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We Are Not Alone: The Writer's Guide to Social Media
Foreword written by NY Times Best-Selling Author Bob Mayer, “I wished there had been a step-by-step guide for writers on how to not only do social media technically, but do it content-wise. This book is the answer to that wish.”
"Kristen Lamb's WE ARE NOT ALONE is a must-read for any writer dealing with the wildly competitive publishing climate. Even if you think you know what you're doing using social media, Kristen's book will teach you how to use all the tools to maximize your author platform and, most of all, SALES! I'm already recommending this book to all my authors!" Gina Panettieri from Talcott Notch Literary
Social Media is more popular than ever. As society becomes more and more technologically advanced, people are seeking new ways to interact. Humans are social creatures. Relationships and community are vital to our survival and our mental and emotional health.
Writers, published and unpublished, fiction and non-fiction are hearing words like platform and brand with increasing frequency as the publishing paradigm shifts into the 21st century. The world around us is changing faster than ever, and publishing is certainly not immune.
There are more opportunities for a new author today than there has been in the entirety of human history. Yet, the flip side of that reality is, with thousands and thousands of authors with books and blogs, how can a writer ever hope to stand apart let alone succeed?
This book will show you how.
There are countless social media experts, but Kristen's system is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of a writer. Take charge of your future today. You have great books to write, and don't have time for rookie mistakes that can cost you years of rebuilding your name, brand, and platform.
Kristen's method is simple, effective, and helps auhors find ways to harness the imaginatin used for writing and employ this creativity to build a solid platform designed to connect with readers. This system is designed to change the writer's approach, not the writer's personality.
And the best part is you have help. Remember, We Are Not Alone.
"Kristen Lamb's WE ARE NOT ALONE is a must-read for any writer dealing with the wildly competitive publishing climate. Even if you think you know what you're doing using social media, Kristen's book will teach you how to use all the tools to maximize your author platform and, most of all, SALES! I'm already recommending this book to all my authors!" Gina Panettieri from Talcott Notch Literary
Social Media is more popular than ever. As society becomes more and more technologically advanced, people are seeking new ways to interact. Humans are social creatures. Relationships and community are vital to our survival and our mental and emotional health.
Writers, published and unpublished, fiction and non-fiction are hearing words like platform and brand with increasing frequency as the publishing paradigm shifts into the 21st century. The world around us is changing faster than ever, and publishing is certainly not immune.
There are more opportunities for a new author today than there has been in the entirety of human history. Yet, the flip side of that reality is, with thousands and thousands of authors with books and blogs, how can a writer ever hope to stand apart let alone succeed?
This book will show you how.
There are countless social media experts, but Kristen's system is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of a writer. Take charge of your future today. You have great books to write, and don't have time for rookie mistakes that can cost you years of rebuilding your name, brand, and platform.
Kristen's method is simple, effective, and helps auhors find ways to harness the imaginatin used for writing and employ this creativity to build a solid platform designed to connect with readers. This system is designed to change the writer's approach, not the writer's personality.
And the best part is you have help. Remember, We Are Not Alone.
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 6, 2010
9 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
January 22, 2011
A Witty Beginner's Guide-- also suitable for the non-beginner. What I mean is, when Kristen gets into the nuts and bolts of setting up and maintaining a presence on the major social networking platforms, she breaks it down and explains it in a simple, straightforward way that should make the For Dummies and Idiot's Guide people wish they'd gone to her first. She gets so bare basics that she explains what a hyperlink is. I know, right? But here's the thing: I didn't mind reading it. I mean, I'm thinking: who doesn't know this, who doesn't get this? But Kristen is so entertaining that I actually enjoyed that lesson I didn't need. So if you feel you need a real beginner's guide, this may be the book for you, and if you're a little more advanced, you may find yourself so entertained you forget to skip the parts you know already.
But it's not all about how to set up your stuff. It's about WHY you need to do it, and HOW you need to think about what you're doing. It's lessons on branding and a bunch of other stuff writers need to understand...and so often just don't. She takes subject matter that makes a lot of writers want to run away screaming (um, marketing) and makes it seem, not only doable, but also fun. Even if you don't need the second half of the book that deals with setting up and running your social media accounts, the first half, the why and how, branding and marketing half, is worth the price of the book and then some.
I'm sure I've recommended this book more times than any other book this year (possibly including my own...).
But it's not all about how to set up your stuff. It's about WHY you need to do it, and HOW you need to think about what you're doing. It's lessons on branding and a bunch of other stuff writers need to understand...and so often just don't. She takes subject matter that makes a lot of writers want to run away screaming (um, marketing) and makes it seem, not only doable, but also fun. Even if you don't need the second half of the book that deals with setting up and running your social media accounts, the first half, the why and how, branding and marketing half, is worth the price of the book and then some.
I'm sure I've recommended this book more times than any other book this year (possibly including my own...).
June 1, 2012
There are many outstanding ideas for authors (or anyone) who wants to use social media for enjoyment and promotion.
The most important is that you must actually become engaged with your internet friends, read their blogs, have conversations, and NOT just promote your own work at every opportunity. Actually, that's not hard to do when you have interesting friends.
I have been active on Facebook for awhile, but will now open a Twitter account.
Let me invite all of my GoodReads friends to also become Facebook friends. Just go to "Lew Weinstein" on FB.
The most important is that you must actually become engaged with your internet friends, read their blogs, have conversations, and NOT just promote your own work at every opportunity. Actually, that's not hard to do when you have interesting friends.
I have been active on Facebook for awhile, but will now open a Twitter account.
Let me invite all of my GoodReads friends to also become Facebook friends. Just go to "Lew Weinstein" on FB.
July 15, 2010
Every writer needs a copy of this book. It's the definitive guide for understanding *why* we need to market, how passive marketing works (and why it works better than the traditional "hard sell" methods online), and how to set up all three of the major social media profiles plus a blog in a simple, easy to understand format. Kristen's writing style is wonderfully conversational and reading her is like chatting with an old friend. One of the best purchases any writer could make, in my opinion.
January 22, 2011
Great book on social networking. Unpublished and published writers can gain a lot of tips and insight. Ms Lamb discusses blogs, author bios, Facebook fan pages, MySpace, and Twitter, and answered questions I had on those subjects.
