Corporations are not your friends, and when you build in their sandbox they have right to upend said sandbox at any time, for whatever reason. That being said, advertising on these sites had become crucial in this day and age, so what are we to do?
Build our own websites. These are our true workhorses, built under our own (easily found) names, with our buy links, our artwork, and hopefully a post or two.
Blogging helps us quite a bit, as does micro-blogging (the crap you shovel into other people's sandboxes.) We have three blogs, one with Tumbr, one on our own site, and one on WordPress that is the oldest and Will. Not. Die. There may be cats involved.I agree, but the problem is getting people to visit our websites. I don't have the time or interest to become a frequent blogger. And, to be honest, I'm not sure how much blogging helps anyway.
It's one of the reasons I publish wide instead of being Amazon exclusive (not that my sales numbers are noticable, but it's the thought that counts).Corporations are not your friends, and when you build in their sandbox they have right to upend said sandbox at any time, for whatever reason.
I looked at your website. Do you mostly publish short stories and book reviews? I saw the review of Nectar and Ambrosia. It was one of the books from the SPFBO that I enjoyed most—and it got knocked out in the first round.
I know a few writers who are having good luck with vlogs and we've considered it, but our internet connection basically sucks (we live in the heart of the woods by a lake) and while I have a great voice, I have a face for radio... so we blog.Not sure blogging really helps, no offence intended, just seems like a waste of time that could be better spent on studying and writing/creating one's fantasy universe and characters. That said, I vlog instead and think it might be a quicker and more efficient route towards building up a platform.
I've been thinking about this. What do you talk about? Do you have a link?I vlog instead and think it might be a quicker and more efficient route towards building up a platform.
I know a few writers who are having good luck with vlogs and we've considered it, but our internet connection basically sucks (we live in the heart of the woods by a lake) and while I have a great voice, I have a face for radio... so we blog.
I'm our primary social media contact (there are three of us on Team Lowan) and I find that while blogging is nice for generating new followers, the real advantage to being active on social media is making contact with readers and other writers. Readers these days want access, they want to know you see them and they want to be able to express their opinions directly to you. Twitter is a bit like screaming into the vortex, but FB is useful - for those followers who actually get to see your posts. Like I've said, building in other people's sandboxes makes you subject to their rules. And yet, I spend every day scooping sand. The readers like it, and what is an entertainer good for if not being entertaining?
I've been thinking about this. What do you talk about? Do you have a link?