It’s that time of the week, again!
I recently wrote a feature article for writers, about my thoughts on reader engagement. I believe having an appealing, up to date website, focusing on one social media platform and doing it well, and respecting and nurturing readers are all important aspects of engaging readers. But I’d love to know your thoughts, dear reader friends!
What do you expect from the writers whose books you love reading. Obviously, an enthralling book is a must, but then what are your expectations in this world of social media, where we have access to authors like never before?
Please share!
February 24, 2015 at 12:00 pm
What a great question, Rel. I am interested to hear what everyone says. When I put on my reader hat, all I really want from the author is a great story. To be honest, social media-wise, I am basically looking for news of upcoming titles and/or cover reveals. I love personally meeting authors at conferences and such and making wonderful friends, but social media still seems a bit distant to me. I would love some figures on what and which works best.
February 25, 2015 at 11:25 am
Great comments, Aaron – thanks for sharing. I get that social media can be a daunting beast that people our age struggle to connect with at times 🙂
February 24, 2015 at 12:30 pm
I enjoy all of the insider info we are privy to, in this day and time. I can remember waiting and waiting of anything new to come out from my favorite authors, but not having any idea what it might be. Today we get to see covers, hear about plots and sometimes even answer questions that various authors post while doing research for current manuscripts.
February 25, 2015 at 11:25 am
Times have changed, haven’t they, Rebecca? It’s a new world but a good one, especially for readers.
February 24, 2015 at 2:53 pm
I don’t know that I have “expectations” per se. But I do really enjoy following authors I read on Facebook and Twitter. I like seeing what they think is interesting, getting sneak peeks into their newest writing projects, and being among the first to find out about covers, books, and all that fun stuff!
February 25, 2015 at 11:26 am
Thoughtful comments, Brooke – I think many readers would agree with you.
February 24, 2015 at 10:05 pm
Great question! My expectations for social media is that an author would have a website where information can be found about the author and their books and events. I think that is a minimal expectation today. If an author chooses to have a Facebook page, then I enjoy hearing about book sales, cover reveals and backstories. If an author has a Goodreads account, then I like to see that they are an active user of Goodreads and not just a stagnant account.
If an author provides a way to communicate with them, then I’d like to receive a response. I have one author I contacted via email (found on their website) after a five star read and got no response back. For another author, I contacted the author via Facebook message and Goodreads. I got a response after three months. I understand authors are very busy as authors and have lives of their own, but it seems responsiveness would be a great way to keep readers loyal.
February 25, 2015 at 11:27 am
I agree that acknowledgment is key. A simple thank you is such an easy thing for a writer to do, and as you say, will go a long way to garnering loyalty.
February 25, 2015 at 12:01 am
Speaking as a book club coordinator who stalks, er, researches authors for our meetings, I like a well-developed website. I like a short bio and a longer bio about their motivations or writing process. Pictures, book trailers, a little something extra about the book’s subject matter is a great bonus. I realize that some authors are more tech-savvy than others, so a website with all the bells and whistles isn’t expected, but definitely appreciated. But I do expect their website to be up-to-date and reflect current releases. I follow a number of authors on FB and Twitter, but that’s just icing. Great question as always, Rel.
February 25, 2015 at 11:30 am
I’m with you on the website issues, Beckie. Like you, for book club and my blog, I’m forever linking to authors’ websites. Sometimes I have felt embarrassed for the author linking their out of date website to my blog post but it must be done. One numerous occasions, I’ve been promoting a new release for an author and their website doesn’t even have it listed. I think that turns many readers off. It makes an author appear uninterested in their own book so why would a reader then be so?!
February 25, 2015 at 7:43 am
I’m basically living in a cave since I don’t have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any other type of social media. If I enjoy a book and want to know more about the author or other books they’ve written, I do check to see if they have a website. Keeping it current and responding to comments or personal e-mails bumps them up further in my interest and admiration of the author. I know they are extremely busy, but for them to interact with myself and other readers means a lot. That’s the one thing I really like about your blog, Rel, is the fact that you do respond. It may not be every time, but putting forth an effort to connect with other people who love to read Christian books is what drew me to this site and keeps me coming back daily.
February 25, 2015 at 11:45 am
Thanks, Amy – I appreciate your kind words. Sometimes it is hard to find the time to respond to every comment that comes by the blog, but I appreciate my readers so much and even after 9 years of blogging, I’m still amazed fabulous people like yourself spend time here and engage with me – LOVE it!