February 28, 2011
Although I've blogged for years, when it came to social platforms I had no idea where to begin. Time was a limited commodity and I needed a way to get up to speed fast. A few books I found focused on social networking as merely new platform to throw the traditional "buy this widget" approach at the masses. Books aren't widgets. Books are thoughts and ideas. There had to be another way... and then I found Kristen Lamb's "We Are Not Alone."
For a social-media introvert, Kristen Lamb's book provided me priceless guidance I needed. Kristen shows the hows and whys of marketing in a light-hearted, often laugh-out-loud manner that makes her lessons a delight. These days a social presence is essential, but the type of image you project is equally as vital. Kristen leads you through the steps needed to properly brand yourself. (And if you don't know what that means, all the more reason to read this book.) For any writer trying to reach readers, her book is a must-read and one I highly recommend. Trust me, it will be money well-spent. And above and beyond her book, her blog offers regular installments of insight, guidance and humor. And the best part, in my opinion, is that her entire philosophy is based upon the concept of the more we reach out, the more we help one another, (her barn-raising analogy the other day says it perfectly) the more we all benefit. It's such a positive, uplifting approach, one that rewards you with new friendships and connections even as you reach new readers and gain fans.
For a social-media introvert, Kristen Lamb's book provided me priceless guidance I needed. Kristen shows the hows and whys of marketing in a light-hearted, often laugh-out-loud manner that makes her lessons a delight. These days a social presence is essential, but the type of image you project is equally as vital. Kristen leads you through the steps needed to properly brand yourself. (And if you don't know what that means, all the more reason to read this book.) For any writer trying to reach readers, her book is a must-read and one I highly recommend. Trust me, it will be money well-spent. And above and beyond her book, her blog offers regular installments of insight, guidance and humor. And the best part, in my opinion, is that her entire philosophy is based upon the concept of the more we reach out, the more we help one another, (her barn-raising analogy the other day says it perfectly) the more we all benefit. It's such a positive, uplifting approach, one that rewards you with new friendships and connections even as you reach new readers and gain fans.
March 24, 2011
Glad everyone seems to be finding the book worthwhile-- I remember when I read the manuscript on a flight going to a writers conference. I started making all sorts of notes of things I needed to do. Frankly, I just see too many people using social media inefficiently. A guide that lays out preparing content before worrying about procedure is very worthwhile.
February 29, 2012
I bought We Are Not Alone (WANA, as I call it), by Kristin Lamb, on the recommendations of Dee Dee Scott and several other authors (Waving at the WG2E), after seeing something called a ‘Tweet’ with #WANA in it. Being a newly published author, and a complete social media neophyte, I knew I needed help. I wanted to be sure I was doing things properly, and with so many powerful endorsements, Kristin seemed just the gal to set me straight.
I started reading WANA with all of the joy and expectations that one might feel opening a computer programming textbook. I was, as you might guess, very pleasantly surprised within the first few pages. Kristin teaches in exactly the way I like to learn.
1. She begins with ‘Why’, as in “Why do I need to bother with all of this ‘Social Media’ voodoo, anyway?”
2. Next comes the ‘What’, as in “Ok, I’m sold. Now what should I do?”
3. Finally, she gives us the ‘How’, as in “Step One: go to this website. Step two, click that button…”, only she does it much better than I am describing. Trust me.
The writing is flawless and entertaining, the content is well laid out, and the material is explained in clear terms with pictures, screenshots, and (don’t you love eBooks?) links to helpful websites and utilities. She took a fairly dry subject (sorry Mr. Zuckerberg), and not only made it interesting, but got me excited about it, and eager to explore the Twitterverse.
Before I read this book, I thought that “social media” was political commentary, websites were made with magic smoke, and a platform was the secret ingredient in my special shoes. Now, I know better, and I’ll be posting all about it next week on my Blog, which will update to my webpage, my Facebook Author page, and MySpace. Don’t worry! I’ll tweet the links.
I am a real stickler for giving honest ratings and reviews, so these five stars are not a giveaway. The only problem I have with this book, is that I didn’t read it six months before releasing my own book, and after all this book has done for me, that’s just not worth taking a star away. If you are an author, or want a step by step guide to building your social media platform, go get this book. And tell it Greg sent you.
I started reading WANA with all of the joy and expectations that one might feel opening a computer programming textbook. I was, as you might guess, very pleasantly surprised within the first few pages. Kristin teaches in exactly the way I like to learn.
1. She begins with ‘Why’, as in “Why do I need to bother with all of this ‘Social Media’ voodoo, anyway?”
2. Next comes the ‘What’, as in “Ok, I’m sold. Now what should I do?”
3. Finally, she gives us the ‘How’, as in “Step One: go to this website. Step two, click that button…”, only she does it much better than I am describing. Trust me.
The writing is flawless and entertaining, the content is well laid out, and the material is explained in clear terms with pictures, screenshots, and (don’t you love eBooks?) links to helpful websites and utilities. She took a fairly dry subject (sorry Mr. Zuckerberg), and not only made it interesting, but got me excited about it, and eager to explore the Twitterverse.
Before I read this book, I thought that “social media” was political commentary, websites were made with magic smoke, and a platform was the secret ingredient in my special shoes. Now, I know better, and I’ll be posting all about it next week on my Blog, which will update to my webpage, my Facebook Author page, and MySpace. Don’t worry! I’ll tweet the links.
I am a real stickler for giving honest ratings and reviews, so these five stars are not a giveaway. The only problem I have with this book, is that I didn’t read it six months before releasing my own book, and after all this book has done for me, that’s just not worth taking a star away. If you are an author, or want a step by step guide to building your social media platform, go get this book. And tell it Greg sent you.
August 8, 2011
Read this on the recommendation of my CP, Michelle Styles. There were some real gems of info that I highlighted to "organize" my strategy (I read this on my kindle for PC. Love the highlight and notes thing). There are also a lot of basics that I agree authors need to do to kickstart their presence.
But I did have issues with some of the info. The assertion that Myspace isn't dead is perhaps true, but the stats (60 million users) are from March 2010 - a year and a half ago. And I also wondered if the 60 million users are active users or have left and just not deleted their profiles. I may rejuvenate my myspace profile, but I'm not sold that it's as great as Lamb has made it out to be.
Another example is tweetdeck being used to manage twitter. I used tweetdeck. After a lot of frustration I switched to hootsuite which I like so much better. But Lamb never mentions hootsuite. It seemed that she mentioned the utilities that she personally uses rather than presenting other options.
