Social Media for Authors Test

Do I have to? You’ve written and perhaps published your book. You’ve discovered how much time it takes to make even a traditional sales kit look professional. You fought for some local publicity. Now you are asking, do I really have to get into the social media thing, too? I am supposed to tell you “yes.” But the honest answer is “maybe.”

To find out if you should commit your precious time to building your social media presence—or if it is more likely to be a frustrating waste of time you could better use elsewhere—take my patented Author’s Cut-and-Run from Social Media Test. Answer yes or no:

1. Do you have a Facebook account that you use to communicate with your audience (not just your high school clique)?
2. Does your book distill your detailed expertise in your career field?
3. Is your book controversial, shocking, groundbreaking, or funny?
4. You watch a funny YouTube video. Can you forward the link to a friend in less than thirty seconds?
5. Have you published a blog consistently for six months or more?
6. Do you know how to use Twitter #hashtags?
7. Would you rather send a witty email than chat on the phone?
8. Do you regularly scan more than three blogs related to your book topic?
9. Do you have someone dedicated to helping you who would answer “yes” to most of these questions?
10. Would your book’s audience answer “yes” to most of these questions?

Results:

• If you answered “yes” to 7–10 of these questions, you are already in the choir and should update your apps, renew your SEM strategies, and take it to the bank.
• If you answered “yes” to 4–6 of these questions, it is time to take the following steps: 1) objectively analyze whether or not the subject matter of your book lends itself to social media activity, and 2) honestly assess whether you’ve got the time and discipline needed to
  translate online traffic into real fans and sales.
• If you hesitantly answered “yes” to a few of these questions, keep up your blog if you have one, install a “Share This” button on your website, and call it a day. Focus instead on quality “set it and forget it” content.

[If you didn't answer "Yes" to any of these questions, good on ya; it's important to be honest with yourself. There are many more important ways to spend your time as a professional writer.]

IF you dive into the social media community, religiously divide your time (and your accounts) between personal and business chatter. Your site serves as a “landing page” for all other social media and web activity. Never lose sight of the directive that all the time you spend sending email blasts, tweeting, scanning relevant blogs, and ignoring virtual games serves one purpose only: to direct readers to your website.