Page 21 - Social Media Marketing

19 Social Media Marketing Handbook
you know, warn them (through a different method of communication) that their account has been compromised. Often the user who sends the suspicious link has had their account ‘hacked’ into as a result of opening a malignant message themselves. Aside from email scams – which often contain requests for money or claim that people are trying to send or give you money – message scams on Twitter are the most common. Often these consist of messages like ‘I know how you can lose loads of weight’ or ‘This photo of you is hilarious’. Do not click these links as they are often malicious and may lead to your account details being compromised or your computer being infected. Never give out your personal details – i.e. password – or any bank details.
Finally...
This handbook is designed to start you on your social media journey, but the information we give you is by no means exhaustive. While we can give you the practical basics and social media etiquette, moving forward it really has to be your responsibility to maintain and use your social media accounts. It takes time to establish your social media presence online, so don’t expect the world to come knocking on your door! Those who are best at using social media are authors who regularly interact with others on social media, who get involved in communities of like-minded people and who contribute to discussions. Don’t view social media just as a method of selling your book or ebook – it should be part of a long-term strategy to establish yourself as an author who has something to say that is worth listening to.
Social media is all about give and take, and the most successful authors are those who offer advice and information while simultaneously pointing people to their own work subtly! Always keep your eye out for opportunities that come your way and try to make social media a part of your regular book marketing activities rather than an afterthought. Make sure you share your updates so we can help spread the word on any exciting events and review coverage on your behalf! Remember, just because we have spoken about the top three social medias, this doesn’t mean you have to have accounts with all three! It is better to start off with one or two and learn from those, rather than overwhelm yourself.
Finally, remember, social media shouldn’t be scary or intimidating, boring or a chore – it’s only that if you make it that! Think of it as a way to connect with new friends and discover information, share tales and swap stories, and this should help put you in the right frame of mind. The first post is always the scariest so get it over with and start chatting!