Author Archives: bitsykemper

31-Day Author Platform Challenge Day 21: Mutual Support

Posted in 31 day author platform challenge, Writer's Platform by

[Before we start patting each other’s back, have you followed 10 new people yet?]

Today’s author platform task has two parts. First, you need to post the results of your poll. It can probably be automated with Buffer or whatever tool you use, but consider going back one by one to personalize each post. This engagement is the interactive part I tend to forget or gloss over. It’s an ideal time to start or continue a conversation! Take advantage of it. Ask people what they think of results, if they are surprised, if there was an option you should have included but didn’t, etc. Keep this engagement ball a-rolling.

I realize this will take some time, so when you’re done, today’s official task will be an easy one.

Day 21 is celebrating or sharing a friend’s success.

Let’s get friendly. Time to celebrate others. You can:

  • Share a friend’s website or book launch information
  • Recommend a fave website or resource you use regularly
  • Offer a link with details explaining why it’s helpful to you
  • Offer detail on a helpful site or resource

This is different than the #writerslift we did last week; although it does lift up a fellow author, it’s more a sharing of information vs a shout-out. It’s timely (compared to saying “thanks” which can happen any time), and newsworthy (it’s something you are reporting about).

Feel free to send several tweets that celebrate a bunch of people’s work – but keep it to one person per tweet unless it’s something they did together. No sense clogging up feeds with group tags.

Recently I found a free template for a book proposal, created and offered by a lit agency. Yes, it was a template for them so their submissions were less sucky, but hey, free resource. I made a post and included the link along with a shout-out of appreciation to the agent and the house (tagging them both), and that tweet got a pretty high number of likes and RTs—including the agent herself as well as the agency.

Will that agent want to take me on? No, she doesn’t even rep kidlit, it’s not why I did it. The point was to help others. It’s good karma to boot. I got a bunch of honest interactions and appreciations from it. Goodness comes from well-intended posts.

What I didn’t do at the time was share the post across all my social media. Lesson learned (and one reason I created this challenge!). I hope to cross-promote every tweet, or most, from now on.

Anyway, I love seeing posts from authors supporting authors, don’t you? Some authors are really good at this! It projects such a positive image.

Recap: Today, uplift someone by sharing a resource and thanking the person that offers it. Or highlight a friend’s small business, service, etc. Consider creating the post on a Canva-like site to make it pretty. Post it on all your media.

Easy.

Just make sure the timing is good. Don’t post it right after or right before another big post like I did at the time, or it’ll get lost. Had I waited on that book proposal post, until after the dust settled on the other popular tweet, it probably  would have doubled the amount of likes.

31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 20: What Do YOU Think?

Posted in 31 day author platform challenge, Writer's Platform by

[Ahem. Don’t forget to follow 10 new people.]

Let’s take a poll!

For Day 20, we’re taking a brainstorm and creation break while keeping our engagement going.

We’re taking a poll.

It can be on anything you want (as long as it’s not offensive or controversial to the point it will cause you to lose followers).

The poll doesn’t have to connect directly to your work but pick a question that is in character with your personality and brand. If you want to use the poll results for your own data, make sure you ask the right questions the right way. Give a deadline for when votes need to be in. I gave mine two days to allow for lag time in RTs.

Actually, what better source can I find to guide you on “how to poll” you than this post from Survey Monkey? Pls give it a quick scan.

Polls aren’t the kind of a post you can automate across platforms. That might work out for the best, as you probably would speak to each audience a little differently anyway. Buffer won’t even let me create a poll, at least not that I can figure out. So let’s assume we have to go to each platform separately.

Different outlets:

  • Twitter makes polls easy. They let you offer a max of four answers and you decide how long the poll is up/live.
  • For Facebook, the only place you can create a poll is in a GROUP page. You can’t use the poll format in a profile or a fan page. In this case, you still want an excuse to reach out there so there’s a work around! Share the results of your poll. Talk about what you think it means, ask followers what their opinions are, etc.
  • LinkedIn offers a how-to on doing a poll there; it’s put in the same place as your regular posts in your account/profile.
  • Instagram lets you create a poll in your STORIES but not feed. Here’s a how-to guide. There are a TON of free templates you can use in addition to the one Insta provides.
  • If you have a YouTube channel, obv this wouldn’t work. How might you engage in a poll there? Figure out how to turn your poll idea into a short video, asking people on the street, maybe make a quick vid talking about your expectations or sharing the results of your poll?

Remember when I followed up on asking how your RT&Win went? This follow-up is gonna be public. The day following the close of the poll you have to commit to showing final results and/or offering an assessment or insight into them. (And no, that won’t be your task for tomorrow or the day after its finished, it will be in addition to it!)

Get polling!

31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 19: Being Real

Posted in 31 day author platform challenge, Writer's Platform by

Yes, another video!

[Before we talk video, have you followed 10 new people yet?]

You’ve been thinking about what it might be to be n camera.

Today, Day 19, I insist you have some fun creating a “My view today” video. And by that I mean, a 10-25 second video of what you are looking at, at the moment. That’s it, that’s all it’s going to be. Sort of like a BeReal, if you know what that is.

