I am not a huge blogger, but I have decided I need to share a Twitter tip for authors (and other businesses, too). 

Have you ever followed an author on Twitter and received a generic auto-response back, either as a tweet or a DM?  Sometimes it is a basic "thanks for the follow" and other times it is a blatant promo asking you to read the author's book.  How often do you actually go out and buy/read that author's book because of that tweet or DM?

The reason I bring this up is I want authors to really think the best way to auto tweet or DM their new followers as it could give a really positive or negative impression of you.

Hopefully your new followers have chosen to follow you because they have already read your book.  Except for friends who are authors, isn't that why you follow an author?  You already read and enjoyed their book.  No additional promo is necessary.  That means you've missed an opportunity to engage with a new follower (at best) or annoyed someone who might have otherwise enjoyed your social media persona (who, at worst, immediately unfollows you).

You don't want to seem like a bot.  They key word of social media is "social", which means interaction. 

I recently ran an experiment that was successful.  I set an auto tweet for new followers asking them to share the best writing advice they have ever received.  Not every new follower responded, but I have gotten two to five responses per day, which I then share with my followers (who then might retweet and grow my following, thereby setting off another auto tweet, and the cycle continues).  I can also respond to some of them with genuine, personal responses from me, which is the actual point of social media. :)

I wanted to share this experiment with authors, so you can consider it as you create or revise your social media campaign.  My plan is to come up with five to eleven more questions or interactions, with the intent of using that auto tweet for one to two months before I change it.  I can update or reuse them next year, but by having a rotation to choose from, I share more and newer info with my current followers, and I might even come up with new ideas from my new followers.

Suggestions for auto tweets/DMs for authors:

1. Ask what's their favorite book in your genre
2. Ask who is their favorite character in your book and why
3. If you have a promo running, share that (but you have to change your auto response exactly when your promo ends)
4. Ask who their favorite author is
5. Ask if they have a favorite current tv show
6. If you are a big sports fan and tweet a lot about that sport, ask what their favorite sport/team is
7. Ask what city they are from and what restaurant do they recommend if you ever visit that city

While some of my suggestions might seem a little weird for an author, they give a few examples that you can personalize for you -and you may be surprised by the responses you get.  You may learn more about your audience and gain some truly interesting followers and info about them that you might not have otherwise known.

And let's face it, you can use these interactions to help create and develop new characters for your books!

Be social in your social media.

1.1    Self-editing

After completing the first draft of a manuscript, an author should self-edit the manuscript at least twice in order to ensure that each scene is described the way the author was intending, and to review for grammar, typos, and formatting issues.

Tip: After completing the first draft of a manuscript, most authors set aside the manuscript for about a month before starting the editing process.  It gives the author fresh editing eyes.

1.2    Beta Readers

After self-editing a manuscript, most authors have a trusted circle of beta readers who read the manuscript and point out: 1) grammatical mistakes and typos, and/or 2) problems with the manuscript, such as inconsistencies or plot issues.  Authors should ask beta readers to use revision markup so the author can follow all the changes and decide whether or not to accept or reject them.

Most beta readers are trusted family members or friends or authors of a common writing circle.  They will normally read a manuscript for FREE (or maybe in exchange for dinner or a favor).

1.3    Professional Copyeditor

Whether an author is going to pursue finding an agent, submitting directly to publishers, or publishing independently, a professional editor can be invaluable. 

When looking for an agent, authors must submit query letters with sample chapters.  There are many reasons an agent may not be interested in a manuscript and many of those issues are out of the author’s control (such as, the agent is currently representing a similar book and therefore won’t represent a second such book).  However, one thing that is in the author’s control is whether or not that author has honed his or her skills as a writer and has presented the best version of the manuscript.  This is where a professional copyeditor is helpful.  A copyeditor will review not only for grammar, but will offer suggestions on how to improve writing (such as being concise, descriptive, active, etc.), point out inconsistencies and plot issues, and explain why.  To be clear, if an author is only interested in grammar feedback, then hire a proofreader, not a copyeditor.

