2019-05-18T11:22:20+00:00

Blogging and Social Media: Why I’m Disillusioned

May 18, 2019November 7, 2020/Paula Puddephatt - Author/3 Comments

Before I discuss the problems I’m experiencing with blogging and social media, it’s important to mention that I’m also going through much more serious health and life problems, and have been at rock bottom.

This makes anything else that much more difficult to deal with, including the issues with my blog and social media – in particular, a technical issue relating to Pinterest.

I’ve had this blog since July 2017, and have a very small, but appreciative, following.

With a few notable exceptions, my family and friends are extremely unsupportive, when it comes to my writing. They don’t support my blog, or what I do on social media. It’s hurtful, but it is what it is.

But it does mean that I’m almost entirely reliant upon building an audience online. When I finally release my WIP and other books – here’s hoping – I certainly can’t rely upon any of the usual “guaranteed sales”. You know the jokes about only selling to your mum, nan, and brother? In my case, definitely laughable.

Still, other writers, in the history of time, have succeeded without support, and I’m determined to keep going, anyway. I believe in what I’m trying to achieve, through my various writing projects, and won’t give up that easily.

In terms of social media sites, the truth is, I’ve often felt that I’ve been spinning the wheels.

And lately, I’ve been struggling to do even that.

Some, such as Twitter and Instagram, have strong, positive writing communities, but in truth, they drive relatively little traffic to my blog. Not that that is by any means the only reason to participate in social media networks, of course – but, let’s face it, it’s a consideration.

Pinterest has been my favourite social media site, for some time now – whether you choose to classify it as a social media network or a search engine, given that it has definite features of both.

Pinterest tends to be positive, inspirational, and fun, and it’s definitely known, in the blogging community, as one of the best sites, from the point of view of increasing website views.

But a couple of days ago, Pinterest incorrectly marked my website as spam.

After searching around online, I finally managed to come up with an actual email address for Pinterest, which was easier to use than the website contact forms, with categories that seemed not to entirely fit my precise difficulties.

My account, in other respects, is still – touch wood – functioning fine. But I can’t Pin anything from my website, or attach a link from the site to any Pin, and neither can anyone else. Any of my Pins already in the system lead to error messages, stating that my website is spam.

Well, look around. This is a small blog, focusing primarily upon writing craft and related subjects. The content definitely isn’t spam. There aren’t ads or affiliate links, spammy or otherwise.

I’m hoping that the issue will be resolved soon, but it’s really set me back. I don’t have the heart to keep posting on social media, in general. It’s difficult to keep going with my WIP and other projects. I’m not giving up, but do feel seriously discouraged.

If you would like to support me, please share this, or any of my other posts, on social media – although you won’t be able to do so on Pinterest, until the issue is (hopefully) resolved.

My most popular posts include: my Character Names post, and How To Create Believable Friendships in Your Fiction.

23 May 2019 addition: My Pinterest related issue was resolved, a few days ago.

Whilst I’ve no specific reason to believe I did anything to cause the problem, I’m currently taking a very moderate approach to Pinning – not more than a single Repin of any of my own Pins.

I’ve stopped posting on group boards, at least for a while. I’m not entirely sure what can trigger Pinterest’s spam alerts, and it isn’t worth the risk, in my opinion. But I might change my mind, in the future.

I’m also working out how to manage my social media more effectively, and spend less time spinning those wheels.

Social Media for Writers 2019: Author Platform Tips

January 28, 2019January 20, 2020/Paula Puddephatt - Author/Leave a comment

Most of us, as writers in 2019, recognise the need to build author platforms online. Ideally, we should aim to do so in advance of launching any books, although it doesn’t always work out that way in practice.

This post is about how I use social media as part of my own author platform, and includes tips to help you build your online presence, as a writer.

I wrote a post, in 2018, about various social media platforms that authors can use, and shared my personal experience on how to use each of these effectively, as an author. I have decided to create an updated version, which is what you’re reading right now.

Disclaimer: I’m not a social media expert. I don’t have huge followings on every site I give advice on. I wouldn’t say that I have “huge followings” anywhere, but I’m definitely more successful on some sites than others.

It’s one thing to know what could theoretically lead to success on a particular platform, but time and energy are limited.

I offer what I can, in the hope that it might be of use to other writers.

The question, when it comes to social media sites, is: Where do you start?

