Social Media Networking: Be an Active Participant with Relevant News, Articles, and Assistance



Social Media Networking: Be an Active Participant with Relevant News, Articles, and Assistance

By Donna M. McDine

I haven’t forgotten my promise from my last post to discuss LinkedIn, but like many things my inner thoughts have taken over and my conscious is beating the heck out of my mind to chat about the importance of personal participation in social media networking.

The success for any type of social media networking is active participation. Yes, technology allows us to become automated in just about every aspect of postings through cyberspace. The convenience of scheduling blog posts to Twitter, then to Facebook, then to LinkedIn is a great time save, but we must set a daily reminder to become engaged personally in our social networking.

I admit with a red face I’ve been guilty of allowing my automation take over and have become absent as a live person via my social networking. I have given myself the good old slap upside the head and no longer will I allow myself to become the absentee marketer.

As of late, I’ve downloaded the Twitter application (app) to my Droid phone, providing me the opportunity while waiting for my daughter to come out of basketball practice or religion to engage with fellow Tweeters. This is proven to be a successful way of engaging for me and have connected with current and new colleagues, potential clients in the children’s publishing industry, and for those seeking out assistance with their social media campaigns. Twitter works perfectly on the Droid phone because of the rolling screen of Tweets. Thanks Twitter, for keeping tweets to 140 characters!

Luckily my family gave me an iPad several years ago and I’ve downloaded the Facebook and Twitter apps to further engage with others. I personally like the Facebook app on the iPad since it’s a much larger screen than my Droid phone.

Mind you, I do try to keep my personal social interaction down to 30 minutes per day so I’m not spending the majority of my time away from my valuable writing, editing, Author PR Services time, and of course my family.

Key attributes in becoming an active social media networker:

Share relevant information to followers, friends, and colleagues (whatever the specific social media network calls them). If you are a children’s book author share… the latest publishing industry news you’ve read about, your latest magazine article publication or book release, children’s book fair events, children’s book conferences (such as SCBWI by region), your experience in conducting school visits, etc. The list is endless. Important to note, don’t make it all about you. Shout out the successes of your colleagues.

Engage in online chats through social media networks. For example, on Facebook search groups you are interested in joining… such as, teachers, librarians, parents, schools. Participation is imperative, so I strongly suggest you do not join more than 1-2 groups per social media network you are a member of.

Offer tips and assistance from your expert standpoint. When a particular topic is being discussed and you have experience in said topic, join in the conversation and engage. You will be pleased and amazed on how much people appreciate your feedback and they will remember that in the future. You will eventually be known as the go to person in your field of expertise, which often times leads to much more than you ever provided.

Don’t fall into the “it’s all about me attitude.” This is a sure fire way to turn people off. Don’t chat about your specific book or product unless the conversation specifically lends to it.

Once you join a group on most of the social media networks you are able to set an email option to be reminded of the latest discussions in the group so you remember to participate. You can also set a reminder through your To Do/Tasks option in your email. I utilize Outlook for my email and I’m constantly updating and checking off my To Do/Tasks list, which by the way gives me great satisfaction in checking off the latest item. Yep, I’m a list person and love to see the list of checked off tasks! I tell my girls all the time, if it’s not on my list it won’t get done.

Happy networking and remember don’t overload yourself!

BIO: Donna McDine is an award-winning children's author. Her stories, articles, and book reviews have been published in over 100 print and online publications. Her interest in American History resulted in writing and publishing The Golden Pathway. Donna has four more books under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing, Hockey Agony, Powder Monkey, A Sandy Grave, and Dee and Deb, Off They Go. She writes, moms and is the Editor-in-Chief for Guardian Angel Kids and owner of Author PR Services www.authorprservices.com from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the SCBWI. Visit www.donnamcdine.com



15 comments:

Mary Jo Guglielmo said...

Great tips Donna. I'm going to download the twitter app.

Karen Cioffi said...

Donna, another great article on social media networking. I need these reminders because I usually forget the personal interaction. I do the updates, but really need to get on every day and mingle.

VS Grenier said...

Great post and so true. I actually have hired Marni McNiff to help me with a lot of my social media marketing to so I can free my time up with more personalized networking. Having her do the sharing and liking frees me up to comment and post engaging material. I realize not everyone can do this, but ask for an older teens help (if you have one at home willing) or a friend who wants to learn more about social media. All these tips can really make a difference in your social media networking.

Donna McDine said...

Hi Mary Jo,

Glad you enjoyed the article and find it useful.

All the best,
Donna

Donna McDine said...

Hi Virginia,

Yes, social marketing is definitely time consuming and to have someone on board to help out with it reliefs the pressure. Older teens is a good idea too.

All the best,
Donna

Donna McDine said...

Hi Karen,

Glad you find my article helpful. By setting my daily reminder on Outlook it helps to get me interacting.

All the best,
Donna

Susan Hornbach said...

Thanks for sharing Donna. I'm always happy to read your informational posts.

Sharon Stanley said...

Love these tips! Didn't know there was a to/task option on email!! Must check into this quickly...thanks for the good info.

Donna McDine said...

Hi Susan,

Always lovely to connect with you. I'm glad you find my articles helpful.

All the best,
Donna

Donna McDine said...

Hi Sharon,

I'm delighted my tips are helpful. I love the To Do/Task Option...it's a good way to nudge me or slap me upside my head.

All the best,
Donna

Magdalena Ball said...

Great suggestions Donna and a good reminder too of the importance of engaging and sharing with one another. Engaging in FB chats is something I've yet to explore but you've encouraged me to give it a try.

Unknown said...

Always informative and timely, Donna! It was a pleasure to read, and I've sent it onward.

Debra Quarles said...

Great information. This is something that I'm struggling with as well. Love your tips.

Heidiwriter said...

Yes, great post. It certainly is all pretty overwhelming and we are tempted by the automated tweets & posts, but I'm hearing more and more that this is considered a form of "spam" and that social media is really about "community," developing a network of real people. It can be a huge time commitment if we aren't careful, though.

Debbie A Byrne said...

Good advice! I need to work on this too.

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