She also mentions going to where the readers are and finding groups - but then fails to mention reader communities like goodreads or shelfari, etc. I know about these places but someone new may not. I've also had the benefit of several digital online workshops courtesy of Harlequin's team that other authors may not. It makes a difference, and since the book spends a considerable amount of time on HOW to set up profiles, it presumes that people are reading it who are not overly savvy.
That's not to say it's not a worthwhile read. It is. As Michelle says - for the cost of a latte it's good information (especially the strategy part for me). But I tend to look at it like I look at all advice - you take what works for you and leave the rest.
But I did have issues with some of the info. The assertion that Myspace isn't dead is perhaps true, but the stats (60 million users) are from March 2010 - a year and a half ago. And I also wondered if the 60 million users are active users or have left and just not deleted their profiles. I may rejuvenate my myspace profile, but I'm not sold that it's as great as Lamb has made it out to be.
Another example is tweetdeck being used to manage twitter. I used tweetdeck. After a lot of frustration I switched to hootsuite which I like so much better. But Lamb never mentions hootsuite. It seemed that she mentioned the utilities that she personally uses rather than presenting other options.
She also mentions going to where the readers are and finding groups - but then fails to mention reader communities like goodreads or shelfari, etc. I know about these places but someone new may not. I've also had the benefit of several digital online workshops courtesy of Harlequin's team that other authors may not. It makes a difference, and since the book spends a considerable amount of time on HOW to set up profiles, it presumes that people are reading it who are not overly savvy.
That's not to say it's not a worthwhile read. It is. As Michelle says - for the cost of a latte it's good information (especially the strategy part for me). But I tend to look at it like I look at all advice - you take what works for you and leave the rest.
January 23, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. It is written in a very conversational tone making it easy and quick to read. Kristen Lamb covers the importance of developing a social media presence for writers, including unpublished writers. In the first part of the book, she discusses why it is so important at this time in publishing to have a social media presence. In the second part, she walks the reader through setting up a blog, facebook profile and fan page, twitter account, and Myspace (I skipped that part).
This book would be extremely useful to people just starting out on social media. She spells out the etiquette, how-to's, and definitions that take months to figure out on your own. Although I have all those accounts set up, I learned ways to better manage them and make them more effective for building a potential platform. I also think this book would be useful for bloggers who want to extend their online presence and increase followers.
I found this book through Kristen Lamb's blog. A lot of the material in the book is also on her blog, although not as in depth and, of course, you would have to do a little digging to find it all.
This book would be extremely useful to people just starting out on social media. She spells out the etiquette, how-to's, and definitions that take months to figure out on your own. Although I have all those accounts set up, I learned ways to better manage them and make them more effective for building a potential platform. I also think this book would be useful for bloggers who want to extend their online presence and increase followers.
I found this book through Kristen Lamb's blog. A lot of the material in the book is also on her blog, although not as in depth and, of course, you would have to do a little digging to find it all.
August 10, 2011
We Are Not Alone- The Writer’s Guide to Social Media by Kristen Lamb is a wonderful book filled with needed information for writers everywhere! She offers a wealth of information to fiction and non-fiction writers- keeping the two types separate.
Kristen Lamb starts her book by talking directly to me- It’s true. I was startled at first to have her describe me to a Tee, but then I found comfort in the fact that I am not alone in my struggle to market my books and understanding the social media.
She took me step by step with good and helpful information. She explained and gave examples of how to use Twitter, My Space, FaceBook and blogging with Wordpress and that has been a big help to me. I didn’t care much about My Space and still don’t but the others were sites I need to learn and use.
I won’t use everything Kristen said, but I will tell you that she has eased my mind and given me direction and instruction. I’ve already started to establish a Brand and am seeing results!
I will recommend We Are Not Alone to any writer struggling with the social media and marketing. Thank you @KristenLambTx .
Kristen Lamb starts her book by talking directly to me- It’s true. I was startled at first to have her describe me to a Tee, but then I found comfort in the fact that I am not alone in my struggle to market my books and understanding the social media.
She took me step by step with good and helpful information. She explained and gave examples of how to use Twitter, My Space, FaceBook and blogging with Wordpress and that has been a big help to me. I didn’t care much about My Space and still don’t but the others were sites I need to learn and use.
I won’t use everything Kristen said, but I will tell you that she has eased my mind and given me direction and instruction. I’ve already started to establish a Brand and am seeing results!
I will recommend We Are Not Alone to any writer struggling with the social media and marketing. Thank you @KristenLambTx .
January 11, 2013
When I see a book like this rated 4 something with over 180 ratings it makes me sad. It means a website like Goodreads is not really useful as a tool to evaluate our next reading. It's not even subjective. The book is bad. I quit reading when I was on 50% of it. Unless the author was waiting for the second half to offer the lost gold - which I doubt and either way shouldn't happen - this is just bunch of hollow words, teaching nothing. I got my first alarm when the author mentioned... PDA's! Hold on... we are on the year of 2013. PDA's are out of our lives for a couple of years now. This was just the opening tone... it doesn't get any better. Hey, I have something else to tell you: MySpace is dead and buried. There is no way I can give credit to someone who takes MySpace seriously. This is not my personal opinion. I have nothing against MySpace. The project is really over. Anyone dealing with technology - and social media is strongly connected to technology - knows things are moving. And part of the last 4 years or so was the death of PDA's and MySpace. These are details, but more than hat, are the essence of the book: outdated and useless.
February 3, 2013
Ok, let's just get this out of the way -- changes have taken place in the different social media sites since We Are Not Alone: The Writer's Guide to Social Media was first published in 2011. A lot happens in a short period of time, so some of the step-by-step instructions may not be as clear, but it isn't too hard to figure out the differences.
Writers and their books aren't exactly the same as companies and their products. Superficially, maybe, but this book explains the difference between how traditional marketing of a company's product doesn't work to sell books. It explains what social media is, why people flock to it, and how writers can harness that potential word of mouth so essential to selling books.
It's told in simple language from an interesting perspective and, most of all, it's fun. I laughed through the whole thing because of the wonderful sense of humor of the author and her choice of examples to explain concepts.
This is a good book to start with if you are a writer just beginning in social media or have just dipped your toes, but don't know where to go from there.
Writers and their books aren't exactly the same as companies and their products. Superficially, maybe, but this book explains the difference between how traditional marketing of a company's product doesn't work to sell books. It explains what social media is, why people flock to it, and how writers can harness that potential word of mouth so essential to selling books.
