is the same as a “handle.”
The
140-character limit can be challenging. To shorten your post, consider this:
Use shorter words in place of longer
ones:
i.e. -
brokered = sold
Manufactured
= made
Exhilaration
= joy
Use letters, instead of words:
i.e.-
you = u
see = c
Use abbreviations, no periods afterward:
i.e.-
Yesterday = yest
Sunday =
Sun
Use numbers numerically, not spelled
out:
i.e.
- Four = 4
Twelve =
12
Use netspeak instead of words:
i.e.-
lauging my ass off= LMAO
Don’t always punctuate:
i.e-
The Red Sox won, 6-2, yesterday. = Bosox
won 6-2 yest
Write like a newspaper headline and skip
words:
i.e.
- Justice Department Rules in Favor of Amazon Over
Publishers
= Justice
Dept. Favors Amazon
= Amazon
Beats Publishers
= Gov’t
Rules 4 Amazon Over Pubs
Get rid of words like the:
i.e. -
The door closed on my bag, = Door closed on my bag
Substitute words with symbols:
i.e. -
and = &
Number =
#
Star =
*
Use phonetics or misspellings:
i.e.
- dumb = dum
Great =
gr8
Delayed =
dlaid
Shorten links that you tweet:
Go to http://www.tinyURL
or www.bitly.com
·
In your
e-mail signature
·
On your
website
·
On press
releases
·
On your
business card
·
Tell your
friends, family, and network of acquaintances
·
On other
social media sites, such as Facebook
·
In your
blog posts
·
In your
bio and social media profiles
You can
add a Twitter button to your sites by going to: http://twitter,cin/about/resources.tweetbutton
Frequency
Four to
eight tweets a day could do just fine- Never send out tweets too close to each other-
maybe leave an hour in between tweets.
Bio
Put your
photos here and write a 160-character bio that best represents you in the way
you want to be seen. If you’re on Twitter to promote a business book, don’t
waste characters discussing dogs, kids, baseball, movies, etc. You must use
keywords that draw attention, such as business, wealth, industry, finance, - or
other buzz words that are associated with your area of expertise.
Trends
Twitter
tracks words, topics, and phrases that are being used in a high volume at any
given time. They are constantly updated. Trends follow hashtags, such as
#Hollywood and un-tagged phrases, such as Hollywood. Trends can be seen on
Twitter by location, topic, and other modes of selection. It’s good to get a
sense of what’s being discussed and maybe finding a way to tie your message to
the trending topics.
Direct Message
Most
tweets are public but you can send a private message- a DM – to people who
follow you, one by one.
Etiquette
·
Be tasteful
and try not to self-promote incessantly.
·
Engage
others with a dialogue and interact with them.
·
Respond
to questions and direct messages that are sent to you.
·
Don’t use
Twitter to state unsubstantiated allegations, spread rumors, curse at someone,
or spread lies.
Mention Twitter Handles
Just as
you use hashtags in hope of getting those who care about that subject to
discover you, mention a twitter handle or two in a post. For instance, maybe
you talk about something you say on TV and then end with @CNN.
Track Conversations
Too see
what’s happening, go to http://search.twitter.com and search for certain
topics, people, events, or words.
Enhance Your Tweets
Tweet
photos, videos, and news with sites like yfrog.com and twitpic.com
Follow People
You can
follow an unlimited number of people. It’s the easiest way to get others to
follow you. Look for people who follow people you’d like following you. For instance,
go see who follows Entertainment Weekly if your book has to do with
entertainment, celebrities, and Hollywood.
Tweet With a Focus
You
shouldn’t tweet about personal and professional matters. Choose one area. If
need be, have two-twitter handles- one discusses what you just ate and the
other to discuss your book, your industry, and more important matters. Be
relevant and consistent in your voice and approach. Just as a job resume
wouldn’t list the women you date, the TV shows you watch, or where you just
vacationed, don’t make that stuff in with tweets about things that matter to
your professional field.
Check out Brian's website:
Clancy's comment: Thanks, Brian. Another fine piece you've written.
I'm still coming to grips with Twitter, Facebook etc. Why, because it seems to take me away from what I love. However, progress, eh?
I'm still coming to grips with Twitter, Facebook etc. Why, because it seems to take me away from what I love. However, progress, eh?
I'm ...
Think about this!
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