Social media - do you do it?

I have a website/blog (www.randallkrzak.com), use Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  I only post on my blog, called Randall's Ramblings, each Sunday. It is about my writing journey, but I also include reviews of books I've read, a section to post links (mainly on other writers), and whenever I find a good writing resource, I include that as well. I use Twitter the most, followed by FB and LinkedIn.

My publisher strongly recommended have a website/blog and using social media. Has it helped? I'd say yes, based on the continued contacts I'm making who also push out the word about my debut novel, The Kurdish Connection.  In addition to social media, I'm also a member of a number of websites where I can share information about my work.

Many thanks!  I had most things set up prior to the recommendations from my publisher, mainly because of the suggestions by people here on TNBW. They've continued to make suggestions, which have been extremely beneficial. I'm slowly increasing my contacts across the various media sites.

My Twitter account is under @rjkrzak

Corra,
I do just about everything other than Instagram. I have an account but have never posted so I don't list it on my website. Yes, it helps to do social media and blog if for no other reason than to get your name out there and make contacts. Many of the authors/readers you develop a cyber relationship with, will be helpful to you in many ways. They'll share info about conferences, specials, references, changes in marketing, etc. They'll also be willing to feature your book/books on their websites at times.
It is a lot of work and time consuming but if you want your books found and promoted, it's necessary. I spend more time marketing (which is what social media really is) than writing. I hate it. Really I do. But to gain any measure of success (barring a one time mention by some famous person or blogger) social media is a must.

Only under one of my penn names (I have three - a different one for each genre I write in). I completely and totally abhor social media. The Facebook account I have under my real name - haven't logged onto for over 3 years. My wife, who is not an author, also deplores social media.

Oh, never mind my prior question, Alan. I misread this line originally. I thought it meant you write social media only for one of your three genres under one of your three pen names. I see now you mean you write for social media only under pen names, of which you have three. That must be a lot to keep up with!

HANDLING SOCIAL MEDIA
You can set up a TWEET DECK or a master site ---where  you can create one post or one item and link across your multi-sites.
So your blog post would be come your Twitter post, which would show up on your Facebook.   
As for themes---you can be a broad or as narrow as you like.

BLOGGING IN GENERAL
If you don't enjoy blogging--don't do it.   You can engage in other ways like Pinterest or Twitter.
If you do BLOG, then pre-write some 'filler' blogs early on.  These fillers can be posted when you are sick, overloaded, on vacation.     It is great to have 10 or so short blogs saved to post on those 'need a break' days.   Also,  a few times a year, you can have a guest blogger talk about their book, answer questions or post on a topic you share an interest in.

BLOG Names/THEMES
I think you should do a theme of  "The Truth in Fiction " or "The Truth in Writing" or  "The Writer's Truth" It gives you a broad platform to talk about historical fiction but it's broad enough to allow you to explore other areas of interest.  You are a truth finder and thoughtful researcher and writer.   

Tirz

I'm functional.

I have a website, FB author page, twitter, Google+, and Instagram.
My website is pretty static, my twitter is mainly generic scheduled posts, I rarely ever bother posting on Google+, and I have yet to figure out Instagram (maybe because I just got a smart phone). FB is where I do most of my networking with other authors and promos for my books. I use Postplanner to schedule posts to FB and twitter, that way the pages look "active", and I've just started using slack social to post to FB groups. I'd say FB is still the most effective tool to reach the masses, but it can really depend on your audience. I know a friend who has had a lot of success on Instagram.
I do have a blog but it's primarily for book reviews and promos for other authors.

Thank you so much for the input, everyone!

The impression I'm getting is that 1) a platform allows you an ability to connect with others in the industry 2) it provides you a platform to give back to the writing community (featuring authors and their books) 3) it's a place to post your own writing so it doesn't become lost in the sea of other books 4) it may or may not, however, translate into actual sales 5) it can potentially be extremely time-consuming.

I guess I'm wondering who the targeted audience is when you begin a social media platform? Readers of the genre you write in? People within the industry (which would make writing about writing as a blogger seem more relevant). Readers in general? If you write about writing, aren't you just writing to a bevy of fellow writers -- sending tips into the echo chamber? Wouldn't you want to speak to the people you intend your book for? (I ask not to criticize, but to understand how you view the platform's purpose.)

It seems like whatever site I write should showcase my natural voice, so people know the style they can find within my books. I like the idea of giving back to the community. I also like the idea of a fairly active site where I focus on quality over quantity. I feel that whatever a writer chooses as her medium in the social media world, it should act as a mirror to her prose voice. That way people can sense what they're getting if they read her books. And I do like Pinterest for a fun place to collect pretty pictures.

An acquaintance of mine has just released a novel retelling of Little Women. Her site focuses on questions surrounding Little Women -- essays, fun posts conjecturing about the characters, etc. She rarely mentions her novel. She just has it posted in her sidebar. However, I find her writing voice intelligent and interesting enough I quietly purchased her book. I met her because I am interested in the topic of Little Women and stumbled upon her site. I never would have heard of her novel. I found it because of her platform, which exudes her joy in the topic.

I'd love to find some sort of idea that couples well with what I want to write. I'm not sure I could focus as specifically as she does, since I wouldn't want to marry myself to a single era in history (example, American Civil War), but I love the way her site naturally reflects the topic of her book. People arrive there and find her novel a bonus naturally coupled with the topic that attracted them to her online writing in the first place.

Lots of questions to think about! Meanwhile, I'm not writing the good stuff! It doesn't sound like there's any real rush on getting this set up, so I think I'll back-burner it for a while. Keep my eyes open to an interesting idea.

Thanks again everyone! Keep sharing if you have tips and experience please.

Actually, my creativity has been more or less dead for a while but the trade off is my emotional health is much better (due to better living through chemistry).   I've had about a year or so on the new meds---and I really am significantly less depressed.  Yeah me!  The trade off is that it makes it a little harder to stay focused--hence the problem with my creativity nosedive.   But as much as it hurts to find my writing limited, I am very happy to feel less unhappy all the time.

I am hoping, and trying really hard, to rekindle that creative spark without depressive background.  Fingers crossed.

I think once you find out what you love to talk about--whether that is truth, writing historically or  just 'A Writer on Writing', you'll attract readers as  you are well-written, well-researched and always up for a good conversation. 

Don't let social media own you---it is a tool but it is one that can get away from you.  It does attract new people though--who can 'sample' your writing. You have to be like the neighborhood crack dealer from the 1980's --first taste is free.    After that, you have to pay for the joy.  Hah.

Love ya bunny!

Be happy/

I am trying not to target an audience. My platform's modus operandi is I stay in character.

I check the demographic charts sometimes. I wonder if more than 1% have read the story or they're along for the ride. I'm not promoting as much as creating new free content in a world of re-tweets.

Hi Sherry! I think your website looks lovely. I'm a hash with code, so you've done far better than I could. Great compilation of information. It looks really professional. I've seen other authors recommend Wix for their website. I might take a peek. Thanks!

I understand on the "busy" front! I'm extremely busy offline too. I'm glad to know the static website and Facebook work for you. It seems a smart move -- to preserve your time for the actual novels. That might be the way I go in the end, too. I might test a few ideas just to see which feels right.

The local papers is a great tip! I've never even thought of that. Signings, groups -- that might be smarter than online promotion anyway. Pass out your card and send them to the site!