It's told in simple language from an interesting perspective and, most of all, it's fun. I laughed through the whole thing because of the wonderful sense of humor of the author and her choice of examples to explain concepts.
This is a good book to start with if you are a writer just beginning in social media or have just dipped your toes, but don't know where to go from there.
April 9, 2011
This book helped me get set up on Twitter, My Space, and a bit on Facebook (which I was already set on for a couple of years.)
Kristen "walked me through" setting up Tweet Deck also. The instructions are presented in plain, easy-to-follow wording. If you are looking for a guiding hand on getting started in any of these forms of social media, this is a good book to purchase (got mine on Kindle.)
There are probably a couple of things that have changed on MySpace and Facebook in the short time since publication of the book and I still have a few questions left unanswered.
The book doesn't take a month to read, it's following the instructions when you find the time that takes so long!
Kristen "walked me through" setting up Tweet Deck also. The instructions are presented in plain, easy-to-follow wording. If you are looking for a guiding hand on getting started in any of these forms of social media, this is a good book to purchase (got mine on Kindle.)
There are probably a couple of things that have changed on MySpace and Facebook in the short time since publication of the book and I still have a few questions left unanswered.
The book doesn't take a month to read, it's following the instructions when you find the time that takes so long!
July 21, 2011
If you are a writer, YOU NEED THIS! I read John Locke's book and it is good, but Kristen gives you a step-by-step for how to set up your social media and how to maximize your use of it. I started using her tips just a few days ago and already have increased twitter followers by over a third. I'm still working at implementing all her suggestions, but this in really valuable information that I don't think you can get in such a concise, common sense, easy to follow format anywhere else. I just wish I'd purchased this when I first started on Twitter - it would have saved me a lot of time, etc.
July 31, 2011
Never thought I'd be reading something like this, but it was incredibly informative and Kristen Lamb has great advice for writers at every stage in their (even nonexistent) careers. Although I didn't agree with a certain aspect of her advice, and some of the info is dated (social media changes HOURLY so this is expected) I've already implemented a number of her strategies. It's based on solid reasoning and her personal experience. She's wildly successful and expertly fills a niche.
June 25, 2011
This is a great book for those writers who believe in building a brand for themselves. (Not all do.) It's simple, straightforward and doesn't ask you to do any of that "traditional" stuff to sell yourself. You know, flyers, ads, business cards/brochures, like in corporate selling. Kristen's approach comes from the heart, and she's funny to boot. Definitely recommended!
September 11, 2023
Edit.
This author had proven herself on Twitter to be racist, transphobic, and a generally nasty person. She was actually making jokes about people dying on 9/11/2001 this week (9/10/2023). It will always be too soon for making jokes about 9/11
This author had proven herself on Twitter to be racist, transphobic, and a generally nasty person. She was actually making jokes about people dying on 9/11/2001 this week (9/10/2023). It will always be too soon for making jokes about 9/11
January 5, 2011
Invaluable tool to writers everywhere. Read it!
October 9, 2011
Kristen Lamb's wonderful social media how-to book, We are Not Alone: The Writer's Guide to Social Media (Who Dares Wins Publishing 2010), delivers on her promise. She provides a great nuts-and-bolts introduction to the basics of marketing your book online. She shares her knowledgeable insights in branding yourself, putting your name out there (something we innately fear), and joining the online conversation in an enthusiastic voice that can motivate you even though it's... just words. She then explains how to get your new 'brand' out there on the many facets of social media, including Facebook, Twitter My Space (think: Google Plus instead), and a WordPress blog. She also has a lively blog where she interacts with readers, answers questions and explains where times have changed and she no longer pushes the My Space sign-up (I suggested Google Plus as a replacement because I've found lots of useful info in my G+ stream).
I've spent considerable time learning how to market online. I don't have a lot of discretionary money to spend on hiring agents or specialists. Spreading the word must be through me and be pretty cheap. Since I have yet to publish a fiction book, most of my effort is directed at my non-fiction technology training textbooks for K-8. So, I sat down at my computer, Kristen's book in my lap, and compared her instructions to my current marketing plan. Here's what I found:
She convinced me of the importance of branding--putting my name or pen name on all of my writing so readers understood my voice. As a result, I added my name to this blog. I didn't add it to my tech blog because I think Ask a Tech Teacher (my blog name) is a brand of itself.
I purchased my name as a URL and set up a website (with the help of the guys at WriteClick who do a great job focusing on the unique needs of writers in blogging)
I pay attention now to my Twitter streams. I found out a lot of people were retweeting my material and mentioning me. I can't believe I never responded.
She explained that online marketing for writers isn't about pushing a book, but sharing expertise. That validates my inherent layback style. I'd much prefer to chat than sell.
She told me to create a collection of strategic content material--my best posts that showcase my writing, thought process and voice for potential readers. I've now done that. When I do guest posts, I can cull from this collection--update it, add/delete as necessary, knowing the basic content is strong
I reworked my bio to describe me in the context of my brand. Since I have multiple personae, this was more challenging than it sounded on the pages of her book, but I've done that. Now, I attach that quick bio to each post as a summary of my creds (you can see my writing bio at the end of this post).
I'm supposed to create a detailed profile of my reader demographics, but I have only a general one. Eventually, this suggestion will percolate through my brain enough to come up with a way to accomplish it, but right now, I'll settle for less.
The true test of a how-to book like We are Not Alone is whether it worked. Truth--I'm not sure. Don't get me wrong. I know she made the right suggestions. Every year, my sales increase. I'm doing as she suggested so I have no doubt that these types of actions are responsible for that increase, but I have difficulty knowing where to attribute the success. Here's what I mean:
Thanks to Wordpress statistics, I can see where I'm getting my readers. In WordDreams, 80% come from Google or people who stumble on my blog. Only 20% are pull-throughs--from posts I've made, comments I've added to other people's articles, or my social media feeds. On the contrary, 80% of my Ask a Tech Teacher readers come directly from my effort--posts, comments, web presence, etc. Only 20% stumble only my content.
Again, thanks to my Wordpress statistics, I can see who interacts with my blogs. 90% of my WordDreams readers don't interact, though they hang out and read a lot. On the contrary, 90% of my Ask a Tech Teacher readers click through on my links. Sometimes, I'll have 800 readers click through in a day compared to well under 100 on WordDreams . That's a big difference, considering both WordDreams and Ask a Tech Teacher have a similar readership
Overall, this book should be in every new and midlist writer's library. It'll either teach you what to do or reinforce what you're already doing right.