There are so many social media networks nowadays. Do you need to be on them all?

I would say, definitely not, and I have definitely been guilty of trying to be active on too many myself. I’m still trying to find the right balance, in that respect.

The reality is that there are simply so many alternatives. It’s hard to imagine anyone – who wasn’t a celebrity, with a huge following already – being successful on every platform.

And someone in that position would, almost certainly, have dedicated teams to manage their various social media channels. Hardly comparable to the position that most of us are in, when we’re just starting out.

Most of us will find our personal favourites, by trial and error. The networks that you actually enjoy are probably, on the whole, the ones to go with.

There are, however, some that do tend to be more useful for connecting with other writers, or people from particular target audiences, so it’s worth keeping those factors in mind.

I’m still in the early stages, when it comes to building my own platform, but am definitely starting to discover which platforms work for me.

Although, in this post, I’m primarily discussing social media, I should mention that it’s important to have a home base.

By this, I mean a website or blog – an online space, to direct your online traffic to, other than social media. And, no – an Amazon sales page alone isn’t sufficient.

A static website is okay, but having a blog is ideal, as you’re giving the search engines more fresh content to find. Even if you blog infrequently, it can help with your online presence.

In terms of generating blog traffic, my primary channel is definitely Pinterest, at the time of writing.

Pinterest is actually more of a visual search engine, rather than a traditional social media site.

I create multiple Pins for each image, using Canva. (Unfortunately, I’ve recently had technical issues with the free version of Canva, but that’s a whole story, in itself.)

I have created various boards, covering my subjects of interest, with the primary focus being different aspects of writing craft.

I’m also a member of four group boards, three of which are entirely writing related.

My Pinterest for Writers post gives more information about using this site, as part of your author platform.

The social media site I focus on, alongside Pinterest, is Twitter.

It’s definitely one of the best for writers, especially from the point of view of connecting with other writers.

It’s important to post regularly on Twitter, an intervals throughout the day, so I use Twittimer to schedule posts. The scheduling helps, although it’s vital to stop by regularly and interact in real time: daily being ideal, although not always possible.

I currently post mainly links to blog posts, and writing and inspirational quotes. Random thoughts and questions can sometimes perform well on Twitter, but keep them writing related, if that’s what your account is supposed to be about.

Use hashtags. 1 to 3 per post is the general recommendation. I currently stick with 2. 4 is borderline, but more than that, and your posts will tend to be regarded as “spammy”.

But don’t miss out by omitting tags altogether, as they help significantly with reach. I recommend the following: #writingcommunity, #writercommunity, #writetip, #whyIwrite, #amwriting, and #writerslife.

Right now, #writingcommunity is the absolute best. If you only use one hashtag, make it that one.

For more about using Twitter as a writing platform, read my Twitter for Writers post.

Instagram

I’m using Instagram, and it definitely has an awesome writing community.

Personally, I’m finding it difficult to grow my follower numbers, and post reach is inconsistent, due to constant algorithm updates. I’m not focusing upon my numbers right now, however: more so on staying connected with the valuable community I’ve been able to build on there.

My Instagram for Writers post gives more information, which may be of interest. Incidentally, since writing that post, I’ve reduced the number of hashtags I use, as I feel that 20 or more tends to be regarded as “spammy”. I currently use roughly 8 to 12 per post, and my recommendation would be to stay within that range.

I do still post on Tumblr, but have been through the stressful experience of having my account suspended and subsequently restored, over the Christmas 2018 into New Year 2019, period.

It’s a highly visual platform, and does have a vibrant writing community. The ability to queue posts is a useful feature. More about Tumblr on my Tumblr for Writers post.

Facebook?

Well, I’ve had a surprising recent success with my 80s/90s Music page on Facebook.

I think that, at this stage, I would advise all writers to maintain at least some low level presence on Facebook, if possible. Organic post reach does tend to be very low.

When scheduling to Facebook nowadays, I definitely recommend using the native scheduler, as your post reach will be better than if you had used an external app, such as Buffer.

I have a Facebook author page, and my poetry page, Vibrant Darkness. Any page “likes” would be very much appreciated.

I dabble in other social media sites, such as Reddit, but I’ve learnt that you can’t be everywhere, and I often can’t cope with maintaining even my primary sites.

