Red Series

Wednesday 3 February 2016

IWSG: Putting Yourself Out There


Today is the monthly IWSG hosted by Alex and his interchangeable minion squad of online ninjas. Every first Wednesday participants gather to share their insecurities and other thoughts out in the open. It is is an amazing catharsis and fun gathering to be a part of. So here I go with my post.

One of my insecurities has been getting more involved online. When I started this blog I had already tried others with varying degrees of success and failure. Yet I was willing to try again and as you can see a couple years down the road it has paid off.

Then there was Facebook which at first was this crazy fun playground but soon became an overcrowded junkyard I could barely get a word in. I left it for awhile a while for Twitter last year. While I have returned it is still a struggle and not one I'm currently really struggling with as I have found my social media soulmate.

Now that takes me to Twitter. When I first started I have to admit I misjudged twitter. All those short quips and people maybe throwing one back? What the hell is this? Off to Facebook where I can participate in real communication. Oh the irony when I went crawling back and by 2015 I was on a roll. I live tweet on some shows, share writing thoughts and chat it up with various authors and even some nice individuals from the world of Entertainment. I have really found my center here and it will be a vital part of my marketing campaign when it's time to promote my book.

Youtube. Funny most would think you can't make an impact on Youtube if you don't create videos. WRONG. I don't create videos but what I do is comment and communicate with those who do. Bobby Burns and Grace Reynolds are two avid professional Youtubers I have a strong fan relationship with because we don't just chat videos but also about our own thoughts and media. Recently one of my tweets made Grace Reynold's channel Movie Math. Now this was not planned. I had just read an article that burned me up because DC decided to drop Wonder Woman's age and kind of allowed it to be made a big deal. Something I noticed was not done with other superhero characters like Thor (yes I know Thor is with Marvel but let's not forget how sexualized Black Widow is versus Bruce Banner/The Hulk. It has long been an issue that females in movies are often not given the same respect and due process as males). Plus in retrospect who went around dumping the ages of Batman or Superman in Batman vs. Superman (and I don't count saying Batman is older and more jaded. I get older every year I'm alive and that does not reveal jack about my age). So I tweeted Grace like a number of fans and subscribers do. Not too long after that I got to see her mention me and talk about my very tweet and more about Wonder Woman. It was frigging awesome!

Here is the video below. If you look to the left as you watch the video you'll see thumbnails. The one with Wonder Woman beside the birthday cake over stacked with candles is the story I'm mentioned it. If you don't want to watch the entire thing but are interested in hearing about the tweet by yours truly you can click that to skip ahead. Still there are other cool stories including a detailed talk about the movie Birth of a Nation, Star Wars: The Force Awakens struggling in China and the viewer question involving the chances of a live action Pokemon.


Instagram and Tsu.co are two others I want to utilize as well as both places I chat with others online as well as potential marketing tools. But getting to communicate and enjoy time with others is priority for me. I love doing freelance writing despite the load sometimes getting heavy reminding me that it's also a job. While I can't say loving what I do never feels like work, I can say I never go through life always hating what I do. Oh and I updated my Linked In during January and need to get on that.

So yeah it's important to have an online presence but try to make it fun too if you can. There is always a way to get yourself out there and make friends where you can. Thanks for stopping by and see you dear readers again on Friday.

47 comments:

  1. I still don't even know my way around Twitter - I always forget out to get to the 'replies' area where you can see the actual conversations people are having. ;)

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  2. I have love and hate relationship with social media. Facebook became crappy ever since they decided to select what we will see or not and ever since they started charging pages to show their posts to their fans. Twitter I use only for HOLLYWOOD SPY and celebrity contacts. I should open an Instagram account, but I never seem to find the time. It could do good for my blog. I closed Google Plus last month because I suspected Blogger is directing Google search hits there instead to the blog in order to lower blog hits and Google ads revenue :)

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    1. You seem to be handling your online presence in a very savvy way already Dez. Kudoz.

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  3. Sadly, I get older and you can tell...
    No Facebook for me. Just blogging and Twitter. And I'm on Google+. Not really active there, which is why the sixteen million visits really surprises me.
    My interchangeable minion squad of online ninjas - awesome!!

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  4. When my 5-book series came out, I was on 25 social sites and not effective with most of them. I've pared it down to about 5 now and Pinterest is my current favorite. I've had fun finding inspirational photos for my next book.

    Anyone who just wants hits needs a website not a blog. Plus a domain name.

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    1. I crave interaction so I need more than hits. Will get to making that true blue website one day. Yeah using the social media you work with best is essential.

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  5. I was informed an online presence is essential for an author. At least such an unknown author as myself. I remember years ago I'd said, I'd never waste my time on twitter or FB. And now I'm there all the time. Social Media has become my great procrastination. Now, I'm looking into YouTube.

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    1. Youtube is a great way to expand your online. I thought I would never be into twitter and like you years later I am all over it.

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  6. An online presence is one thing. Letting social media take over writing time is not good. I've yet to find the balance. :( Good luck!

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  7. I love that social media will link your accounts. It's a huge timesaver and allows you to post in multiple places at once.

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  8. Balance can be hard with anything and sometimes it takes a lot of trial and error to even come close to getting it right. I still am trying to find the right balance with reading, blogging, and family and friends. ;)

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    1. Yes there is always that kink that gets in the way but we strive forward.

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  9. I struggle so much with any kind of social media, apart from blogging. I have a twitter account, but I haven't been on there in months. Like you said, I just don't get it. I guess I should start making an effort like you did - I'm sure I'll get there eventually.