Jacqui Murray is the editor of a technology curriculum for K-fifth grade and creator of two technology training books for middle school. She is the author of Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy midshipman. She is webmaster for five blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, IMS tech expert, and a weekly contributor to Write Anything and Technology in Education. Currently, she’s working on a techno-thriller that should be ready this summer. Contact Jacqui at her writing office or her tech lab, Ask a Tech Teacher.
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I've spent considerable time learning how to market online. I don't have a lot of discretionary money to spend on hiring agents or specialists. Spreading the word must be through me and be pretty cheap. Since I have yet to publish a fiction book, most of my effort is directed at my non-fiction technology training textbooks for K-8. So, I sat down at my computer, Kristen's book in my lap, and compared her instructions to my current marketing plan. Here's what I found:
She convinced me of the importance of branding--putting my name or pen name on all of my writing so readers understood my voice. As a result, I added my name to this blog. I didn't add it to my tech blog because I think Ask a Tech Teacher (my blog name) is a brand of itself.
I purchased my name as a URL and set up a website (with the help of the guys at WriteClick who do a great job focusing on the unique needs of writers in blogging)
I pay attention now to my Twitter streams. I found out a lot of people were retweeting my material and mentioning me. I can't believe I never responded.
She explained that online marketing for writers isn't about pushing a book, but sharing expertise. That validates my inherent layback style. I'd much prefer to chat than sell.
She told me to create a collection of strategic content material--my best posts that showcase my writing, thought process and voice for potential readers. I've now done that. When I do guest posts, I can cull from this collection--update it, add/delete as necessary, knowing the basic content is strong
I reworked my bio to describe me in the context of my brand. Since I have multiple personae, this was more challenging than it sounded on the pages of her book, but I've done that. Now, I attach that quick bio to each post as a summary of my creds (you can see my writing bio at the end of this post).
I'm supposed to create a detailed profile of my reader demographics, but I have only a general one. Eventually, this suggestion will percolate through my brain enough to come up with a way to accomplish it, but right now, I'll settle for less.
The true test of a how-to book like We are Not Alone is whether it worked. Truth--I'm not sure. Don't get me wrong. I know she made the right suggestions. Every year, my sales increase. I'm doing as she suggested so I have no doubt that these types of actions are responsible for that increase, but I have difficulty knowing where to attribute the success. Here's what I mean:
Thanks to Wordpress statistics, I can see where I'm getting my readers. In WordDreams, 80% come from Google or people who stumble on my blog. Only 20% are pull-throughs--from posts I've made, comments I've added to other people's articles, or my social media feeds. On the contrary, 80% of my Ask a Tech Teacher readers come directly from my effort--posts, comments, web presence, etc. Only 20% stumble only my content.
Again, thanks to my Wordpress statistics, I can see who interacts with my blogs. 90% of my WordDreams readers don't interact, though they hang out and read a lot. On the contrary, 90% of my Ask a Tech Teacher readers click through on my links. Sometimes, I'll have 800 readers click through in a day compared to well under 100 on WordDreams . That's a big difference, considering both WordDreams and Ask a Tech Teacher have a similar readership
Overall, this book should be in every new and midlist writer's library. It'll either teach you what to do or reinforce what you're already doing right.
Jacqui Murray is the editor of a technology curriculum for K-fifth grade and creator of two technology training books for middle school. She is the author of Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy midshipman. She is webmaster for five blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, IMS tech expert, and a weekly contributor to Write Anything and Technology in Education. Currently, she’s working on a techno-thriller that should be ready this summer. Contact Jacqui at her writing office or her tech lab, Ask a Tech Teacher.
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December 25, 2014
I would give this book 4.5 stars if it were possible.
I attended a presentation by Kristen Lamb in Boise, Idaho at the Idaho Book Extravaganza (Nov. 2012). She presented upon the topic of how social media can be used to build or improve a writer’s platform. She was knowledgeable on the subject and was inspiring as well as entertaining. I purchased a copy of her book, “We Are Not Alone: The Writer’s Guide to Social Media” to educated myself about what is a writer’s platform and how social media is an integral part of a contemporary platform.
This book is divided into three main sections: (1) What can social media offer?, (2) Building social media platform, and (3) Managing your social media platform. The meat in this book is in section 2, which describes the different social media tools that a writer should include in his/her platform. Section 2 deals with gathering the content that is required for effectively using social media tools and then actual creating accounts in the most dominant social media tools.
Lamb is adamant about your need to establish a brand and the brand needs to be your name, not the name of your book, characters in your books, or some cute or creative name. The writer should associate his/her name will all of the promotion, blogging, and twitting that they do using social media.
I also like how the author does not just tell you should have a writer’s presence on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and Wordpress or Blogspot, but how to actually set up accounts and initiate using the tools.
To me the best part of the book was the section on what needs to be done before creating social media tool accounts. Lamb recommends a series of actions be done before starting any promotion or using social media such as purchasing the right to the URL with your name such as www.writersname.com or some variant that includes the writer’s name, creating three biographies of different lengths, a professional looking head shot of the author, and creating 18 blog articles to be used on your website about the topic you write about, to name just a few of the actions.
She also deals in how to effectively use social media in such topics as being positive, to be nice and reciprocate to those that help and are nice to you, be consistent using social media such as blogging on a consistent bases (at least once a week), encourage discussion and participate in groups and areas were potential fans of your genre of writing hang out. The recommendations are logical and seem to be common sense but are not always practiced by writers in building their social media platform
I was not sure about the author’s love of MySpace. She feels strongly that a writer should have a presence on MySpace. I am sure she is much more knowledgeable about which social media elements are important to include in your platform, but I do not know one person who uses MySpace. I do know hundreds if not thousands that use Facebook, which Lamb also encourages writers to take full advantage of in their platform.
I would recommend Lamb’s book, “We Are Not Alone: The Writer’s Guide to Social Media” to writer’s who want to generate a writer’s platform or who want to improve their platform by using social media. I think this book would even help those who are experienced social media experts because Lamb describes many practical applications of social media that can help in developing interest by potential fans (and book buyers) of the writer. I learned so much from this book that I have read it twice and marked many locations that I have found to be of great importance to me in setting up a writer’s platform. I am in the process of using the information from this book to build my own writer’s platform.
