Facebook to promote one's work?

[LizW65]

I'm considering social media as a means of advertising my book, and was wondering if anyone here or someone you know has experience of this and whether you would recommend it. Pros and cons? Would it be advisable to create the page "in character" as my protagonist, or as myself? Business or personal? Suggestions, please!

[Dresdenus Prime]

I don't know about Facebook, but many self-published authors do it on Twitter. I believe there are even groups on Twitter that you can submit your name and book title to and they will tweet an advertisement for you to their followers as well.

[LizW65]

I don't really understand how Twitter works--you have to pay for it through your phone company, right?

[Paynesgrey]

No, that's just if your texting on your phone to it.  You  can do it just like you  would with your facebook, and tie it into an email account.

I do suggest this for your facebooking:  Make a designated, specific page for Your Authorness Persona.  Totally unconnected to your other facebook accounts, unless you want your book being linked to embarrassing childhood pictures some relative posts, or some political cartoon an aunt or friend posts.  Same with any twitter account you set up.  And then set up a separate email account to manage those social media issues through. 

[Wordmaker]

I use several forms of social media in my own promotion, as advised by my publisher.

In general, you're best advised to avoid cutesy things like a Facebook account for your main character, at least as your primary form of self-promotion. That kind of thing can be fun when you've got a fanbase to offer extra online content to, but for now, when it comes to social media, you have one single-minded goal.

Building a brand.

You are your brand. Not your book, not your characters. You. Readers want to connect with the authors they love, to build a relationship with them. Put yourself out there openly, under your own name (or your pen name if you have one) and start making friends. Don't push your work only. I've seen experts advise a 1:10 post ratio for promotion to other personal interest posts. Show people you're a person and they'll want to know more. Push your book on them, and they'll unfollow you in a heartbeat.

My other bit of advice, and this goes for everything on the internet, but especially social media, is watch what you say. Once you're out there, even if you have separate personal and professional accounts, people will connect the two, easier and more quickly than you think. Never post when you're angry, and don't post critical rants, especially about other authors or an agent, publisher, or a bad review. Nothing will turn off readers and potentially-interested publishers faster than giving the impression you're difficult to work with or can't take criticism. More than one author has shot their career down in flames before it even started by making that mistake.

[Shecky]

If you want an excellent example of social-media "self-branding" by an author, check out Myke Cole. The guy lives by Wordmaker's statement of "you are your brand" - he maintains a constant, highly interactive, consistently pleasant and professional presence on the big-name social-networking sites.

[Paynesgrey]

If you've got a regular Facebook presence, I'd suggest keeping it segregated and firewalled from your Author site, so some thing an acquantence posts regarding some issue you don't care to address as an author does not become associated with your work.  (I've got a friend who likes to post the most apalling things when he has access to my keyboard, then his wife likes the hell out of them.  Not stuff I'd want associated with my professional work.)

And the other reason is that I don't care to politicize my work.

I'm following Jim's lead:  I'm writing for people who find my characters engaging and who enjoy my worldbuidling & storytelling.  I've no intention of addressing the typical socio-political issues or current events for a couple of reasons. 

The first is pure pragmatism.  As Jim says, when you take a political stand, you're going to alienate half your potential audience. 

The second is artistic and ego related.  I want my work to stand on it's own feet as pure storytelling.  Is someone takes something positive from it, the I'd be thrilled, but I'm not interested in trying to peddle spiritual enlearnment, social awarenessissity, or Worldview Validation even if those might win me some sales or friendly reviews from people who feel I'm supporting their Cause or bashing the other bloke's.

And finally, my politics are across the board.  In terms of categories, I'm neither fish nor fowl nor good red meat.  I pick my positions and ideas based on the issue at hand and how it weighs against my values and viewpoints.  Which means I've got quotes supporting as well as bashing various things on the Left, Right, Center, Tranverse Axial Counter Alignmentary Stuff.  When I do share an stance with a political faction on an issue, it's likety-not for the same reasons they do, and I'll probably have a solution which they'd find perfectly apalling.

I offend all factions with joy and enthusiasm, particularly when their being self-righteous hypocrits.

That, and I just really have trouble passing up a straight line.

So basically, in terms of social and political factions and values, I'm regurlarly pissing on everyone's shoes.  And when I spot a faction slathering on the old double standards, adopting the same intellectual methodology that makes them howl "SCANDALAMITY!" when the other side does it... I don't just piss on their shoes, I give them the shake too, take a picture of them standing in pee-shoes, then share it so. 

Needless t say, my facebook page is all over the map.  Based on my likes, shares, and satirical comments, a causual user would define me as a gay straight heteronormative christian fascist atheistic devil worshipping liberal mysoginistic democratic feminist tea party socialist lap dog of imperialism who peels baby pandas for big oil while Occupying some shit for Anonymous pot farmers. 

So I compartmentalize my writing.  Anyone who reads a social issue into it will do so only because their own baggage led them to it.

(Neuro, I'm talking more the common-usage, Left Vs Right, current events social issues, as opposed to the more finely scaled ones such as free-will, individuality, etc   )