Blogging and SEO is a high priority for me, at the moment. And my WIP – well, it should be…!

Check out my May 2019 post, in which I honestly discuss some of the stressful aspects of blogging and social media.

Hopefully, this updated Social Media for Writers post will be of interest.

My old post contains different information, and I will keep it “live”, as much of it is still relevant.

But, for example, I had a section on Google Plus in that post. I discuss the planned closure of Google Plus in a post from 2018.

Follow me on: Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr.

Google Plus Communities and Your Author Platform

October 6, 2018October 22, 2020/Paula Puddephatt - Author/1 Comment

Please note that Google Plus is due to close on 2 April 2019, making this post irrelevant.

I’ve already written a post about how to use Google Plus, as part of your author platform.

I did discuss the central role of Google Plus Collections, and touched upon the fact that Google Plus Communities were also very much a feature of the platform.

However, I wasn’t in a position to comment on Google Plus Communities, as I hadn’t really explored them.

I still have very limited experience of Communities, but have reached the stage of wanting to learn more about them. Along with Collections, I believe Communities to be a vital aspect of success on Google Plus.

Google Plus Communities are roughly equivalent to groups on Facebook.

There are also notable parallels between Google Plus Communities and group boards on Pinterest – and also, I would suggest, between Collections and regular Pinterest boards.

Collections are made up of our own posts, on related themes or subjects. Communities, likewise, are groups of posts on related subjects, and visually, in terms of format, they appear almost identical to Collections. However, as the name suggests, Community posts are from multiple contributors.

I’ve started two of my own Communities.

One is called Google Plus Writers, and is intended to bring together writers on the platform. It’s a place to share all things writing related, including blog posts, videos, and writing and inspirational quotes.

The second is called Writing Quotes and, as the name suggests, will focus purely, or primarily, upon sharing relevant quotes.

The Communities are very much in the early stages, but hopefully they will grow and develop, over time.

If you’re a writer who uses Google Plus, I invite you to take a look, and consider joining one or both of the new Community groups.

Even if you’re not a fan of Google Plus, you’re welcome to mention the Communities to any writer friends, who do use the site.

09/10/2018 update: I was sad to learn that Google Plus is apparently closing next year, as a consumer website.

Find me on social media.

Tips for using social media, as part of your author platform.

Building Your Author Brand: Personal Branding For Writers

August 27, 2018November 2, 2020/Paula Puddephatt - Author/2 Comments

I’ve discussed the role of author blogs, and how to effectively use social media, as part of your online platform.

And I’ve written specific posts about using Twitter, Tumblr, Google Plus, Instagram, and Pinterest, as a writer. So, now let’s talk about personal brands, in relation to authors.

Not entirely sure what people mean by the term “personal brand” – or wondering whether you even need one at all?

Well, here’s the thing. You already have one. We all do.

Your personal brand is the way that you present yourself, and the associations that others have, when they hear your name. Reputation – image – call it whatever you like – but you definitely have a personal brand.

The only question, then, is whether or not you actively and consciously take control. Taking control, as in, taking steps to ensure that your brand – your projected public image – is something you’re happy with.

Some people struggle with the concept of personal branding, because they view it in a negative light – or simply don’t feel that it’s appropriate to refer to people as “brands”.

I mean, we aren’t jars of Marmite, or cans of Heinz Baked Beans, right? But personal branding isn’t about that. It’s not about labelling ourselves, and what we do, in a limiting way.

And there definitely doesn’t need to be anything cynical about this.

A central aspect of personal branding has to do with our core values and beliefs, and those can be incredibly positive, and powerful.

In my Believe in Yourself and Your Dreams post, I talk about my own core message – which is, and always will be, at the heart of my personal brand. It’s why I do what I do, day after day.

Target audiences are important.

Personal branding isn’t simply about defining who we are, as individuals. It’s about the people out there – those we’re hoping to reach, and connect with.

Ultimately, for writers, that’s going to be readers – and I don’t refer primarily to casual readers, although they’re also valuable, but more so to those who will return. Buy any books that we publish – read our blog posts, on a regular basis – support us, in any way they can.

We can call them fans, although it’s probably more helpful to think it in terms of building a community.

Some authors will actually have a customer avatar – one ideal reader.

This is a fictional person, not unlike the characters in our stories, except that this particular invented person reflects our ideal reader – someone with whom our work is likely to resonate.