Other books I’ve read by author
None – but I religiously follower her blog - http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/
First Reading: 26-November-2012
Second Reading: 2-September-2013
I attended a presentation by Kristen Lamb in Boise, Idaho at the Idaho Book Extravaganza (Nov. 2012). She presented upon the topic of how social media can be used to build or improve a writer’s platform. She was knowledgeable on the subject and was inspiring as well as entertaining. I purchased a copy of her book, “We Are Not Alone: The Writer’s Guide to Social Media” to educated myself about what is a writer’s platform and how social media is an integral part of a contemporary platform.
This book is divided into three main sections: (1) What can social media offer?, (2) Building social media platform, and (3) Managing your social media platform. The meat in this book is in section 2, which describes the different social media tools that a writer should include in his/her platform. Section 2 deals with gathering the content that is required for effectively using social media tools and then actual creating accounts in the most dominant social media tools.
Lamb is adamant about your need to establish a brand and the brand needs to be your name, not the name of your book, characters in your books, or some cute or creative name. The writer should associate his/her name will all of the promotion, blogging, and twitting that they do using social media.
I also like how the author does not just tell you should have a writer’s presence on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and Wordpress or Blogspot, but how to actually set up accounts and initiate using the tools.
To me the best part of the book was the section on what needs to be done before creating social media tool accounts. Lamb recommends a series of actions be done before starting any promotion or using social media such as purchasing the right to the URL with your name such as www.writersname.com or some variant that includes the writer’s name, creating three biographies of different lengths, a professional looking head shot of the author, and creating 18 blog articles to be used on your website about the topic you write about, to name just a few of the actions.
She also deals in how to effectively use social media in such topics as being positive, to be nice and reciprocate to those that help and are nice to you, be consistent using social media such as blogging on a consistent bases (at least once a week), encourage discussion and participate in groups and areas were potential fans of your genre of writing hang out. The recommendations are logical and seem to be common sense but are not always practiced by writers in building their social media platform
I was not sure about the author’s love of MySpace. She feels strongly that a writer should have a presence on MySpace. I am sure she is much more knowledgeable about which social media elements are important to include in your platform, but I do not know one person who uses MySpace. I do know hundreds if not thousands that use Facebook, which Lamb also encourages writers to take full advantage of in their platform.
I would recommend Lamb’s book, “We Are Not Alone: The Writer’s Guide to Social Media” to writer’s who want to generate a writer’s platform or who want to improve their platform by using social media. I think this book would even help those who are experienced social media experts because Lamb describes many practical applications of social media that can help in developing interest by potential fans (and book buyers) of the writer. I learned so much from this book that I have read it twice and marked many locations that I have found to be of great importance to me in setting up a writer’s platform. I am in the process of using the information from this book to build my own writer’s platform.
Other books I’ve read by author
None – but I religiously follower her blog - http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/
First Reading: 26-November-2012
Second Reading: 2-September-2013
September 10, 2012
"We Are Not Alone: The Writer's Guide to Social Media" by Kristen Lamb is a very good book for any writer looking to use the social media sites facebook, twitter, and myspace to build relationships and ultimately sell more books. The Foreword is written by Bob Mayer, author of "Who Dares Wins: The Green Beret Way to Conquer Fear and Succeed" and "Warrior Writer," two books I've enjoyed. So I wanted to read this, and am glad I did. The book was published by Mayer's Who Dares Wins Publishing, as was Warrior Writer, and the format and layout is similar. I don't think it is the greatest on presentation, in relation to other publishers, but the content of this book I really liked, and that's what you are buying the book for anyway.
Lamb writes in a conversational manner with jokes and kidding thrown in every once in a while. The book is very easy to read. She also provides some very practical and specific advice aimed at authors wanting to use social media to create and build a brand. And her advice on what brand you should be building is very good. Should you brand yourself, your book, your characters, or something else? Lamb explains the differences and lays out some excellent advice on why you should brand you, the writer, but also provides some exceptions. And once you have determined to brand yourself, the writer, Lamb provides assistance in how to do so, including writing your bio.
Not only does Lamb tell you what you should do and why, but she provides basic guidance on how to get started. Sure, there are books solely devoted to different social media sites and how to use them, and you might want those texts to go beyond the bare bone basics Lamb provides. However, I liked that she does provide the information needed to get started.
Many businesses are discovering the power of social media to increase sales, and there is no reason authors can't capitalize on these technologies too. And writing is a business, at least it is to many. However, the writing business is a little different from other businesses, and therefore it is really nice to have a book written for writers, by a writer, that focuses on social media strategies specifically for writers wanting to build a brand and build a platform through social media. Highly recommended for writers wanting to maximize their use of social media sites.
Lamb writes in a conversational manner with jokes and kidding thrown in every once in a while. The book is very easy to read. She also provides some very practical and specific advice aimed at authors wanting to use social media to create and build a brand. And her advice on what brand you should be building is very good. Should you brand yourself, your book, your characters, or something else? Lamb explains the differences and lays out some excellent advice on why you should brand you, the writer, but also provides some exceptions. And once you have determined to brand yourself, the writer, Lamb provides assistance in how to do so, including writing your bio.
Not only does Lamb tell you what you should do and why, but she provides basic guidance on how to get started. Sure, there are books solely devoted to different social media sites and how to use them, and you might want those texts to go beyond the bare bone basics Lamb provides. However, I liked that she does provide the information needed to get started.
Many businesses are discovering the power of social media to increase sales, and there is no reason authors can't capitalize on these technologies too. And writing is a business, at least it is to many. However, the writing business is a little different from other businesses, and therefore it is really nice to have a book written for writers, by a writer, that focuses on social media strategies specifically for writers wanting to build a brand and build a platform through social media. Highly recommended for writers wanting to maximize their use of social media sites.
May 29, 2011
'We Are Not Alone' is a useful and well-targeted book on the sort of promotion that writers are doing these days - that is, leveraging social media to build a platform.
The most important point to raise is that WANA serves as an introduction. Parts of it will quite literally walk you through, for instance, setting up a facebook page, click by click. Considering many writers are basically aspirational cavemen still banging stories out on rocks, this is a wise approach, but it may put off the more tech-savvy among us. It didn't put me off entirely, but I did find myself skipping significant swaths of how-to, which is not great because there's good information mixed in with the 'click this to proceed' bits.
The book's biggest strength is that it spends plenty of time and space on the culture of social media. It teaches the soft sell, the need for peer-to-peer networking, and the importance of reciprocation. 'We Are Not Alone' could very easily have been titled 'We Are In This Together'; it's a great crash course on social media ethics, first and foremost, and a technical manual second.
