Getting Started II: Setting Up for Success

Taking the time to get started is the first big step and the subject of Part 1 of this "Getting Started" series. In this article I'll discuss what you can do next to set yourself up for success using social media. Don't worry! You don't need thousands of followers and likes and people in your circles. But it does help to have your page in place so you can start leveraging social media to your advantage.

Social Media Sites that Matter

Of course, there are the big three: Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. You really can't survive as a writer without these three. It's just a simple matter of the way the web works.
You don't necessarily need lots of interaction going on with folks on these sites, but simply having a public profile or page lends a world of credibility.

But these big social media sites aren't the only ones out there. Depending upon the kind of writing you want to do. there are lots of supporting social media sites you can join and start having conversations with others.
Take some time to research some social media sites within your respective area in which you want to write.

What Else Matters?

Don't spend a lot of time interacting with people who are in your industry doing what you do. The temptation is to get confused with who your customer really is. So let me make it really clear:

OTHER WRITERS ARE NOT YOUR CUSTOMERS

I see far too many writers spend too much time interacting with other writers through social media. But do these writers bring you business? Do they drive customers your way? Probably not. Learn what you can, but be mindful of the time you spend interacting with industry peers.

Setting Up Social Media Accounts

It's time to establish some basic information that you are going to put on all your social media sites. Unless you plan to use each social media platform to market to a different group - which is a LOT of work - then keep it simple. You need a document that you can copy and paste from that includes:

• Other social media site links
• Email
• Short (140 word) bio that help people know what you write about
• Website/blog URL
• Any other contact information you want to put out there
• Logo/graphics if you've got them
• Gravatar link (see below)

Gravatar

I use Gravatar.com to manage my online picture. It's a site where you upload your profile picture once and can reference it anytime you need to. Many, many sites link to Gravatar, so take a few minutes and set yours up.

In the next article in this series I'll discuss some basic promotional tips you can do to start building your reputation as a writer.