Tag Archives: social media help

31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 30: Loose Ends

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Time to tidy up loose ends

woman in long sleeve shirt holding a vacuum cleaner
Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

[Last reminder to follow 10 new people. It’s amazing how well this has worked, isn’t it?!]

It’s the last day of November in our Author Platform Challenge journey. It’s been quite a ride.

Day 30 is when we check our progress!

Since that notebook is probably still out from yesterday, grab it and open to the front pages where you took your original assessments on Day 1.

Number check

Let’s compare numbers! Go page by page and compare where you started with where you are now.

For each social media outlet you were tracking, fill in:

  • How many followers did you have May 1st? How many do you have today?
  • What was your goal, did you meet it?
  • If you didn’t meet your goal, do you feel better about the progress you made, the engagement you created?

Feeling check

How do you feel overall about the challenge? Did you rise to the occasion?

If real life got in the way, don’t beat yourself up. It happens! The good news is this challenge can be redone over and over again! Start back next month where you left off. Or recommit yourself in the fall.

Goal check

Did you meet your overall goal?

I worked my tail off creating this challenge, and admittedly it got in the way of my own implementation. But I still improved my numbers by…*still doing the math*… Actually, I’m excited to see the numbers.

I’m impressed by all the work I got done and I hope you are too. Please drop some comments on your progress made, so we can let each other know how proud we are of ourselves, as a collective group of hard-working authors-with-increased-platforms!

My new goal in the fall will be to do this challenge again and again, with the social media platforms I’ve been ignoring. I’ll see if I like any of them better. I’ll assess whether I want to abandon ship on what I have going on now and replace it with a new outlet. Heck, maybe by them there will be a slew of even newer outlets to try. Maybe you’ll join me then, too?

But hey. Congrats, man. It’s Day 30. You did it!

You did it!

31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 28: Listicle love

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

Take note

notebook
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood
on Pexels.com

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

Have you heard the term “listicle?” Weird word, I know. A listicle is a type of blog post that is formatted as a list–like those Reddit posts you see all the time “13 Ways to Clean Your Bathroom Sink.” They are actually a great way to share information and tips in a way that is easy to scan and understand. Don’t know why I haven’t done one here myself!

These past Author Platform Challenge posts aren’t considered listicles because even though I’ve had lists in almost everyone (including this), the posts aren’t based around the lists. As in, none of them are the type of post such as “9 Ways to Create a Listicle.” There’s a difference. Does that make sense?

One Day 28, you’re going to create a listicle today to share with your followers.

You can chose any topic. Suggestions for lists you could create include topics like “10 Best Travel Books for Toddlers,” “5 Favorite Bedtime Books with Elephants,” “7 Ways to Strengthen Your Story Arc.”

You can’t post a listicle on, say, Twitter because it’s not the right venue and there isn’t enough room. But you can certainly post a link and direct followers to where you’ve created the listicle (such as your website or your FB Author Page). Create it on any topic. The entire thing can be as short as 100 words.

You want to demonstrate expertise, build trust, and engage with your peeps.

Win, win, win.

Listicle tips:

  1. Choose a topic that you are passionate about, or know a lot about, or can research the heck out of.
  2. Make sure your list is on brand, and of use to your audience.
  3. Pick a catchy title that (probably) no one else has used, such as “9 ways to Ruin a YA.”
  4. Come up with a list of 5-10 items. For some reason, studies show readers prefer odd numbers.
  5. Write a brief introduction that introduces your topic and list.
  6. Consider subheads for easier reading.
  7. Use active voice to keep it engaging.
  8. You know I’m going to suggest images if not video!
  9. Include a call to action at the end of your listicle. “Sign up for my newsletter for more great tips!”

FWIW, listicles are a great magazine article idea to pitch. Think of topics related to your book and create a listicle around it…maybe it’s even Top 7 Books About Parenting in the Digital Age and yours just happens to be on the list. Use today as your list creation practice.

Can’t wait to see what you come up with! Heck, I can’t wait to see what I come up with, lol. Tag the rest of us, #31DayAuthorPlatformChallenge, and share.

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

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

Let’s take a poll!