Enjoy your cave, I say! If I hadn’t become involved in this blogging world, I don’t think I would have a social media presence, either 🙂
February 25, 2015 at 9:32 am
I definitely understand that everyone can’t be on every social media all the time, but for those who do, I love it! I remember early blogging days and getting a response about my review on twitter from authors making my day (and I still love it!). It’s also fun to get insider looks, cover reveals, what’s next on their list, etc. Usually end up pre-ordering that way too 🙂
February 25, 2015 at 11:46 am
Ditto, reading sister!! xo
February 25, 2015 at 10:47 am
Great question!
As a digital media manger (i.e. managing websites and social media) by day, I expect a bare minimum of a ‘modern’ website. By modern, it can totally be a free Blogger or Wix page, etc. But if it looks like it was built in 1996, I’m turned off.
In terms of social media outlets, I’ve recently changed my viewpoint. I’ve always been of the mindset that if you can’t do it well, don’t do it at all—AND that blasting the same content out to 5 different networks is BAD— either post unique content to each network or stick to the one place you’re good at.
BUT, since launching my author social media networks, I’ve come to realize that we should meet our potential readers wherever they are. Some people adamantly hate Facebook, but they’re fond of Twitter (or Pinterest, or Instagram).——— or vice versa. Even if you share the same content across basically all the platforms, I feel like it’s pretty critical to at least be on that big four:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
You have to have a smart phone to do Instagram, but the cool thing is that you can tell it to push your posts out to Twitter and Facebook. And when I post something unique to Facebook, I generally share it to Twitter as well (such as a blog post, contest, etc). Now, on Twitter I’m constantly RT’ing, and I don’t push that out to Facebook lest I inundate my readers’ walls.
But I truly feel like, as an author, you need to have at least a minimal presence (a few posts a week?) in the top three, and use Pinterest as it fits you best (I’m a Pinterest addict, with about 18,000 followers and 55,000 pins, so that’s a whole ‘nother beast).
p.s.
I have some author friends (love you all!) who swear by using ONLY their personal facebook account, and not managing a facebook page. I think this is an AWFUL idea, both in terms of growing an audience, keeping personal stuff personal and work stuff work, etc. I know they have their reasons and I won’t argue with them, but I think they are wrong. There. I said it. (But I still love ya’ll, really I do!)
February 25, 2015 at 11:49 am
Wow, Jessica! Thanks for the detailed insight into social media from your expert perspective. Writers have to contend with a whole lot more “stuff” than just writing these days. I know that can be a negative experience for some but what an opportunity it gives to writers to not only engage with their readers but ensure their loyalty and ongoing enthusiasm for their stories.
The younger readers are going to expect all this and more, I imagine. Social media is not going away anytime soon 🙂
February 25, 2015 at 10:49 am
OH! p.p.s. I forgot to mention that the only network where I’m dragging my feet and so far ‘refusing’ to participate is Google +.
It has its merits. One of the big ones is that Google basically RUNS the Internet. And if you play in their space, they are more likely to serve your content up in searches, etc.
That is a HUGE plus.
But at the moment, I’ve just decided that it’s not a space I have time to play in, nor do I feel like, for now, it will bring enough dividends to be worth the time invested.
What are you guys’ thoughts on Google +?
February 25, 2015 at 11:49 am
Yeah, I’m with you, Jessica. Haven’t really tapped into the Google+ behemoth 🙂
Anyone else able to share their experience?
February 25, 2015 at 12:03 pm
I never thought I had expectations, but apparently I do. I have some favourite non-fiction (gasp!!) authors who are bloggers, facebookers, intagramers and twitter-ers. I like to read what they’ve written and will check their facebook and blogs daily. And then I’m really disappointed when they don’t post anything new. Talk about high expectations, huh?! But these women inspire, encourage, ask great thought-provoking questions and my golly they make me laugh. I need a bit of all of those things in my life. When there is no new tidbit to catch up on I feel like I’ve been stood up! And then I remember they have a life: children, writing, travelling, speaking.
I also love to see a fresh, easy-to-navigate website 🙂
February 27, 2015 at 1:06 am
Tracy » As always, great thoughts and insights, Tracy. Thanks for sharing what you didn’t know you wanted 😉
February 25, 2015 at 2:58 pm
Wow! This is really interesting, Rel. As a writer, I’m glad to see what readers want/expect. And I know I’m not doing nearly enough, but time is so scarce. I have 3 deadlines this year, all big word-count books and it’s hard to keep up with all the social media. But I see it is important, so looks like I’ll be squeezing in a few blogs and FB posts.
February 27, 2015 at 1:05 am
Patricia Bradley » It’s certainly a balancing act that I don’t envy you on, Pat!
