Getting Started with Google+

With Facebook changing as frequently as it had been and making it harder to be seen, a lot of people are starting to look to other social media outlets. And by people, I mean me. As I've said at least twice now, I'm not an expert, simply an indie author trying to figure out how to make the most of the resources I have available to me rather than spend hours every day trying to change Facebook or beat their algorithms, although I do have a few ideas there as well.

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to focus on Google+ since many people who are experts anticipate that it will eventually take the top spot from Facebook. I'm not sure I totally believe that just yet, but then again, we all thought nothing would steal the limelight from MySpace at one point as well...

If you've never looked into using Google+, this will help you get started:

1. Go to Google+ and start filling out your profile. When you start adding people Google recommends to you, organize them into circles. If you hover over the Add button, you can choose a circle or create a new circle. This will help you as you get more active on the site, I promise!
2. Upload a profile picture. This can be your logo or an actual photograph, but keep your branding in mind. After all, this is going to become part of your overall brand presence.
3. Create a cover photo. You can easily go to Pic Monkey and do this if you don't have Photoshop. The recommended dimensions as of the time of this post are 1080x608 pixels. To install this, hover over the cover image area (to the right of your profile image when you're on your Profile tab and click Change Cover.
4. Fill out your About section. This creates your hovercard, which is like a business card. If you hover over my name at the top of the sidebar on this blog, you will see my hover card. The first line beneath your name is pulled from the Tagline in your "Story" section, which is at the top right. To alter this, scroll to the bottom of the Story box and click edit. The next line is your occupation, which is the first entry in your Work section. While you're in there, you can also add links to your other online profiles, website, etc.
5. While you're in the About section, grab your custom URL so you're not just a series of numbers!

Now that you're signed up, what do you do with this profile so it doesn't become just another dead profile? This is a very high level list of things you can do. There will be more info coming in the near future.

1. Build your circles. When you see someone who interests you, put them in a circle. I have all authors in one, bloggers in another, and then some other social circles. This way, I can go to each group and see what they've been posting without feeling like I'm drowning in the sea.
2. Don't just +1 items you like (although that's definitely a good thing to do), share feed items that interest you publicly. I know it might seem like you'd want to be private, but when you select a circle to share it to, you may be sending it out to people who have no clue who you are because that's your circle, meaning they might not be following you back. When you share it publicly, everyone will be able to see it, meaning those outside of your circles. Remember, the key to social media is viral sharing, which means people have to be able to see it.
3. Explore to find interests. Google+ uses hashtags and has made it super simple to click the Explore tab and enter a hashtag to search. See something interesting? Start interacting with those around you!

Once you're on Google+, why not add your link to this linky (just click on the blue button) so we can all help one another grow?

An InLinkz Link-up

What is social media?

Have I told you yet that I'm not an expert? Every single time I say it, I mean it. I'm just one woman trying to wade her way through the stormy seas of self-publishing, social media and life in general. That being said, I have opinions and I am intelligent enough to figure out certain things.

According to Wikipedia (yes, I know wikipedia isn't a reliable source for many things, but this is close enough):

Social media refers to interaction among people in which they create, share and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks.

Now, this is a very large umbrella, but you will see in this, and just about any, definition, social media involves interaction among people. And this, my friends, is where we've all screwed up.

Think I'm wrong? 

Have you ever had a friend who was new to selling Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Longaberger Baskets or any other direct marketing company? When they first start, they're so excited and eager to make their goals that they're asking everyone they know to have a party for them. When you tell them you can't, they come back with how easy it is, how you won't have to do a thing. When you say you really don't have time, they're trained to tell you that they can set up a book party and just pass the information on. 

Over time, you start avoiding their phone calls. You love them, but you know they're going to try to hook you, yet again. Even though you enjoy talking to them, you back away because you're sick of the hard sell. 

That's exactly what's happening on social media. What started as a way for people to interact morphed into a way for brands to network and has slowly devolved into a way for businesses to push new products, sales, etc. onto those in their networks. 

The interaction is faltering. Groups on Facebook that started as a way for readers to interact with one another now have posts pinned at the top reminding authors and street teams that it's not acceptable to advertise in there. Groups that aren't policed as carefully are overrun with links to the newest releases.

I understand the importance of social media for businesses, including indie authors. Hell, without social media, I wouldn't be where I am. That doesn't mean I like the trend I'm seeing where we've lost sight of the interaction in favor of as many platforms as possible to advertise for free. 

That's why I'm working to figure out the best ways to improve my own social media presence and actually have it be social. As I learn little bits, I will pass them along because when we build a community, we all succeed. And that, my friends, is probably about as peace, love and happiness as you will ever see from me...

If you want to start making your social media a bit more social, why not add your Google+ link to this list! Then, click on the ones before you and add them to your circles. Together, we all grow!

I'm No Expert...

Welcome to my blog! This is going to be the place where I can share tidbits I learn that make life as a writer easier, vent about things that annoy me in general, and whatever else I decide to post. For lack of a better way to put it, this is my mommy blog, without all the posts about my kids. Nothing against mommy bloggers or people who post about their kids, that's just not what I'm doing here!

I hope you'll stop by as I start posting and growing! If you're looking for more information about my books, you can visit http://authorsloanjohnson.com.