Tag Archives: marketing

Oct1

15k tweets and beyond! Tweet and tweet again!

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Last week I reached the 15,000 tweet milestone and I’ve been sharing a few tips and ideas for those of you who’re new to this social media or who would like to take part, but aren’t sure how to join in. This final post is about bringing YOU to the party.

Tweets are unique. Those good with tech can produce clever banners with links, GIFs and videos. I am not one of those people, but that’s okay. If you read the first two posts from last week about tweeting https://wendysteele.com/2018/09/25/tweeting-milestone-15k-and-beyond/ 

and https://wendysteele.com/2018/09/28/15k-tweets-and-beyond-part-2/

you’ll see that honesty is one thing I’m passionate about when sharing online, so my tweets reflect that. I use ** then write my headline, enclosed by ** on a lot of my tweets. I first use this way of highlighting when I began **The Amazing Karmic Sharefest** on Facebook (now obsolete because you can no longer see ALL the posts from pages you like) Think of a style or way of posting that is unique to you, that might make you stand out from the crowd. It doesn’t have to be on every tweet, but it helps.

You’ll find lots of accounts encouraging you to sign up to gain twitter followers. The whole point of twitter followers is that they are likeminded in some way, I believe, so gathering followers like that does not appeal to me. I follow people I’m interested in. If someone follows me, I check out their profile and decide whether to follow back, but that’s just me as other users follow everyone back. You can decide the way you build up your world on Twitter.

There are hashtags on Twitter that you can use to encourage people to follow cool people you know and interact with like #FF (Follow Friday), but I decided to go one step further. I’m a great one for ‘thank yous’, so every day I thank those who have RTd for me and on the line sharing groups, I say a big thank you to everyone for liking my words. It doesn’t take long, maybe fifteen minutes out of my day, but it’s very me and another way I can be honest online.

I rarely interact with DMs (direct messages), will unfollow if I see any posts that are racist or inciting people to make judgements or make unkind comments and will RT any cause I believe in, for example, homing rescued animals.

I’m on my way to 3,000 followers, but on a day where I’ve done my five tweets and have time, I’ll start working backwards through the alphabet, RTing for my followers. They don’t know that’s what I’m doing, of course, but it’s always a lovely surprise when someone I haven’t heard from in a while RTs for me.

When you follow me on Twitter @WendyWooauthor, you are welcome to the world of Wendy Woo.

Sep28

15k tweets and beyond! Part 2

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This week I reached 15,000 tweets! Read my first blog post to find out how I began https://wendysteele.com/2018/09/25/tweeting-milestone-15k-and-beyond/

In this post, I’m sharing tips on how I began to expand the world of Wendy Woo on Twitter.

A good photo goes a long way. Although Twitter is about words, I’ve found photos to be really useful.

Hashtags are a must, but before I get into talking about them, I wanted to say that the writing games where you share a line of your WIP have been inspirational. I began with #1linewed, liking and RTing others interesting, lyrical and pertinent lines, and then posting one or two of my own.

For new writers especially, joining in with #1linewed, #Btr2sday, #MuseMon, #Thurds or #FictFri to name but a few, is a really good way for readers to check out your writing style. One word of caution; post your Tweet with care because first impressions count. A badly constructed sentence with spelling or grammar mistakes does not say to the writing community ‘I’m an accomplished writer’. The hashtag games I’ve mentioned have a theme, but some games just ask for a line or two from your WIP that you want to share.

None of the above allow you to attach a buying link and I love that. If people are interested or curious about the line you’ve tweeted, they’ll check out your profile where you’ll have a link to where they can find you and your books.

A quick word about your Twitter profile; you have very few words in which to describe yourself. I chose to link with the words on the home page of my web site and my business card ‘Author. Wise Woman. Goddess.’ Those three words encompass the many aspects of me that I share with social media. With the link to my website, and the FREE stories on my YouTube channel, readers who see me on social media immediately have ways to read my blog, find my books, share my passion for dancing and plant based food, and listen to me reading them a story.

Finally, hashtags. Hashtags are vital. Instead of your tweet disappearing into the ether, hashtags direct it to groups where others may follow posts or be interested when hashtags become popular and show up as such on your home page. In my little marketing book, I have a page of collected hashtags and endeavour to sprinkle them through my tweets. As an independent author, #IARTG (Independent authors retweeting group) is useful and I make sure I RT others from the group. This summer #beachreads has proved popular, but may not work as well in the winter. Spend a little time exploring and find #hashtags that will work well for you.

I hope sharing my Twitter journey with you has been useful and I look forward to ‘meeting’ you there @WendyWooauthor.

