by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I’ve gotten a good number of questions lately via email and Twitter about my platform on Twitter. I came up with a Twitter policy last year (which sounds funny to say, but it became necessary—I’d get well-meaning messages from folks asking me to tweet their book releases), but I haven’t posted anything about it for a while. I thought today that I’d dust it off and give it another run:
How did you start tweeting links and why?
I was reading a lot of writing links and it seemed like it would be helpful to pass on ones that I thought were especially good. That snowballed until I had followers that were very interested in a variety of writing-related tweets. These were writers in different stages of their writing career—some just starting out, some veterans. So I started searching for good, solid posts—even if they were on topics that didn’t directly apply to what I’m writing.
It’s a platform for me, too, and provides a very indirect way of marketing and getting my name out there—and being indirect is really the only way I feel comfortable with promo.
How do you find the links?
I don’t get them from my Twitter feed—I actually subscribe directly to the writing blogs’ RSS feed and read them in my Google Reader.
How many blogs do you subscribe to and how do you browse them?
According to my Google Reader, I subscribe to 2318 blogs. I add to this number every single day. I have my Google Reader set on “list” view and I scan through them quickly—usually looking for writing craft-related posts or publishing news. I don’t tweet promo posts or contests or giveaways. But if you write a wonderful post with interesting content for writers and you happen to have a giveaway or contest at the bottom of the page…that’s fine, of course!
How long does it take you to find posts, read them, and tweet them in a day?
It usually takes a little over an hour each day.
Are you on Twitter all day?
Actually, no—I usually just check in with Twitter a few times a day. If I have more free time, I check in more frequently.
How do you schedule tweets?
I use an application called “Social Oomph” to schedule my tweets. The idea is to spread them out through the day so that they’re (hopefully) not overwhelming and are reaching people in other time zones.
Why aren’t you following me back?
I follow legitimate users back, although sometimes I get a little behind with updating my list. If I’m not following you, then I think you’re a spammer or else you’ve just started following me. If you’re not a spammer, just send me an email at elizabethspanncraig(at)gmail(dot)com.
What’s the best way to contact you?
I check my DMs on Twitter at least once a day, but you can also email me at elizabethspanncraig(at)gmail(dot)com.
I have a great writing blog—how can I bring my blog to your attention?
I’m always looking for new writing blogs to add to my Google Reader. Just send me a DM or an email with your link and I’ll subscribe to the RSS feed.
How do you pick which posts to run?
I’m usually looking for craft-related, industry-related, social media, or posts on how to effectively promote. I love posts that are easily skimmed, have great content, and can be helpful to a lot of writers.
Can you tweet my book review?
I don’t tweet reviews, sorry.
(From PR firms, who do like to contact me): What is your marketing strategy behind these tweets? Does it seem to be working?
There wasn’t a whole lot of marketing thought that went into this, which is why I’m probably getting so many DMs from PR people! I’m focusing on the tweeting mainly as a service to other writers, but I am gaining a nice platform in the process. It seemed to work out really well with pre-orders for my last book.
Do you read your tweet stream?
Honestly, I find my tweet stream totally overwhelming. If I try to read or follow all those incoming tweets then it makes me feel like I have ADHD. :) I follow over 10,000 and I can blink and find 20 updates.
What if I wrote a great blog post and you didn’t notice it—can I bring it to your attention?
Sure—feel free to DM me with it. I can’t promise to run it, but I promise to take a look…and I’ll make sure I subscribe to your feed.
If I wrote a great post a few days ago and tweeted you about it and it hasn’t run, will it ever run?
Sometimes I schedule tweets way out—sometimes a week or more…so it might still run.
Do you @ all of the blog post authors whose links you tweet?
I’m trying. Some of them I do know by heart, if they frequently have good material. Sometimes the post’s author isn’t on Twitter and sometimes I just can’t find their handle, if they are on Twitter. If your “Follow Me on Twitter” is very visible to the top of your blog page, then you’re a lot more likely to be @ed.
Do you ever chat on Twitter?
I don’t ever @ anyone in conversation…but I do have DM conversations with people. I’m just trying to keep my Twitter profile page completely link-related so make it an easier resource for folks to access.
What types of posts are most likely to be tweeted by you? Which are most popular and most likely to be retweeted by others?
Craft posts and clever humorous posts are the top favorites of my followers. List posts are appreciated, too. Anything that’s helpful about social media, or organizing our writing life helps, too.
Is there a way to make my blog posts more likely to be tweeted by you or by others?
Definitely. I’d recommend a post title that is clear as to the post content, an RSS feed button, and avoiding partial RSS feeds (I usually don’t have time to click through to find out if the content is worth tweeting). I’d also recommend a non-rambling post, concise content, and something that’s easy-t0-scan (bullet points and bold type helps.)
Some days your links seem better than others. How do you do quality control?