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

We’re taking an online poll.

person holding a contract
Photo by Jopwell on Pexels.com

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 online 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 5: Homepages (re)visited

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

[Hey there–before we start, have you followed 10 new people yet?]

Bringing that website home

Welcome to Day 5!

Today we are going to apply your brand to your website. We’ll start with your homepage.

Tell me you have a website. If not, you’ll start today! A great starter guide is here by the lovely Jane Friedman. Worth reviewing even if you’ve had a site for a while.

Let’s tidy up the house so we are proud when company comes over. We’re first looking at your home page because you only get one chance to make a first impression. No major changes yet, just taking notes at what people see, and asking if it’s the best projection of your brand. Grab that notebook.

Go to your homepage:

Open your website. View it with fresh eyes, as if you were someone that doesn’t know you, and is there for the first time. As far as the big picture, do you see a clear author brand? Would a stranger see it? Is your site a visual mess, or is it a place someone would want to stay and linger? Take notes on what needs to change overall. Does it need to be friendlier or more welcoming? Is it clear you’re an author or illustrator? Maybe it’s too focused on YOU and not what you can do for the reader <um, guilty>.

Now take closer inventory. What is the first specific thing people see and feel? Take notes on the following:

  • When someone sees it, do they get an immediate sense of who you are?
  • Perhaps more importantly, is it welcoming to the point people want to stay?
  • Does it represent the current you, and your brand?
  • Are the colors right? Is font readable? Do you have enough whitespace?
  • Is it current? As in, when was your last post or update? How would they know?
  • How old is your bio pic? Be honest with yourself here.
  • Is every subheading correct, necessary, and relevant?
  • Do you have clearly marked Contact info and links to social media?

Now get to work.

RIGHT AWAY, get working on anything in those notes that can be done in under five minutes. Document any work you still need done. Give yourself a deadline to complete it. Even if you end up needing to push the deadline out, give yourself one. Trust me (and science!), it is more likely to happen when you hold yourself accountable by being SMART (remember–Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.) Don’t have time to add the icons and links to all your social media platforms today? Write down you’ll figure out how to do it by Friday the 5th and complete it by Saturday May 6th.

If editing a website is above your pay grade, contact someone today with SPECIFICS on what you would like them to do for you. Not “help me with my homepage” but “change the colors on the homepage, update my contact info, and remove this image.” Give them a (reasonable) deadline too – or at least a timeframe. Ask a teen to help in exchange for a Starbucks.

I just got done assessing my homepage, and FWIW this is what I realized:

  • My colors were too juvenile so I changed them
  • I hate the random, ugly ads that are generated in the free version of WordPress that I use, so did what I’ve been thinking about doing for years: upgraded to the no-ad version. Not saying you need to! Just something I’ve wanted to do and finally did, whew. Glad I did.
  • “Upcoming Events” list was waaay too long. I shortened it and put stuff from 2020 on a diff page.
  • The “long version” of my bio was, well, too long so I pared it down (it’s still too long, but progress…).
  • My homepage is still too self-serving and not enough “what’s in it for you to be here” so I am working on that.
  • I realized my tagline, held over from when I spent more time marketing than writing, feels dated, so I edited it.
  • While my formatting skills are horrendous, I cleaned it up a little bit at the bottom (it’s still terrible but it’s good enough for now. I added it to my To Do list to fix later.)
  • I added a “subscribe” button in the top right column — please sign up so you get emails on each daily task! (It’s now on the top right of every page)

I had time and was able to handle all of it within about an hour.

Now it’s your turn.

Recap: Take a birds-eye view of your homepage. What needs updating, changing revising? Take note (literally) of larger things To Do and change what you can right now.

Let me know how it shakes out! Leave a comment below.

31 Day Author Platform Challenge Day 2: Set up sign-ups

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New-accounts-R-Us

Canva options for different social media templates

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

Welcome to Day 2! How did yesterday go? Learn anything surprising about your author brand, or lack thereof? It’s okay to find we’re not at the very top of your game. With busy lives we tend to be stuck in survivor mode and don’t think about long-term goals or big-picture stuff. That’s one of the reasons I want to do this challenge—to stop placing band-aids and start fixing those broken bones. Heck, to start avoiding injury!