Maybe your view is your laptop, or messy desk, a pile of laundry, a sunny day, rainy afternoon, or car that needs a wash. Let us see the world from your eyes. Shed some light into your day. Let people get to know you!

My (messy) office

I’m a nut about privacy, so be sure there’s nothing in the shot or background that is too identifying, such as mail on the table with your address, your license plate, etc.

The best part is this relieves you of having to be on camera!

Of course if you like, you can turn it to selfie mode and wave hello or whatever. You can station the camera so you’re able to walk around and explain your surroundings. If you want a refresher on making the camera love you, have a look here: https://bitsykemper.com/zoom/

I found some more great general tips on making great video content for social media here.

Please:

  • Please help motion-sick-prone peeps like me by NOT shooting video while you’re walking around, though.
  • Avoid bumping the camera up and down or moving it too quickly in any direction. Even physically turning the camera around to face the other direction is quease-inducing–use the built-in camera function to instantly change views.
  • Add text so people with sound turned off know what’s going on. (You’ll notice I haven’t gotten around to doing that on mine!)
  • At the end, ask followers what THEY see at the moment (or for their version of whatever you are doing). Ask for some insight into their days and lives. (Always look for ways to engage.)
  • Practice a few times until you get the hang of it. No one needs to know how many takes it took you to get this 10-second shot!

Looking forward to seeing you! (Or not, lol)

31-Day Author Platform Challenge Day 18: Talk About Me!

Posted in 31 day author platform challenge, Writer's Platform by
@WriterswithWrinkles is a great podcast for writers

[Hang on a sec, have you followed 10 new people yet?]

Day 18 is three parts although it should be relatively easy.

It’s quick research, followed by brainstorming, followed by quick emails. But put on your big kid pants as it will involve asking something akin to a favor, and I know introverts don’t like that! Too bad. This is what you have to do to get yourself out there. (Remember the challenge part of this 31-Day Challenge? This is the work you need to put in to up your author platform, my friend.)

Today, research five podcasts and five blogs you can make guest appearances on within the next two months.

WHO out there needs to hear your message? They are your audience.

WHICH podcasts and blogs do they follow? Grab that notebook and make a list of 10 if possible. Those are the blogs and podcasts you want to participate in. Then pick five in that list that you want to pursue. Give yourself one that’s a “stretch” goal–one you don’t think you’d get a Yes from but that maybe after you’re experienced they’ll say yes.

Then brainstorm exactly WHY you could be of service. HOW can you position yourself differently than any other guest? WHAT message or perspective can you offer that will give their audience new, interesting, or entertaining information?

What was your “what” topic? Perhaps it was 10 tips on handling rejection or 5 ways to create a cohesive critique group? These are the reasons and topics to pitch those bloggers and podcasters!

If that topic doesn’t work with the bloggers/casters you chose, think of others that might work. If you’re still stumped, see what past and future topics the blog/cast has been covering. Find a way that you can cover something new, or a twist on what they’ve already covered. It can be the same topic for all five if all five serve the same listening/readers, or something unique to each. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE and what they need.

If you need help brainstorming, comment below and we’ll all pitch in!

Then, email the five choices and ask if you can either be interviewed or be a guest blogger.

Offer your credentials on why you’re the best (or most enthusiastic) person to talk about it. Since you’ve researched past/future topics they’ve covered, you should come prepared with a general timeframe for WHEN it might work best for both of you. “I see you’re covering XX and YY over the summer, so perhaps ZZ will be a good fit in September?”

To recap: Research blogs and podcasts you could appear on, based on their audience. Figure out how you can best be of service to them. Contact and book an appearance.

At the end of these 31 days, you should have some interview dates lined up!

If none of those 5 pan out, pick 5 more, until you’ve got 5 on the books. Then repeat. This challenge doesn’t have to end May 31st you know! It’s not like marketing is ever really over.

Now, to prepare yourself for interviews, have a look at some interview tips I’ve written for in-person appearances: https://bitsykemper.com/free-for-you-pr-tips-for-writers/. It might be worth reviewing before you meet with the podcaster.

I know it can feel awkward to talk about yourself. But be proud of your work! You’re gonna do great.

31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 17: Why Not Ask?

Posted in 31 day author platform challenge, Writer's Platform by

Go ahead, ask already!

On Day 17, let’s ask your followers an open-answered question (as in, not one that can be answered with a Yes or No).

Why not ask a question? What an opportunity to authentically engage with your audience! The question can be anything, as long as it’s genuine. The point is to start a conversation that will involve as many followers, and ideally RTs, as possible.

The truth is, we talk a lot. We don’t LISTEN a lot.

Wouldn’t it be great if more people asked questions not to give themselves a chance to talk, but so that they gave themselves a chance to listen? To connect instead of monologue?

Don’t listen to respond. Listen to hear.”

(to paraphrase Steve Covey)

Pick a question you are interested in talking about!

