BRICK BY BRICK -- BUILDING SOCIAL MEDIA by Susan Marlene

​What do you like to find on-line?

• When people have a question, many will search the world wide web for their answers. Many will look for an author’s website or blog before purchasing a book. Maybe a topic of interest is what you write about. When we use social media responsibly, we assist people we more-likely-than-not will never meet this side of heaven to find information or encouragement or guidance to make life easier or more meaningful. When considering what you like to find on-line you may discover what you want to provide for others.

What about time?

• Pacing ourselves and managing time spent on social media is vital. Otherwise social media will eat up quality writing time. Using social media to minister to others is a great target to aim for. I find it helps to look at social media outlets as opportunities to encourage and share what knowledge and wisdom God has blessed me with.
• I’ve strengthened my presence on FaceBook and my website. I still need to build other social media and increase my online presence. How? Restricting my time by allowing myself only 7-10 minutes per additional media locations. Even twice a week would bring more exposure for my message. That way I can post and share other people’s posts without it eating up my whole day and my writing time.
• Let’s talk over ideas on using the unique time slots we have that can fit with all of our different situations and demanding schedules. Write down any fresh ideas.

What’s the Plan?

• I’ve heard and read the suggestion of starting one or two social media connections. Then once those are established, branching out as time allows. If you start too many at one time then your effectiveness is diluted concerning reaching people and sharing the message of your heart.
• How many here wish to make a decision for starting social media or branching out with a pace that will not undermine writing time or other social media already started?

Content?

• Knowing ‘your message focus’ will help immensely. If you talk about everything from dog food to WW II ships to future spaceship launch possibilities, your readers will not connect with you. Focus on offering help or information to readers who like what you like. Examples: cooking; healing from a damaged past; exercise for cardio; excellent vacation spots and how to afford them—you catch my drift, right? My inkyquillbysuzie.blogspot.com is just like that. I was all over the place with subjects. Now on my website www.susanmarlene.com I offer different pages such as: Book Review & Author Interview; Devotions; and Writers & Pens along with the home page and my information page. This allows potential readers to see what I offer for their particular interest. If the last thing they need to read is about writer and Pens information they can just pick book reviews or devotions. They are in and out without having to scan through a lot of posts that they would not be interested in. And which they wouldn’t take the time to sift through.
• Do you want to jot down some ideas for your own blog or website now? Share if you dare!

Who Will Benefit?

• Write to lend a hand to others. Build readers up or provide info that will bring increase

and strength to them. Your focus may be prayer, healthy family living, humor, or gardening. All of those benefit readers. Make sure your information counts. Is what you write important enough that you would carve out time from your busy schedule to stop and read it—if someone else wrote it?

• Write a description of the people you write to. Even put a face on them like Aunt Sally or Uncle Ben so that you can truly focus on those you write for.  😊

Precautions to take:

• As with conferences and businesses or school functions, behave wisely with how much information you share about your home and family. We live in a time when we need to be wise as serpents and harmless as a dove. There are many innocent inquiries about you and yours, but there may be those with less honorable reasons for contacting you. Stay away from any appearance of evil. The Lord’s scripture from the Bible is for our protection and for your reputation as well as Christians in general.  What is that saying an ounce of precaution is worth a pound of cure. Well, something like that anyway! Be very cautious and discerning about meeting people you don’t know at a physical location. Listen to that nagging caution when you get a ‘feeling’ that you shouldn’t go here or there or provide personal information.

Getting help to start…

• Sometimes, you just may not know where to begin. Asking for help from a high school or college student or relatives or friends can be a great place to start. If you take good notes on how to change your passwords after someone helps you set-up your social media, you will maintain ultimate control and personal information privacy.

Do you have a plan for reaching the masses with social media? Which of the following interest you?
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Pinterest
YouTube
Blog or Website