Join me for more posts about writing, dancing, tried and trusted plant based recipes and magic. Sign up to my newsletter for a FREE story on my home page and subscribe to my Youtube channel, Phoenix and the Dragon, for FREE short stories and book extracts. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw3ee9CuNdek9ZC1Im8I_iA?view_as=subscriber

 

Aug20

Getting the balance right part 1

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With no dance teaching in August, apart from a weekly private lesson, I’ve set myself the task of writing the fourth Lizzie Martin Witchlit novel, The Eloquent Witch. We’re entering the third week, my family are visiting from 26th, but I’m less than half way through writing the novel.

I’m a writer, an introverted soul who is never happier than cuddling up in bed with her latest WIP, immersing herself in the world of story. Being a successful author in 2018 doesn’t allow me that luxury more than a few times a year.

Every day, for years, I’ve been starting my day with social media; Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads and, if I’ve time, LinkedIn. Instagram is on my list. I blog on average twice a week and have recently started a newsletter. I’m on writing, dancing and healing groups on Facebook, as well as running my own pages and being admin on a number of groups.

On one particular day a few weeks ago, I struggled to surface from the dark pit of despair and couldn’t face turning my laptop on. I went for my walk and realised, I didn’t have to. The world wouldn’t end, no one was going to die. I was twitchy all morning, tearful and anxious. I danced and cried and danced some more. The following day, I woke with a new feeling in my belly; I was in control of what I did and I could choose when or if I went online.

The relief was enormous, but the guilt was there, niggling away at the back of my mind. If I’m not ‘working at being a writer’ every day, will anyone take me seriously? Am I selling myself short? I’ve begun the round of summer book fairs again; footfall has been low. Should I bother? Is this a good use of my time?

But even when I’m using social media, I’m often unsure if I’m wasting my time. I bookmark podcasts and videos to watch and listen to, where others advise on the best writing versus marketing balance, but rarely get a chance to engage. I thought I’d have time with my partner working away, but I’m writing into the night instead.

Power naps help extend my days, but I’m still working on getting the most from my social media engagement.

There is hope though…three other witches and I have formed a working group to promote our work. Sharing the load could be the answer. Watch out for Witches Who Write #WitchesWhoWrite.

 

 

Jun19

The Wonderful Wendy Woo Witch Lit Team

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The Flowerpot Witch blog tour is nearly here and it’s all thanks to the newest member of the team, Rachel Gilbey.

Welcome Rachel to my blog!

Thanks Wendy, it’s my pleasure to be featured on your blog.

Your services were recommended to me online as the lady to create a perfect blog tour but how do you describe yourself?

I would describe myself as incredibly fortunate to be in a position to be running my own business and doing a job that I am thoroughly enjoying. I am organised, a huge lover of books and just want to help authors get their book out and seen to the wider world.

How did you come to be supporting writers?

Three years ago I started up a book blog, and then from there started taking part in blog tours. From that I realised it was something that I had the skills to do, but it took a year of procrastination and research before I was able to set up the business.

I have been an avid reader my whole life and with social media and the internet it was probably inevitable that I would eventually find likeminded people and be able to share my love of books with a wider audience.

 

Have you considered writing yourself?

No, I just about got an A in English Language GCSE back in 2000, and that was the last time I tried to write creatively.  If I ever had a persistent idea for a book I may give it a go but have no burning desire to write, I would rather enjoy the fruits of everyone else’s imaginations!

 

What is your favourite genre to read and why?

Chick lit / romance – I like pure escapism.  Romance in real life doesn’t seem to agree with me but in fiction I get to experience many varieties of book boyfriend, and with chick lit and women’s fiction I get to enjoy some humour too and generally realistic well rounded identifiable characters, which I can then pretend to be for a short while.

 

If you were stranded on a desert island, with food and shelter provided, what five items would you want with you?

Kindle – I have so many books on it that even without Wi-Fi I have enough to keep me going for a few years

Sun tan lotion – need to protect my skin as I turn into a lobster otherwise!

A sexy man – well I need to entertain myself too!

A genie in a lamp – Having someone to cast unlimited wishes seems like a plan to me

A puppy – I love dogs and don’t have one and need some company when I get bored of the sexy man!

 

You can invite three people to dinner, who would you invite and why?

Gordon Ramsay – I need someone to cook the dinner and I like him!

Gary Barlow – a mix of entertainment, great music and well I’m a huge Take That fan but don’t want to invite only them for my 3 spots!

Dave Gorman – he’s a lesser known comedian but I love his jokes and observational comedy and I reckon he would fit in well to this party.

 

Thank you so much for sharing a little of what makes you tick.

Use these links to contact Rachel and view the wonderful random resources she offers.

 

Website – https://www.rachelsrandomresources.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/rachelsrandomresources/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/rararesources

 

And that’s The Wonderful Wendy Woo Witch Lit Team, the creative, inspiring, sexy, awesome women behind my books.

Look out for The Flowerpot Witch blog tour coming to a blog near you very soon!