Social Media a Must for the Aspiring Author!

It's funny because everywhere I'm reading about blogger/writers unplugging, desperate to find balance, and I'm posting today about more stuff you need to do if you want to get your name out there and develop a following prior to publication, as well as get attention for your book after.

(And prior means NOW, don't even wait until you have an agent or publisher. Don't wait until you finish your manuscript!) If you doubt my word look at what Elana Johnson has done to get a following eagerly waiting for her book to be published. And Talli Roland. Those two ladies rock the blogging world, and we love them and can't wait to buy their books!

Alright, I admit it, I finally joined Twitter. It's not the time suck I thought it would be. I can't tell yet how effective it is for the time spent since I've not experienced it long enough to make a judgment. But it's fun. And fast. I plan on doing more with it. If any of you have input on how well it works as a social media marketing tool, please share in your comments.

I love to see Goodreads icons on blogger/writer sidebars. It's truly one of the most underrated and underused social media sites available for authors. Because it is all about books. You can't say that about Twitter, Facebook or even blogs. IMHO every author and future author must have an account on Goodreads! And work it. Add books, friends and reviews. Don't just use it to plug yourself and your book. Or set up an account then ignore it. (The same principles apply everywhere in social media!)

Can I tell you how excited I was this week to see that several of my blogger buddies had added my books to their Goodreads to-read list? I wanted to turn cartwheels of joy, I felt so loved and supported. Talli's The Hating Game is also showing up everywhere on Goodreads to-read lists, and I'm turning cartwheels of joy for her, too!

If you have a book out, be sure to set up your author profile on Goodreads. It's quite easy to do. Here's mine if you want to check it out, and while you're there please click the friend request! I love to know what everyone's reading!

Another book site is Shelfari, lesser known than Goodreads but pretty much the same deal. I have a shelf of memoirs, etc. on my From the Shadows to the Page blog, since my platform there is about writing from life. So I created the Shelfari shelf specifically for those types of books to be displayed on that blog.

I recently joined Facebook to view family members photos. Other than that I don't plan on doing a lot with it, other than directing traffic to my blogs. Right now I'm all about reading, writing, publishing, marketing books and supporting the author community, not touching base with old friends from high school. Although that might be a pleasant diversion, at this time of my life I don't have time to spend on Facebook.

I've done nothing on You Tube except post the Farm Girl book trailer.  But how many of you saw this the past few days on various blogs? If you think this guy was just having a moan about signing at Waldenbooks, you're mistaken. He's  promoting himself and his books in an entertaining way that has probably gotten lots more attention than any book signing ever would. (I've never heard of him. I'm assuming he's really an author.)

We all have limited time and resources, but don't neglect what will help promote your career as a writer. And right now it is social media. There's lots to choose from. We don't have to do it all, but we've got to really work at what we choose.

Did I leave anything out? What is your preferred social media outlet?