Sometimes, despite the large number of blogs I subscribe to, there’s a lack of content out there. Holidays play into that, too. And…sometimes I’m busy and I have less time to hunt through my Reader.
Do you do #FF and #WW? Why not?
I used to, but with the number of followers and FFs and WWs I get now, I’m just not able to return the favor without sending out an entire page of spam. I really appreciate the ones I get from followers, though!
Is there a place where I can locate these links or search them?
All of my links are searchable through the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine. Designed by Mike Fleming, the database ensures that great content and resources for writers can be pulled up on an as-needed basis (which means writers don’t have to bookmark everything!) The Writer’s Knowledge Base is free and has over 13,000 links to search.
And now…a disclaimer (I know–so corporate-sounding…)
Occasionally I’ll tweet links that I think show an interesting point of view on, or controversial approach to, writing or the publishing industry. This doesn’t necessarily mean that I agree or disagree with the post’s author–just that I think the discussion is interesting and believe that others would, too. I want to supply writers with different ideas and different opinions on different topics and letting them disseminate the information for themselves.
Now it’s your turn. :) Are you on Twitter or Facebook? What makes you decide to share or retweet a writing post?
I’m @chihuahuazero on Twitter.
Currently, I don’t tweet many links yet, but I’m planning to. Mostly, it’s crafting posts I find interesting.
It is interesting how systematic and clear you are about your linking policy. At @lefrenchbook, we are still defining our strategy, but basically I tweet links related to things about France and French culture that will enhance enjoyment of the books we publish (good reads from France in English) and news about books, ebooks, translation and publishing. I like to think of it as a window with a day-to-day view of France and the book world. I also throw in random things I find interesting.
Elizabeth – You’ve got such a thoughtful and sensible twitter system! It’s so hard to know what to pass along and what not to pass along, but I think you do an excellent job of giving us all things of interest. And I know just what you mean about Twitter as a marketing tool (but an indirect one; I try to do the same thing. And I couldn’t imagine keeping up with a tweet stream from as many followers as you have!
You are the best and I mean it. I’ve never met anyone that shares as much(useful) knowledge and experience as you do. I’ve learned so much from you. I have a link to the Writers Knowledge Base above Baby JW’s picture. :) Anyway thanks for all you do for writers.
I recently signed up for a Twitter account @TeresaColtrin but have yet to use it.
Awesome stuff, here, Elizabeth.
Teresa
Elizabeth,
Just discovered you through a Porter Anderson link. I am thoroughly impressed with WKB and what I see on your blog.
I’m the author of two books, the first sitting in a drawer and the second with a professional editor. Plan A once I get it back will be to query agents, go the traditional route; Plan B is finding an indie publisher, Plan C is self-publishing. Searching WKB has turned up many useful links for each alternative!
I’m interested in your opinion on the necessity of blogging. I’m pretty comfortable with Facebook, have joined some groups like Writer Unboxed and getting familiar there. Also have had a Twitter account for a long time, New Year’s resolution is to use it wisely. (There’s so much noise in the Twitterverse! And the blogosphere, for that matter.) I’ve resisted blogging. It just doesn’t feel right to me. Do you think it’s a handicap for an aspiring writer not to blog?
Thanks for all you’ve done and all you do for writers.
I’m on Twitter, FB, and Google+ (although I don’t know what I’m doing over there–not much) I filter my twitter followers into groups which means I only see updates from those I think are interesting. I tweet a variety — some “water cooler” stuff, some pictures, and some promo. I don’t think of Twitter as a marketing tool (since I’ve yet to see any noticeable sales upticks after promo tweets)but I think it increases visibility.
My regret after using it for a year…when I signed up, my name was taken, and I decided that maybe I didn’t want everyone to know it was “me” tweeting, since I never thought I’d get into Twitter at all (Thanks, Elizabeth–I think!) so I didn’t seek out variations on my real name. I’m sure there are lots of people who have no clue what my name really is based on my twitter name (@authorterryo in case you want to follow me.)
And, as usual, Elizabeth and I are on the same wavelength — I did my own take on Twitter at my blog not long ago.
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
Chihuahua0–Good topic! I think Twitter is incredibly useful for sharing resources.
Le French Book–Many tweeters have niches that they fill…sounds like that’s what you’ll be doing. It’s a successful approach, I think. Yes, I think being clear about our intent helps–I so frequently get requests to share things that I can’t really consider sharing. With 12,000 followers, if I tweeted everyone’s releases, book sales, and blog posts, my tweet stream would be really spammy.
I can’t imagine that many blogs in my reader.
I wondered how you found all of those sites.
Margot–You’ve got plenty of followers, too…it’s overwhelming, isn’t it–looking at the tweet stream. It makes me a little dizzy…like a stock market ticker. And, yes, I think Twitter is wonderful for indirect promo.