Rework the question to best suit each of your social media outlets. I’d word a question on my FB profile page differently than I’d word it on my FB author page, even if I was asking the same thing, because my profile is mostly family and closer friends, while my page is newer and feels more formal. For Twitter, I don’t know most of them personally so it’s going to be worded even more different than those two. On Insta I’d probably be a little sillier, given my audience. LinkedIn will have a professional feel. YouTube would be a video. (You see what I mean.)

Conversations are the best for creating engagement! Since the topic is of your choice, you direct where it goes, and you end it when it’s over. (If only all public conversations could be so easy, lol.)

This is an easy one because there is no prettying up (like Day 14). It’s a simple text post. Yes, you’ll need to go to each outlet one at a time, but no graphics are necessary. You are always welcome to add some, though.

Author Lisa Yee is really good with this on FB. Here are some recent and random examples of some I saw on Twitter.

Odds are you’ll want to follow anyone that replies and RTs. Bonus: potential new followers!

Recap: Pick an open-ended Q to ask, and cross-post variations of it.

31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 16: Did You See That?

Posted in 31 day author platform challenge, Writer's Platform by

[Hang on–have you followed 10 new people yet?]

Making moves, and movies

young woman in trendy outfit with notepad recording vlog
Photo by Anete Lusina
on Pexels.com

We’ve posted a bunch of things so far, from the comfort of our rooms or office (and probably PJs). Time to up the ante. Studies show videos get far more views and engagement than simple photo posts on social media. According to Forbes in late 2022, social video generates 1200% more shares than text and image content combined. And get this: viewers retain 95% of a watched video message compared to 10% of a text.

“Why the hay haven’t you been encouraging video all along?” you may ask, in a rather aggressive (and unappreciated, quite frankly) tone. Well, I’ll tell ya. We are authors. And almost by definition that means most of us are introverts. Or maybe extroverted introverts. Who else volunteers to lock themselves up in a proverbial cave most of the day to crank out words on a page that will be edited and rewritten 10,000 times? (That’d be us.) I get you. I get us. The very thought of me asking you to create a video may fill you with dread.

But hear me out.

The video doesn’t have to be of you! You don’t have to appear on camera! (some ideas below) You don’t even need sound! You DO need text, though. Studies show 85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound–but 80% of videos WITH sound and/or text get much higher results. People need to know what they are watching, and why. (They also tend to watch in places they aren’t supposed to have their phones, so the volume is off. Captions are very helpful.) Tweets with video are said to get 10x the engagement than a static post!

It’s time to shine, cupcake

As you can see, to maximize the eyeballs on our content, to drive a higher number of RTs, to encourage engagement, to increase our author platform…we need to graduate to video. I have been an actress since the third grade (not to brag but yeah that was me playing the lead bunny in the school play). I am a ham, I seek out the camera in every instance — and yet, I am still dragging my feet on video when it comes to promoting my own work. It feels so personal, right?! I know I just have to rip off the bandaid and get creating. Or recording, as the case may be.

I know once we get started, it will be easier and easier. We just have to make and post that first one. Or that first five.

Instagram makes it super easy to make videos with text and “stickers.” Canva allows taking a template and adding animation which is ALMOST a video, but that won’t count for today. Find yourself an app or service you feel comfortable working with, like Vimeo, YouTube, Visme, ClipChamp, etc. (Please tell me which [free!] ones you like best! I like trying new stuff.)

I mean, don’t we want a 1200% increase in shares? Of course. If we are in control of that, why wouldn’t we go for it? Today we are.

The video can be 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 30 seconds. Animoto reports Instagram videos that are around 26 seconds long receive the most comments. Don’t be thinking your vid has to be two minutes! (Who has time for that, really.)

Worried about how you’ll look on camera? I have a ton of getting-camera-ready tips on this post: https://bitsykemper.com/zoom/.

Some great tips on creating effective content (do you want to explain a new fact? do a tutorial?) is here from later.com, here from eclincher, and there’s a list of ideas from sproutsocial here.

Camera shy?

Let’s say you loathe the idea of being on camera. You can still use video to up your author platform. Here are some ideas of videos (with sound and text!) that will build your brand that DON’T need to have your smiling face.

  • Book Quotes: Use text overlays to display your own, your favorite, or popular book quotes. Zoom in and out while reading the quote. [Or be holding the book as you read, be standing in front of the printed quote that’s on a wall, etc.]
  • Show Your Bookshelves: Give an inside look at your bookshelves while explaining how they made you a better writer (or reader). Ask viewers to share their experiences. [Or be there Vanna-White-ing it.]
  • Create a Book Trailer: iMovie and other apps make this easier than ever. If you have picture books, talk to your illustrators first–they might have ideas and/or equipment.
  • Start a Live ‘Ask Me Anything’ Session: No need to have yourself on camera, just zoom in a whiteboard with those words as you talk over a short script “Time to ask me anything! Write a question in the comments…” [Or of course, you can have cam focused on your pretty face.]
  • Answer Those Anythings: Record yourself answering those Qs while writing on a whiteboard, flipping through pages, waking through the woods, whatever.
  • Recommend Books: Share fun book recommendations, including your own book(s).
My personal brainstorming space

Those are just a few ideas. I can’t wait to hear what you end up doing! Tell me all about it.