Flaws include a few too many proofreading problems for my liking, and the unfortunate omission of some of the best social media resources targeted at writers and readers, in Shelfari and goodreads.
I'm relatively new to social media, but it turns out that I've been sitting in it long enough that I'm no longer the target audience for this book. Still, I took a few lessons away. For readers in my situation, there may not be enough of a bang-for-buck here to go past 3/5 stars.
However, this is an excellent resource for overwhelmed writers approaching the subject matter for the first time, and I would recommend it to them without hesitation.
The most important point to raise is that WANA serves as an introduction. Parts of it will quite literally walk you through, for instance, setting up a facebook page, click by click. Considering many writers are basically aspirational cavemen still banging stories out on rocks, this is a wise approach, but it may put off the more tech-savvy among us. It didn't put me off entirely, but I did find myself skipping significant swaths of how-to, which is not great because there's good information mixed in with the 'click this to proceed' bits.
The book's biggest strength is that it spends plenty of time and space on the culture of social media. It teaches the soft sell, the need for peer-to-peer networking, and the importance of reciprocation. 'We Are Not Alone' could very easily have been titled 'We Are In This Together'; it's a great crash course on social media ethics, first and foremost, and a technical manual second.
Flaws include a few too many proofreading problems for my liking, and the unfortunate omission of some of the best social media resources targeted at writers and readers, in Shelfari and goodreads.
I'm relatively new to social media, but it turns out that I've been sitting in it long enough that I'm no longer the target audience for this book. Still, I took a few lessons away. For readers in my situation, there may not be enough of a bang-for-buck here to go past 3/5 stars.
However, this is an excellent resource for overwhelmed writers approaching the subject matter for the first time, and I would recommend it to them without hesitation.
April 19, 2013
I read this book shortly after I started blogging in March of this year. The most valuable advice that I gleaned from it was the importance of branding your own name. If you’re a writer, don’t use a moniker for your social media platforms. Readers will have difficulty finding your book if the author name is rarely mentioned. She also advised that authors avoid using the title of their book as their name/identifier in social media platforms unless they plan to write just that one book. And what if you change the title of your book before publishing? She recommends that you use your name or the name you will be writing under for all social media platforms.
This was eye opening for me. When I started my blog, I wasn’t sure what name to use. I remember coming across all these creative social media monikers, but I couldn’t come up with one that I thought I’d want to stick with permanently, so I just used my name. By sheer dumb luck, I did exactly as the author recommends. Well, it’s more than a recommendation. To her, it’s a must.
“…it is absolutely crucial for you to brand your name over and over and over and it is always associated with your content, that is like a non-stop commercial pitching your work every single day. This is why a moniker can absolutely KILL your platform.
When you use anything other than the name that will be printed across your book, you give up your most valuable marketing real estate…the top of mind.”
The book is a bit dated, but considering it covers the ever-changing world of social media and was published in 2010, that’s not surprising. Still, it contains useful information for those who are new to social media and with the author’s sense of humor mixed in, it’s a very enjoyable read.
This was eye opening for me. When I started my blog, I wasn’t sure what name to use. I remember coming across all these creative social media monikers, but I couldn’t come up with one that I thought I’d want to stick with permanently, so I just used my name. By sheer dumb luck, I did exactly as the author recommends. Well, it’s more than a recommendation. To her, it’s a must.
“…it is absolutely crucial for you to brand your name over and over and over and it is always associated with your content, that is like a non-stop commercial pitching your work every single day. This is why a moniker can absolutely KILL your platform.
When you use anything other than the name that will be printed across your book, you give up your most valuable marketing real estate…the top of mind.”
The book is a bit dated, but considering it covers the ever-changing world of social media and was published in 2010, that’s not surprising. Still, it contains useful information for those who are new to social media and with the author’s sense of humor mixed in, it’s a very enjoyable read.
November 3, 2011
I purchased this book because my daughter is an Indie writer and has bought it too, so we can compare ideas. It is the big struggle of Indie writers that they can't get the message out about their work. This book goes a long way to solving this problem by presenting a system that has worked and continues to work for the author.
The book starts by taking you through the pitfalls and issues with marketing a self published book. Kristen explains the common mistakes made by authors when trying to promote their books. She then moves on to explain how to set up various social media sites (Twitter, MySpace and Facebook) and then integrate them into a blog and web site.
The pacing of the book is excellent and holds your attention throughout. The problem is that many authors enjoy writing, but find the promotion of their results to be intimidating and boring. This book overcomes both of those issues by showing that using social media to promote your book is not selling your soul to the devil, but quite easy to achieve providing you can dedicate a little time to it.
Why have I given it 4 stars? Frankly, the author does get on my nerves a bit at times (Sorry if you're reading this Kristen, but I suspect this may be a cultural thing.), but thankfully, not enough to stop me reading her book.
The book starts by taking you through the pitfalls and issues with marketing a self published book. Kristen explains the common mistakes made by authors when trying to promote their books. She then moves on to explain how to set up various social media sites (Twitter, MySpace and Facebook) and then integrate them into a blog and web site.
The pacing of the book is excellent and holds your attention throughout. The problem is that many authors enjoy writing, but find the promotion of their results to be intimidating and boring. This book overcomes both of those issues by showing that using social media to promote your book is not selling your soul to the devil, but quite easy to achieve providing you can dedicate a little time to it.
Why have I given it 4 stars? Frankly, the author does get on my nerves a bit at times (Sorry if you're reading this Kristen, but I suspect this may be a cultural thing.), but thankfully, not enough to stop me reading her book.
October 19, 2012
Lots of good advice in this book. I'm going through it again and following through on some of that advice. I love Lamb's emphasis on golden rule as in, you get back what you give out (in the social media world as in life). Succeeding with social media is as much about being thoughtful, polite, helpful, and kind as it is about trumpeting yourself.
I have a quibble with her recommendation to get active on My Space. It's not gonna happen here! As well, there's no reference to Pinterest (though the book came out in 2010 and I'm not sure Pinterest was even invented then).
Some of my fav quotes from the book:
"Make using positive statements a habit, not only on social media, but in life" (Kindle Location 723).
"In order to do what you love--WRITE--you must learn to do what you hate--SELL. It doesn't have to be as hard as a lot of people make it. Brand your name, then your name can do the selling while you do the writing" (KL 776).
