Every author/publisher has to come to grips with Social Media, those online utilities that have transformed how we communicate with others. Writers Joanna Penn and Sonia Simone are two very effective women in this arena and worth following.

Myself? I am a student in the world of shares, tweets and discussions, absorbed in daily research on the topic. Here are my findings thus far. The following four social phenomena can take you from obscurity to prominence with the right blend of savvy, content and mastery of the short and sweet.

1. Facebook

There are 800 Million active users on Facebook. Wikipedia says that if this social utility were a country, it would be the third largest in the world. Many popular bloggers write wonderful essays and manuals on how to market, brand and create a following with this medium. There are extensive tutorials on the site itself for ways to motivate friends and fans to like, comment and share your posts.

Think of it as a virtual Hyde Park, where you can stand on a soapbox and say or upload what you like. Be mindful that free expression comes with a price: posting too much information (TMI) has cost many people their careers.

2. Twitter

Twitter, a micro-blogging, Short Message Service (SMS) for the internet, gives the “tweet” enormous power to make overnight successes, launch products and start movements. Going viral is any author’s dream; a comment, quote or artfully crafted invitation gets re-tweeted, thrusting one into global recognition.

There are 65,000,000 tweets on an average day, with peak use between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Twitter is quite unique, with its 140 character constraint and easy access to important people, powerful organizations and global causes. The TweetLater option allows a writer to develop a well-considered series of bursts to convey a strong marketing message; creating awareness of your book in snippets. Powerful stuff!

3. LinkedIn

115.8 Million People have made Linked-In the largest professional social network service on the internet with the slogan: “Relationships Matter.”

Here’s what matters to me. The site is a pleasure to navigate. Introductions, discussions or posting information about my book or products is fun. The user-friendly edge is engaging and its culture is more formal, giving you a wide net to cast for business opportunities.

One caveat: You have to know a person, through a group, college, professional environment or social platform in order to Link-in. Think of it as Facebook for the workplace.

Goodreads

Goodreads is a book catalogue and social community. By January 2010, this gathering of readers, writers, publishers and librarians had reached 2,900,000 members with 78,000,000 books on the shelves. There are discussion groups, contests and areas for every author/publisher to shine by making a vibrant profile and attracting bookish friends.

Readers are a close flock and migrate through the literary terrain in large groups. They don’t have giveaways for e-Books as of yet, but there are my ways to participate. Think of it as an online book club of cool people with readers for every niche.

Social Media is an essential ingredient to the recipe for a successful writing career. Use caring, commitment, consistency and creativity as you grow your fan base and meet the millions of people available to you on these social mediums.

Have a tip, technique or social utility that works for you? Do tell in the comments section below.

About the Author

Lexis De Rothschild is the pen name for a former start-up specialist in the financial and fine arts industries. A diploma from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, revealed a passion for writing. She is a finalist in the Massachusetts Film Office Screenplay Competition (WORK), publishing her first eNovella, “The Cat Letters: A Tale of Longing, Adventure and True Love“, a quirky, humorous tale about love lost and found, through BookBaby.

Tags: facebook, Goodreads.com, LinkedIn, social media tips, twitter