It’s amazing how many people just don’t realize the true benefits of social networking and social marketing.
Putting the power of social networking to the test, not long ago I sent out a message to members of an author’s group I belong to on LinkedIn. The request I posted was this, “I am writing an article/report on social marketing/social media. I would love to hear success tips from members of this group.”
Within a very short period of time, I received lots of responses. Below are a few that I wanted to share with you for a couple of primary reasons. One, to show you how quickly you can get what you need if you simply ask. Two, to show by example, how powerful social networks truly are. Within a very short period of time, I received several outstanding responses that gave me what I need for an excellent article and blog post.
Many people are of the belief that writing articles and blog posts are difficult. This simply is not true…if you know where to look. And they are both great ways to market books, teleseminars, live presentations and more.
But I digress. This is a topic for a future article. For now, take a look at what these authors (who also know the importance of marketing) have to say.
Response I
“Viral marketing means many things, including e-mail and fax blasts, article publishing, blogging and writing on others’ blogs, social networking on every possible site, creating multiple web sites and blogs, creating video book trailers, posting on Twitter regularly, maintaining pages at LinkedIn, Goodreads, Facebook, MySpace, Filedby, Multiply, Ziggs, Ning, You Tube, Yahoo, etc.
Video book trailers have become a viral marketing avenue. Each and every electronic source for promoting a book should be exploited.
Never assume that your book will sell to your heart’s content just because it appears on Amazon, Borders or Barnes & Noble. So do a million other such books. For effective marketing, you must create a viral wave of interest via electronic promotion. Wherever people congregate electronically, your book must reside.”
Charles Weinblatt
Author, Jacob’s Courage
http://jacobscourage.wordpress.com/
Response II
If you are already writing an e-newsletter, you can archive the issue which creates a URL that you can share across your social media platforms — thereby leveraging your expertise to people who don’t already subscribe. I do this with my Constant Contact newsletters and the results have been great.

Response III
I strongly believe that for successful social media marketing a person needs to have a strategic plan, be consistent in his/her message across platforms, and participate on a continuous basis — not once every week or so. Plus, of course, it’s important to share worthwhile information with your fans, followers and connections.
My new blog http://www.TwitterAndYourWebsite.com also talks about the importance of having a website that is compatible with what a person does on social media. It’s not very effective to send people from your Twitter profile to a website that, for example, is very difficult to navigate.
Thus a person’s entire online presence needs to be consistent with his/her message/goals.
Phyllis Zimbler Miller
Response IV
I think social media is a very effective way for authors and experts to expand their reach and develop relationships with potential customers, peers, and influencers in their field.
This past year, I’ve recorded podcasts, written guest blog posts, participated in book launches, and done a paid teleseminar with folks I met through networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Some of my new contacts have become good friends and we support each other in a number of ways. My website statistics show that Twitter is the single largest driver of traffic to my site.
My book, The Savvy Book Marketer’s Guide to Successful Social Marketing, outlines the benefits of social marketing and gives detailed instructions on how to use social media sites.
Dana Lynn Smith
The Savvy Book Marketer
http://www.bookmarketingmaven.com
Response V
Viral marketing means many things, including e-mail and fax blasts, article publishing, blogging and writing on others’ blogs, social networking on every possible site, creating multiple web sites and blogs, creating video book trailers, posting on Twitter regularly, maintaining pages at LinkedIn, Goodreads, Facebook, MySpace, Filedby, Multiply, Ziggs, Ning, You Tube, Yahoo, etc. Video book trailers have become a viral marketing avenue. Each and every electronic source for promoting a book should be exploited.
Never assume that your book will sell to your heart’s content just because it appears on Amazon, Borders or Barnes & Noble. So do a million other such books. For effective marketing, you must create a viral wave of interest via electronic promotion. Wherever people congregate electronically, your book must reside.
Charles Weinblatt
Author, Jacob’s Courage
http://jacobscourage.wordpress.com/
Response VI
Social Media, although somewhat of a new concept, is now one of the most effect ways to get the word out about your book/product. For myself my book “The Guys The Roses & The Regrets; The Girl to Girl Dating Guide” became an Amazon best seller because of my social media efforts via myspace, youtube, twitter, etc.
However the main thing people seem to forget when using social media is that at the end of the day it’s all about relationships. So many authors, business owners, etc., sign up for social media sites like twitter and then just post things like ‘buy my book today!’ That does not work.
Think of it this way; imagine the social media sites are like a cocktail party. If you go to this party stand on a chair and start yelling “buy my book today, 50% off buy it now!” what is everyone going to think? They’ll think you’re crazy and don’t really care about them. Whereas if you came into that party talked to people, complimented them, got to know them and then told them about your amazing book they are far more likely to pay attention.
So many people are using social media to stand on a chair and yell when that’s not what it’s about at all, you can learn all the tips and tricks but you have to remember it’s about relationships. That’s the most important thing to understand about using social media.
Grace Hutton
Best Selling Teen Author
www.gracehatton.com
The proof is in the pudding. Not only did I receive lots of great information, I was able to put together an excellent blog post in no time at all.
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