An author should contact a copyeditor after the manuscript is completely written.  If an author wants to be considered a professional, he or she should only book the editor’s time once the author knows he or she can meet that deadline and has the funds to pay the editor.  This may sound snarky, but if an editor has reserved time for one author, that means the editor is not accepting work from other authors—that could mean rent for that month if an author doesn’t submit a manuscript on time or make a timely payment! (Same applies for other vendors used when self-publishing.)

How JMW Can Help: JMW offers copyediting services.  Request a quote and sample edit by emailing jmweditor@yahoo.com with the first five pages of the manuscript in MS Word format and provide the word count of the entire manuscript.  The fee is based on the amount of editing required and the length of the manuscript.

1.4    Finalizing Manuscript

After a manuscript is edited (by beta readers and/or professional editors), it is ultimately the author’s responsibility to ensure that all typos are corrected and grammar/plot issues addressed.  Not even a group of people will spot every last typo or grammar mistake, but hopefully most can be spotted and addressed. 

After accepting and rejecting changes by beta readers and editors, an author should carefully read through the manuscript a few more times to spot any remaining typos and grammar mistakes.

Tip:  Change the font of the manuscript; this can help your eyes spot new issues. For example, a lower case “L” and the number 1 can look alike in one font, but different in another.

Ask other authors what tips and tricks they find helpful.  Do they read it backward, paragraph by paragraph?  Do they print it out for the final proof?

There are a few experiences that all writers share: struggling to complete the first draft, agonizing over edits, and anxiously awaiting responses from agents and publishing houses. 

So, are there things an author can do while waiting to hear from agents and publishers?  Yes!

Build your social media following

• Create Twitter and Facebook accounts under your pen name (if you haven't already)
• Learn HootSuite and/or other social media managers so you can have a social media presence without having to be online constantly...scheduling is your friend
• Follow authors, bloggers, reviewers, and other publishing people
• Follow potential readers
• ENGAGE with them...people will know if you are only online to sell and they often won't be interested
• Retweet/comment on other peoples books, reviews, and posts; they will often return the favor

Draft Tweets and posts for your book
Once you know your book will be published, you will have to promote your book.  Start drafting Tweets and posts about your book.  Look at other books posts and discover which ones YOU like and inspire you to look at the book...then follow those examples when drafting your own.

Create 10-20 Tweets/posts to promote your book before it is published, and another 10-20 Tweets after your book has been published.

Reviewers
Try to arrange for potential reviewers, especially if you might end up with a smaller publisher or self-publishing.  Getting honest reviews will help with sales.

A lot of people won't buy books if there aren't any ratings or reviews. 

Create a website
If you don't already have a website/blog, create one.  Now is the time to explore, not after your book is published.

If you haven't created a site yet, you have a lot of decisions to make.  Do you want to purchase a domain and create a website?  This option could give you more flexibility and make you appear more professional and serious about your writing.  [Could this help if a publisher or agent searches for you on the internet?]  Or, do you want to use a free blog service?  Easier on the pocketbook, but it may not be as flexible as owning your own site.

Whichever you choose, you have to design it and set it up!

Blog, blog.....blog, blog, blog
Show some personality on your site by blogging. If you aren't inspired, here are a few blog ideas (some of them you know, but...):

• Review books, tv shows, movies
• Show a recent baking or decorating project (with pics)
• Find guest bloggers
• If you have started your next book, maybe post about successes or failures of the work in progress
  

Plot out some giveaway or promotion ideas
Once your book is published, one way to promote your book is with giveaways and promotions.  While I am not a huge fan, I've heard a lot of authors say they've had a lot of success with them. Discover what works, what you like, and what you are comfortable with.

This sounds like a chore, but it could be a way you get your friends involved with your writing experience.  They may have ideas and suggestions and social media experience that you don't know about. 

Be flexible
Once you have an agent or publisher, you may have to toss a lot of your ideas out the window as they may have their own PR methods. If this is the case, all the work above won't be a waste.   If asked if you have ideas or comments, you are already prepared with answers.  You can show that you are following the industry, trends, and have already created an online presence.  You are a professional.

With so many self-publishing options available, a lot of aspiring authors suddenly can publish their works...but can these indie authors find potential readers?  Luckily, social media is exploding at the same time as self-publishing.