"People are on social media for one huge reason .... connection. Humans are social creatures. Without community we suffer mentally and emotionally. Humans left alone often go crazy or die" (KL 1628).
"Conversation is your most powerful tool of connection" (KL 1655).
I have a quibble with her recommendation to get active on My Space. It's not gonna happen here! As well, there's no reference to Pinterest (though the book came out in 2010 and I'm not sure Pinterest was even invented then).
Some of my fav quotes from the book:
"Make using positive statements a habit, not only on social media, but in life" (Kindle Location 723).
"In order to do what you love--WRITE--you must learn to do what you hate--SELL. It doesn't have to be as hard as a lot of people make it. Brand your name, then your name can do the selling while you do the writing" (KL 776).
"People are on social media for one huge reason .... connection. Humans are social creatures. Without community we suffer mentally and emotionally. Humans left alone often go crazy or die" (KL 1628).
"Conversation is your most powerful tool of connection" (KL 1655).
May 14, 2013
FINALLY!!!! I have bought several books that claimed they were for beginners and they weren't. One kept saying I needed to drive people to my blog site and I kept yelling at the book, "How? How? How?" I heard about this by accident on facebook when someone mentioned WANA and I googled it to see what it was and there in living color was the book I thought I needed. I sent Kristen a message and asked her if she thought it could help a techniphobe like me and she said she thought it would.
I bought the paperback so I could mark it up. There is a lot of information in this book and I'm on my second time through it. At first I felt overwhelmed but then my second time through I didn't skim through the pep ralley (pages 1-46) but let them encourage me. I love the way she assumes you know nothing and even puts a glossary in the middle of the book. I would have liked it in the back so it would be easy to find when I was reading and asked myself, "Now what did that mean again?" I love the way she puts humor in this book and she is one funny lady. It relieves the tension. I expect to sell a lot of books using her program. Thanks, Kristen!
I bought the paperback so I could mark it up. There is a lot of information in this book and I'm on my second time through it. At first I felt overwhelmed but then my second time through I didn't skim through the pep ralley (pages 1-46) but let them encourage me. I love the way she assumes you know nothing and even puts a glossary in the middle of the book. I would have liked it in the back so it would be easy to find when I was reading and asked myself, "Now what did that mean again?" I love the way she puts humor in this book and she is one funny lady. It relieves the tension. I expect to sell a lot of books using her program. Thanks, Kristen!
February 13, 2011
I was hoping for a more indepth look at what kinds of information I should and should not be posting as part of my social media profile. There was some information on this, but a large part of the book was taken up with step-by-step details of how to sign up for Facebook, Twitter, Wordpress, and Myspace which I could have done without. If you're new to all these sites it might help, but it was too introductory for me.
I must admit I was disappointed with the number of typos in the book. Things like the wrong form of "your", repeated words, and the wrong spelling of the surname of the author who created the #writegoal hashtag on Twitter. The book badly needs a proofread and I found that distracting.
The biggest thing I took away? Do a bit every day and you'll gradually build a platform without needing to spend hours a day. That, no longer feeling like I haven't got the time to create my platform, is probably going to help me more than the overall content presented in the book.
I must admit I was disappointed with the number of typos in the book. Things like the wrong form of "your", repeated words, and the wrong spelling of the surname of the author who created the #writegoal hashtag on Twitter. The book badly needs a proofread and I found that distracting.
The biggest thing I took away? Do a bit every day and you'll gradually build a platform without needing to spend hours a day. That, no longer feeling like I haven't got the time to create my platform, is probably going to help me more than the overall content presented in the book.
March 22, 2012
This book provides invaluable information for all users of social media, not just writers. Anyone who wishes to connect better with others using social media should read this book and implement Kristen's suggestions. Yes, they are tailored to those who are trying to connect with potential readers, but there are pieces of advice that could apply to people starting e-businesses who wish to connect with potential customers or artists wishing to connect with potential fans or even casual users who want to expand their networks. Most of Kristen's suggestions are free, and the ones that do require money don't cost very much and are completely optional. Everyone getting their start in social media should read this book!
The only bad thing I have to say is there were some errors in spelling or places where words were left out/repeated in the Nook version, but I don't know if these errors are also found in other editions.
The only bad thing I have to say is there were some errors in spelling or places where words were left out/repeated in the Nook version, but I don't know if these errors are also found in other editions.
August 7, 2011
Have you ever felt overwhelmed or frozen by fear? Is the root of this fright social media and networking? Well fear no more. I was one who felt this exact way until I read this book.
I couldn't put this book down. To someone with little to no technological savvy, Kristen Lamb took me step-by-step through the process of restructuring my social networking platform. All authors, regardless of where they are in their writing career need to read and impliment the techniques set forth in this book.
It's so easy to say "Forget it. I can't do everything. It's too much." I've said this myself. However you have to interact and find readers by utilizing social media, because that's where they're likely to be found. Take the leep and by and read this book. Read it several times if need be. You won't regret a single minute.
I couldn't put this book down. To someone with little to no technological savvy, Kristen Lamb took me step-by-step through the process of restructuring my social networking platform. All authors, regardless of where they are in their writing career need to read and impliment the techniques set forth in this book.
It's so easy to say "Forget it. I can't do everything. It's too much." I've said this myself. However you have to interact and find readers by utilizing social media, because that's where they're likely to be found. Take the leep and by and read this book. Read it several times if need be. You won't regret a single minute.
March 21, 2016
I came across Kristen Lamb's blog, and after reading a few posts, I immediately purchased two of her books. "We are Not Alone" is a great tool for writers trying to find their way in the big scary world of social media. You will learn a lot about setting up your accounts on sites like Wordpress, Facebook and Twitter, but more importantly, you learn what you should do with those sites once you have them.
Her clear instructions and great sense of humor ease the process, however, you should be aware that there have been upgrades made to the social networks, so some of the step-by-step instructions won't be spot-on.
Ms. Lamb is the first person to make the concept of "building a platform" seem achievable to me... not just that, but made me happy about jumping in with both feet. I look forward to reading her next book: "Are You There Blog? It's Me, Writer".
Her clear instructions and great sense of humor ease the process, however, you should be aware that there have been upgrades made to the social networks, so some of the step-by-step instructions won't be spot-on.
Ms. Lamb is the first person to make the concept of "building a platform" seem achievable to me... not just that, but made me happy about jumping in with both feet. I look forward to reading her next book: "Are You There Blog? It's Me, Writer".
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