February 26, 2015 at 1:16 am
Rel, I think the only thing a really require from an author, as a reader, is a good story. And if that means they need to be quiet and thoughtful, rather than heating up social media, than I’d rather them there. However, there are some things I think that could sweeten my love of their writing. I’d love to see authors have info on their sites that included what inspired a story or a character. I always wonder, so would love to have that question satisfied. I don’t need to hear from them endlessly on social media, but if I email them, some acknowledgment of that would be nice. Also, I want them to have a newsletter that informs me when their next release is out or if they are doing a book signing somewhere.
February 27, 2015 at 1:05 am
Connie Almony » Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Connie. I’m finding everyone’s responses fascinating.
February 26, 2015 at 3:26 am
Great topic, Rel!! When I find an author I love, I usually look for a website. I like finding out more about the author from her biography. If they’re active on FB and Twitter, I usually add them to my contacts. One thing I’m always interested in? What part of the world are they from?
February 27, 2015 at 1:04 am
Jill Kemerer » Great plan, Jill – it’s always fun knowing where people are from, I agree.
February 26, 2015 at 4:38 am
I completely agree with Jessica Lynne Martin! I didn’t want to comment since I’m also an author, but since people were asking me on FB, I wanted to comment here as well.
As a reader and someone who likes to promote books I like and also works for a company promoting books – yes, I wear a lot of hats!- I am SO frustrated with authors who do not have updated websites and social media. If I like your book, I want to go to your website and see what’s out next. I am too lazy to go look at Amazon because searching on Amazon is a pain. Not only do I want to know what’s out next, I want to know what’s in your backlist and the order I should read books. One of the things I have to do for my job is answer reader questions for books we handle, and I get SO many questions about backlist books, order of reading, etc. Most readers give up when they don’t see it on your website, and that’s a HUGE loss of sales for you. Like I said, I’m lazy, which means if I can’t find the answer about what books you have, what’s coming next, etc, I’m done. I pick up another book by someone else and move on. I can’t do that for my job, alas, so for them, I actually do the research, and even then, with all the tools at my disposal that the general public doesn’t have, it can be hard. So authors, please do yourself (and your sales) a favor and make this easy for readers. Case in point, I just read a book by a new to me author, loved it, and because she made it easy for me, I bought the rest of her backlist. Bam! She just sold a ton of books because I didn’t have to do any work.
Social media-wise, again, what Jessica Lynne Martin said. And PLEASE, have an author page on Facebook that is set to public and your posts are set to public. Why? Because again, if I like your books, or something you said, I will tag you and repost your stuff. If it is not an author page or your posts are not set to public, I can’t. It is SO frustrating to want to share someone’s excellent FB post and be unable to do so because their settings are not marked “public.” I asked one author about it and she told me in detail how I needed to download the picture and blah blah blah and repost myself. I repeat, I am lazy. If I can’t share with a push of one button, I’m not sharing. If you do not have a public author page (not your personal profile), I can’t tag you on my FB author page. What all of this means is I can’t share your stuff, and the thing is, I usually want to.
How does this apply to readers? Because as part of my job, I deal with authors and readers, I can tell you that my laziness is not just me being lazy. Readers are lazy too. No offense to fellow readers. But if you don’t make things easy for us to share, we won’t. That doesn’t mean we will share, but the easier you make it, the more likely we are to share.
Sorry for the long post, didn’t mean to be so long-winded, but this is a hot button of mine. 🙂
February 26, 2015 at 11:42 pm
Danica Favorite » Ha! Thank you, Danica! Authors are ALWAYS welcome, too. I think it always adds a further insight for the readers who hang around here. I’m passionate about this, too, so I’m glad you shared your thoughts. Lazy or not, it is all about quick and easy access, I agree. It’s easy to have something fresh and smart these days – not many excuses left.
February 26, 2015 at 10:19 am
I agree with you Rel! I think now more than ever it’s important for authors to have up-to-date information, a clean and understandable site, and involvement on social media platforms. As someone with an eye for design and the creative, I cringe when I visit some author sites. It’s the equivalent (in my mind) of a book and its cover. When you see a well designed book cover, immediately you’re more willing to take an interest in the book itself. It’s then the writing that does the “real selling”. Same can be said for websites.
February 26, 2015 at 11:37 pm
Emilie » Yep, we are in agreement! And I can see why it would affect you more than most. Thanks for stopping by – love it!
February 27, 2015 at 9:53 am
I don’t utilize “social media” in following authors as I try to keep those sites simply to keep up with friends and family. I don’t like a lot of extra clutter there.However, I do occasionally check my favorite author’s webpage/blog and check Amazon religiously. I do appreciate review blogs such as this which keep me informed on new releases etc. I particularly love the character spotlights. I do not find the trailers useful at all.