A very heated debate in many circles is whether or not social media marketing and social networks are a good use of time or simply the activity of fools. One writer’s group I belong to recently had just such a discussion.
The mud slinging by a couple of members got so intense the moderator of the group said, “Enough is enough.”

I discovered this when my post was rejected. Not for content but because the moderator felt the discussion had reached a point of nonproductivity.
I was in complete agreement with her stand but felt shortchanged in that up to that point there were lots of reasons why someone should or should not use social networks to market a book but very little on exactly how to effectively use social media.
As an author and a book marketing expert I can’t imagine not using social networks to market either my books or those of my clients. However, a very targeted approach is essential.
There are dozens upon dozens of things that can be done. Here are three that can prove to be very effective.
1. Facebook ProPage. Build a following for you and your book with a professional page. This does take time, effort and commitment. Avoid simply starting a ProPage and doing nothing beyond that.
Be visible, add value and interact.  The more involved you are the more the members will be inclined to want to read your books. (If you add value)
2. Facebook event postings. When you have any type of event as it relates to your book(s) you can post on FB. However, avoid posting every single one or potential attendees may not pay as much attention.
3. LinkedIn Groups. You can begin your own group specific to your market and genre. Groups are a wonderful way to keep in touch. As with Facebook you need to continually add value.
If you do events in your local market you can either start, or join, a group specific to a geographic region. The video I posted shows exactly how.
A local group could be one of the best ways to build community and a loyal fan base.
In conclusion. All of these methods do take time. However, the payoff can be huge. To get the most out of your social media efforts keep an eye on just how much you are doing and what the results are.
Otherwise you will be on the side of the discussion where people say, “Social networks are a complete waste of time.”
I will be the first to admit that social networks can be a huge time sucker with very little result other than people knowing what you had for breakfast.
I will also stand by my position that in today’s world of book marketing social networks and social media marketing are incredible additions to a well planned campaign.
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