I hope yesterday gave you a better sense of where you stand, and recommits you to sustaining a consistent image. The (positive!) consistent image is what will help us grow.

Today we lay the groundwork by making sure we have accounts for some apps that will make our next few weeks easier.

It’s a total drag to be on a roll only to find out you have to create a new account or download a new app. So we’re taking care of that today, with the apps we’ll be using the most.

You’ll be signing up for any new social media you’re interested in, for the apps you need to create pdfs/gifs/videos/memes and cool posts, and look into automation tools to make your life easier.

New social media accounts:

First up are the new accounts you want to start using (if there are any). Spend a few minutes today opening those accounts, picking a handle, setting up a profile and bio, etc. Just create the account. Creating a website? Maybe you need a domain name and you can secure that today, or maybe a new Goodreads Author Page is on your ToDo list. No need to post anything, or broadcast the new account. Simply sign up.

Graphic design help:

Second, since visuals get more attention in rankings, increase the amount of time people spend looking at it, and let the post stand out more, we will be making several meme-type posts this month. (“Meme” is just a fancy way of saying a post that has a background with words and images/photos/video.) I want to be sure you have a way to do that.

Look into ways that make sense for you. Make sure you already have accounts in place to make gifs and memes, like Canva, Book Brush, Instagram, Imgflip, GiphyAdobe, newer sites like Venngage, or the ol’ PowerPoint. Git yer tail a-movin’ and look into them, then sign up for a few that you like. You need at least one.

  • Most services have a 30-day trial to take for a spin. Starting with free gives you the option to upgrade to the paid version later, if you find you need it.
  • As an aside, if you are a published author and haven’t seen or used Book Brush yet, run, don’t walk to bookbrush.com. I am not getting paid to say this–I’m simply floored at their services. They have hundreds and hundreds of templates that let you pop in your book cover to all sorts of scenarios. Templated range from seeing someone reading YOUR BOOK on the beach to your book being tucked into someone’s Christmas stocking. Super cool, and easy. Literally drag and drop. I’m still on the free trial until a few months before my book comes out.
  • Apps like BookBrush and Canva have free templates specifically designed for each different platform. Other bennies in paid version like logo creation or nicer graphics. Those two are my personal top go-tos for post creation. I suggest you sign up for both free versions and play around. Total time suck but fun!

Schedulers:

Third, you need an automation tool. It does several things. It will let you create several posts/memes ahead of time and will automatically post them on the dates and times you schedule. It’ll also get your post out across all your platforms simultaneously, so you don’t have to go to each account separately, thus saving you time.

Hootsuite used to be the gold standard, but they charge now, so I abandoned ship. I was using the free version of Buffer which maxes out at three platforms but hey that’s still a time saver. I will also admit it’s not foolproof as I never figured it out why it won’t connect to my Insta. Right now I pay for Canva, which includes a scheduler. It’s the one I use the most since I don’t have to save the meme or exit the app/webpage, I schedule directly from there.

If you know of a good free version of schedulers like Sprout Social, Postify, Social Omph, etc, let us know in the comments!

Check with your web host too. If your host can do it for you, you might not even need a scheduler. I noticed WordPress works with Anchor podcast, for example, and will automatically post an audio version of your blog post to your Anchor channel. (Yes, it is on my To Do list!) It also will post a highlight of your new posts on almost any social media you connect to it. Insta lets you share any Insta post you create with other platforms (click the three dots on top right and click “Share to…”).

But having one place that does it all is great. Look into it!

If you’re already set on all accounts:

If you already had all the above completed, give yourself a gold star! For you, today’s task is to follow 5-10 new people in BOTH your SECOND and THIRD favorite platforms. (Thought you’d skate today, huh? Not on my watch! lol)

Cross promote:

Make sure each social media account you have references all the other social media accounts you have–at least to the best of your ability.

Recap in four parts: Set up any new social media accounts you are interested in. Sign up for services that offer (free) graphic design help. Find and sign up for a (free) automation tool. Make sure each of your current accounts references your other social media accounts, including website (if you’re proud of it).

Tomorrow we work on our website, so if you have always wanted to create one, grab that domain name and host and start now, so you’re ready!