Journaling Woman–Thanks for saying so and thanks for promoting the WKB….I really appreciate it! And I think it’s great you’re trying out Twitter. :)
Shelley–Oh, good! So glad you’re finding the WKB helpful. Porter is an incredible resource, too, isn’t he?
Your plan for publication sounds *exactly* like what I’d do. The only tweak I might add is to query publishers directly (yep, the infamous slushpile) if your agent search comes up empty–altough that might be what you’re planning, anyway, since you’re considering independent traditional publishers as a plan B. That’s how I started out with Midnight Ink–without an agent and with an unsolicited manuscript.
I would have said, a year ago, that it might be considered a mistake for an aspiring writer not to blog. I wouldn’t say it now. *Any* online presence/platform will work. I know writers who use Facebook, Google + and Twitter as an amazing tool for networking and connecting…and not in an obvious way. And those micro-blogging sites, like Tumblr, are also good to consider (not a regular blog, but a presence.) I would say that a website is a good idea for aspiring writers, especially if they’re not blogging.
Thanks so much for coming by!
Diane–It’s a lot, for sure. I try to look at it like I was just reading the morning newspaper. :)
Alex–Some of them I’ve found through you! You’re good to introduce your readers to new sites.
I think it is so interesting that you had to create a twitter policy to begin with and now have to gently remind folks how it works… It means you are a commodity in the writing world and also shows just how hard it is for those without your reputation and connections to have the same impact. Keep doing what you are doing — your approach is focused and obviously effective despite the possibility of a lot of spam/email/requests to negotiate. Your tweets and the effort behind it are so valuable — to me and to others. Thank you.
What a smart, cogent post! I use your Writer’s Knowledge Base and your Twitter feed every single day—for my own writing and to share links with my writing students and Twitter followers.
I marvel at (and appreciate) all the work you do to help us writers! Your post also gave me ideas about beefing up my own feeds. Thank you, Elizabeth.
Bluestocking–Thanks! It feels funny to even *have* a Twitter policy. But it definitely helps me out since I really hate to turn down people’s requests.
Terry–A variety of stuff is always interesting. And you’re right…it helps with visibility, too.
It’s hard to stake our your name on social media–one reason why I jumped into Google + so early…just to get my name!
We’re in sync again!
Thanks for posting this, Elizabeth. I have been doing this for a couple of years now, and find that I am constantly re-evaluating. I was very curious to see how you scheduled your time.
I have an 11 hr day job that gets me up before 3:00 am, so there really isn’t that much time to write fiction, write the occasional article that I write, write my Monday blog post and then network. Currently, I have blogs landing in my e-mail, rather than me having to go hunt for them. I try and visit as many as I can each day. With Twitter, I use the Follow Friday app to simply promo the folks I have interacted with during the past week.
There are so many sites, right?
Have a great weekend.
-Jimmy
Lynette–Thanks so much! I’m so glad you’re finding the links and WKB useful for your writing and teaching. My dad is a retired English teacher, so I’ve always got teachers in the back of my mind whenever I share resources–my teachers always shared so much with me.
Hi Elizabeth, I echo the others’ comments that you pass on some wonderful links to great information. I feel a bit guilty letting you do so much of the hunting and sorting for us! I’m on Twitter, FB and Google +. I tend to retweet items that I think my writer buddies will find helpful, and/or amusing. I find Twitter a bit easier for passing on information and receiving it.
So interesting. I’ve always wondered the answers to some of these questions. 2,000+ blogs! That’s incredible. You are one organized and efficient lady. :) thanks for sharing the insider details.
James–I think you’re right that we have to keep evaluating what’s working, as far as scheduling goes. What worked one month might not work the next (for me, I schedule around my kids’ school time. If it’s summer, I’m running on a different schedule completely.)
I think using email to subscribe to the blogs you know you want to read is a good time saving device. I also saw a good tip today…that we can subscribe to various hashtags’ RSS feeds right from Twitter. So if we wanted every Twitter update with #writetip landing in our RSS reader, we could set it up that way.
Charlotte–I think Twitter is definitely easier for sharing info. I share some on Google +, but I find that G+ is more of a discussion-focused app…which I like, but wish I had more time for.
Nicole–It’s a lot of blogs, but there are so many out there that I *don’t* follow! And then I’m horrified when I find a blog that’s been posting great content for years and I haven’t discovered it…but it’s like finding a gold mine at the same time. :)
You certainly are organized. I’ll give you that. Thanks for putting it al together and presenting us with easy to follow links once a week.
Thanks for saying so! Sometimes I just don’t feel organized at all…
I learn so much from reading your blog and following you. You are so wise to have a good system set up from the start. I’ve just dipped my foot in the waters of twitter.
Hope you’ll enjoy using it! Twitter is a great place to find resources.