I am not in marketing or PR, but in addition to being a reader, I also am an editor and an aspiring author who watches the trends and, luckily, has a friend who works in the social media field, so I can follow her lead and pick her brain when needed.

Here is a quick list of things for newbie indie authors to consider as they self-market their books:

Twitter and Facebook -- Create accounts under your pen name and post regularly. 

Scheduling -- If you have a full-time job and/or a family, posting two to three times a day can be hard to manage.  Instead, find a platform, such as HooteSuite or TweetDeck, that allows you to sit down for half an hour once every week or two to schedule your minimum, standard posts.  This gives you a social media presence even when you can't log in.

Political and social issues -- Before posting on a political or social issue, be sure it is something you believe in strongly enough to lose readers and followers.  I strongly suggest having a personal account and a pen name account; use your personal account for political, social and, well, personal interactions.  While writing is a calling, it is also a business; keep the personal and business separate.  Your real life friends will probably also thank you.

Monitor @replies and DMs --  Interact with your followers.  If all you do is post and never reply, you look like a social media bot -- a machine or an intern could do it, and followers can tell!   They want to interact with you.

80/20 -- You are marketing your books, so people will expect you to post about your books, but keep in mind that if all you post about is that your book is available, well-- it will be BORING.  Make sure at least 20% of your posts not about your book, but about your likes or dislikes, your writing life and books you read, or other things that make you a real and interesting person who might write something the rest of us will want to read.

Pinterest, Instagram, GetGlue, and other social media sites -- Keep an eye on new social media trends. This can be done by following other people, noting what other sites they are using to post on Twitter and Facebook.  A lot of these sites can be connected to Twitter and FB, so you can incorporate (aka, schedule) posts about your hobbies and interests using other sites.

Pinterest example: If you LOVE shoes, browse for shoes on Pinterest and schedule Tweets about shoes (which will help you with your 20% personal posts-- kill two birds with one stone).  Or, connect your Pinterest account to your Twitter account so you can easily Tweet something you are Pinning (a Pinterest feature). 

GetGlue example: Checking into GetGlue (after connecting it to your Twitter account) when you watch a movie or tv show gives followers a chance to get to know your entertainment tastes...something they can easily reply to you about.

Sharing the love -- Repost positive, non self-promotional reviews of other authors' books.  The authors of those books are more likely to share your posts (and increase your following) and can also help you build an on-line community.  In addition, if followers consider you a source for good recommendations, they are more likely to at look at your own books.

Blogs and reviews -- If you post blogs or book review on your website, don't just Tweet about to those blogs and reviews; repost Tweets/links to those blogs and reviews a few times a month (especially your favorite ones).  Use your scheduler!  This will increase your following and increase visits to your website.

Freebies -- I'm gonna be honest and admit that I don't think freebies of one book will increase sales of your other books.

Booksellers put restrictions on freebies, which means the author loses control over pricing and other issues. 

Offering your book for free on Amazon or other bookseller sites will definitely attract deal seekers. For newbies, I feel like people will read your free book but won't review it or buy your other books. Aren't you offering a free book as a means of gaining readers and followers?  Chicken or the egg...situation... 

If you have a good following and book readership, freebies might help sales of your other books...might.

Talk to a real marketer with experience with ebook freebies.

Giveaways -- Contrary to my opinion on freebies, I do think giveaways are good.  Giveaways allow you to control what you give away (with no conditions from book sellers), how much you give away, and what conditions you want to put on giving it away.  Ebook giveaways are easy because Amazon and B&N both allow someone to "gift" a book if you have the recipient's email address.  Note: You will have to buy that book you are giving away.

The quick giveaway -- On the spur of the moment, an author can post something like; "First person to @reply XXXX get's a free ebook copy of YYY".  Quick, easy to administer, and normally a positive response. 

Review -- An author can give away a book to one person on the condition that the recipient actually reviews the book on Goodreads or a bookseller's website.

WRITE! -- Don't let social media take over your life.  Be smart and disciplined.  Twitter and FB can be time-suckers, so don't let them take away from your writing time!

Social media is constantly evolving and changing, so what we do today could change tomorrow.