Social Networks

How important is it to join online social networks?

The importance of these networks goes without saying, not only can an author increase his/her fan base but also obtain the vast wealth of knowledge from other authors or artists. These networks are not only for little known authors but for the large ones as well. You may not for example ever have an opportunity to have a face-to-face with David Morrell, Tananarive Due, Toni Morrison or Harlan Coben, but with online networks it’s possible to communicate electronically with your favorite author(s).

What is a social network?

A social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and activities or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Most social network services are web based and provide a variety of ways for users to interact such as email and instant messaging services.
--Wikipedia

Which social network is best for me?

Whether you’re an author or a fry cook there’s a network for you. If your goal is to sell books you have to be selective of which networks you choose. Why? Because you’re a busy person and it takes a lot of time and effort to build to convince total strangers to consider buying your book and If you’re in too many groups, socializing you’ll never get to your next project.

Avoid Pitfalls.

When you become a member of a social network, you’re expected to participate with its members. When you sign up, you are given a page that you can customize to add pictures, audio, and blogs. This provides a way to communicate to readers and other authors who you are. There’s nothing worst than going to an author’s page and seeing nothing there but your name.
• Who are you?
• What have your written?
• What are you working on?
These things are important. It is also crucial that you take part in the forums setup by other members, after all, this is a social network, so be social. Each time you make a comment on a forum, your identity is present, and it provides a direct link to your social page that members can go to if they select it.

If you appear to only want to sell books and make no effort to be social, why then should I bother going to your page? Even big named authors take the time to communicate. Who then are you to think that you can build a readership without being friendly?

Social Networks:

http://www.myspace.com
http://www.Ning.com
http://www.Facebook.com
http://groups.yahoo.com
http://www.shelfari.com
http://www.goodreads.com
http://www.shoutlife.com
http://groups.google.com

I have just named a few feel free to add more. Be social.