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    1. Start with something that interest you. I love movies and books so I started with that and now have contact with multiple authors including best selling ones like Victoria Aveyard and Danielle Paige. Start small and people will come. I started live tweeting with Arrow last year and it was become a tradition every Season.

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  10. I have a plan for what I share on each social media so I don't get lost or unbalanced. I never thought of using Youtube as a way to comment and connect to people. That's a great idea!

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    1. Yeah one of the things that I see get left out in some marketing tips is interaction. No one wants to chat with someone who only talks about themselves and their work.

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  11. Awesome that youtube has been such a great site for you. I never would have thought of using it without making videos myself. Thanks for the inspiration! And I'm trying again to get back into Twitter so your success there was also inspiring.

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    1. Glad I inspired you Julie. It's never too late. Start small and build up from there.

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  12. It can seem like a full time job, eh? I really like Facebook but use my personal profile a lot more than my author one. I've never caught on with Twitter. You Tube I've bonded with a few show and book folks but I have barely tipped my writer hat there. I feel like the folks may recognize me, but until I have something outstanding AND a relationship I'm not really up to asking them to review or anything.

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    1. Bonding first is important. A lot of authors end up using their personal Facebook more than their writing one.

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  13. I'm glad you found your niche. That's the most important part.

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  14. Yay for figuring out how to get social. Me, well, I suck at all of it. :) See you on the interwebs!

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    1. Thanks. Sorry about the suckage but my best advice is take something you enjoy and tweet about in a fun way. I live tweet with the television show Arrow and have a small dedicated following just for that. I do other things but always pick something you actually like to start.

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  15. You get around way more than I do. I've been sticking to blogging, tweeting and Facebooking.

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  16. I'll admit I'm terrible with social media. I get a burst of eagerness with it and it works well for a while, then I drop off the face of the Earth because I realise it's taking too much time, lol. And on the cycle goes.

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  17. So cool that you got a mention on YouTube! I agree about the bias in Hollywood regarding "older" women. LOL, they're not even old.

    I'm definitely not good with social media. I'm on FB all the time, but I mostly lurk, read posts and only sometimes comment. But I've got my behind-the-scenes Untethered Realms writing group where only members are allowed and there are only 12 of us, so I don't feel so lost in the crowd with the rest of FB.

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    1. Yeah FB has gotten way too big. You're blogging and that counts so good for you Gwen. I was glad for the mention. Hollywood is just annoying when it comes to females a billion times too many.

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  18. look at you go! i get a lot out more out of twitter now than i used to and with minimal effort. i'm trying to instagram, and i've been posting some vids on youtube, but i need to watch more... and facebook is an old friend (ha!) you gave me some ideas - thanks!
    happy february!

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  19. Thanks for sharing with us your experiences. I need to be utilize my time online better. My blog is still my number one tool, and I have managed to make more of Twitter last year. I should make more use out of YouTube.

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  20. Great post. I have a FB, Twitter, LINKEDIN and google. Today I am trying to get in more blogs. I never have enough to time to get very far--time gets away and life calls. Happy IWSG Day,
    Juneta Writer's Gambit

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  21. I'm so glad you've found an online social outlet you enjoy. Years ago I was more active in the blogging and tweeting world. Sadly, there just isn't enough time anymore, but I really miss feeling connected with other people. On the flip side, I'm trying to be better connected to the people in my neighborhood. :) So far it's kind of neat!

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  22. Facebook is getting cluttered. I never live chat shows because I never thought to do it. Hmm. Never thought about commenting on Youtube either. Thanks for the info!

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  23. I'm struggling to get on Facebook too, although that is my next goal to get there regularly. Glad you're finding the social media sites that work for you

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  24. Interesting idea to comment on YouTube. I've never tried.

    As for Twitter and Facebook... I find it difficult to get into both. Used to love twitter, but my timeline just seems spammed with BUY MY BOOK now.

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  25. So many sites...I maintain my blog, Facebook, and Twitter. I didn't even set up a separate author page on Facebook because I knew I wouldn't keep up with it. I just try to keep it maintainable, if that makes sense!

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  26. Hi Sheena - interesting takes on the various sites - and areas I know nothing about .. still I'm not yet into marketing per se - but I like to learn and 'know' ... you seem to have social media taped ... well done.... cheers Hilary

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  27. Socializing online is not something I'm good at. Half the time, I just don't know what to say or someone else has already said it.

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  28. Still making my rounds through IWSG!

    I have just begun using Twitter more often for writing communication, but not so much with Facebook or Youtube. But you have inspired me to check out those Youtubers!

    Good luck with your upcoming projects! ~Lori~

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  29. Wow, you seems to have your way pretty well through social media. I especially like what you've done with You Tube.

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  30. First of all, I have to say that you are a commenting rock star! I used to comment all the time when I first started blogging but I have gotten behind and then I have to mass comment like I'm doing today. But anyway, that's not really relevant to this post, but I feel like you totally put yourself out there and interact via commenting!

    Also, I'm like you with Twitter. I was all about FB and then I tried Twitter and I just didn't get it. It didn't seem like a viable way to interact. But now I love Twitter so much more than Facebook. I kind of treat Facebook for friends and family and Twitter for my blogging life. Twitter makes it SO EASY to interact with other bloggers and authors and bookish people! Let's just hope they don't change it like they're talking about and make it more like Facebook!

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