It can be easier, and more effective, to “speak to” Charlotte, aged twenty-three, from London, England, than to – well, anyone who happens to be listening.

And, no, that doesn’t necessarily mean that your message won’t reach – and appeal to – Ellie, aged seventeen, or Jason, aged fifty. But Charlotte – or someone very similar to Charlotte – will be much more likely to respond positively to online content, created with her in mind.

Another important aspect of personal branding is consistency.

Of course, when it comes to blogging, and posting on social media, it’s important to be consistent, in the sense of posting regularly.

But consistency also applies to profile images, types of content shared – and beyond that, the colours and fonts used in our graphics. It can take time and experimentation to find the right style, to reflect what we offer.

And, with regard to colour – learning, and keeping in mind, the principles of colour psychology, can be beneficial.

Personally, I’m definitely experimenting with the colours I use, at the moment. In terms of fonts, I use Lucida Calligraphy, Lucida Bright, and occasionally, Lucida Handwriting, on the majority of my online graphics.

Individual projects may need particular, individualised attention – such as, specific branding for each novel or book series.

A novel can have its own identity, and yet, should still be identifiable as part of our brand, as a whole.

The subject of author brands is vast, and I’ve only touched upon it here. I’m still very much in the early stages of figuring this out for myself, but would encourage you to learn as much as you can about personal branding in general. This should help you to gain a deeper understanding of the various aspects, and you can then apply what you’ve learnt to building your author brand online. Oh, and offline too, of course.

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Paula Puddephatt – Author

This makes anything else that much more difficult to deal with, including the issues with my blog and social media – in particular, a technical issue relating to Pinterest.

In terms of social media sites, the truth is, I’ve often felt that I’ve been spinning the wheels.

Pinterest has been my favourite social media site, for some time now – whether you choose to classify it as a social media network or a search engine, given that it has definite features of both.

But a couple of days ago, Pinterest incorrectly marked my website as spam.

Share this:

Like this:

I still get occasional, low level traffic to my various posts about Google Plus – primarily the one about the “possible closure” of Google’s social media network.

Share this:

Like this:

This post is about how I use social media as part of my own author platform, and includes tips to help you build your online presence, as a writer.

The question, when it comes to social media sites, is: Where do you start?

Although, in this post, I’m primarily discussing social media, I should mention that it’s important to have a home base.

In terms of generating blog traffic, my primary channel is definitely Pinterest, at the time of writing.

The social media site I focus on, alongside Pinterest, is Twitter.

Instagram

I do still post on Tumblr, but have been through the stressful experience of having my account suspended and subsequently restored, over the Christmas 2018 into New Year 2019, period.

Facebook?

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Over 1k page “likes” on a Facebook page.

I returned to find that the page had over 900 fans, and subsequently started posting on the page.

My posts are also getting more reach than I’ve been accustomed to on Facebook.

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The current position is that I’m struggling to keep up with even the one Tumblr account.

In other news, I’m having technical issues with the free version of Canva.

But not. Apparently, my Facebook 80s/90s Music page.

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The Tumblr account in question has now been reinstated.

I had started again, and was, in many respects, happier with the fresh, alternative Paula Writes Tumblr account.

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My original Tumblr account was, for no apparent reason, terminated, just before Christmas 2018.

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Yes, apparently – Google Plus, Google’s social media network, is being closed down, or closed down for consumer users.

I’ve heard that Google sometimes do announce “closures” of this nature, when in reality, they don’t occur.

I’ve always regarded Google Plus as an underrated social media platform.

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I’ve already written a post about how to use Google Plus, as part of your author platform.

Google Plus Communities are roughly equivalent to groups on Facebook.

I’ve started two of my own Communities.

Share this:

Like this:

I’ve discussed the role of author blogs, and how to effectively use social media, as part of your online platform.

Not entirely sure what people mean by the term “personal brand” – or wondering whether you even need one at all?

Some people struggle with the concept of personal branding, because they view it in a negative light – or simply don’t feel that it’s appropriate to refer to people as “brands”.

And there definitely doesn’t need to be anything cynical about this.

Target audiences are important.

Some authors will actually have a customer avatar – one ideal reader.

Another important aspect of personal branding is consistency.

Individual projects may need particular, individualised attention – such as, specific branding for each novel or book series.

Share this:

Like this:

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