I actually get embarrassed about it. It makes me self-conscious every time I
post. I tell myself, “Look, people will
self-select: some will be interested and some won’t; some will “like” or “plus”
to be supportive; some won’t even really see it. Get over it. You aren’t going
to make anyone do or buy anything they are not interested in. You have never
had that kind of sales skill.”
The truth is, if I didn’t use social media as a means of
promoting my work as an author or storyteller, I wouldn’t use it nearly as
much. I would probably have made a
choice between Google+ and facebook. I
would still enjoy reconnecting with old friends and with family, as I
have. I opened my first facebook account
because I was still working full time, and the company asked people to as part
of their nascent social media strategy.
I looked at it, maybe, weekly.
Once I started self-publishing it became clear I had to
learn about social media. I even had one
e-marketing consultant directly say to me, “You need to not be afraid to let
people know what you are doing. Let them make choices.” It was with great
trepidation that I sent my first “friends and family” email, complete with a
disclaimer at the bottom that made it clear that supporting me in my launch as
an author was not a condition of friendship. Some weeks, like right after I have released a book, even I am tired of posts about me!
