One of the writer's groups I'm affiliated with is having a whole discussion of marketing and the subject has come up as to whether blogs are useful marketing tools. Some say yes, some say no. I don't know. I think you have to be careful. A blog can allow you to get to know readers, and allow readers to get to know you. But there still have to be boundaries. Some things are really TOO private for a public forum. And you have to understand that your opinions may turn off as many people as agree, which could drive readers away. I don't want some stalker type stumbling across enough personal information to make my life a living hell. But I DO want to get to know folks like the ones who appear to have been tuning in and commenting. No risk, no gain, but make mine a calculated risk.
For example, I live in Texas. I say I live in central Texas in the hill country. That covers a WHOLE lotta space. I have privately contacted one or two people, so they have specific information. But other than that, nope.
Am I going to treat the blog like I would my shrink? Nope. I'm also not going to parade around the courthouse square butt naked either. But I'm not going to make it a sterile series of bland "politically correct" statements that bore me to tears (and heaven help the readers, unless they're looking for a cure for insomnia). The limits I put on it may make it less effective as a marketing tool. So be it. But I won't stop altogether, because I believe that getting to know the readers, and getting their input, is important. In other words YOU GUYS are important.
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6 comments:
Hi Cie,
I would have to venture a guess on how one uses a blog. There are various diary forums. There are blogs on sites. There are people who post their thoughts as something becomes important to them. There are sites with forums. There are sites with chat rooms. So there are numerous types of ways to communicate on the internet. I know that the more famous an individual becomes, the less and less time they have to post in anything and also everyone knows where they live (that's why they get security systems, body guards, high fences, surveillance cameras, yadda, yadda, yadda). I would have to say that as far as websites go the more interesting it is and the more it changes the more people would come back and see whazz-up, I think people like feeling a connection to a celebrity, look at Oprah for example, check out her website sometime. Eventually when fame takes over, the individual has a staff that handles everything, so that even changes things more.
P.S. Mexico was a gas!
Hi Cie,
I would have to venture a guess on how one uses a blog. There are various diary forums. There are blogs on sites. There are people who post their thoughts as something becomes important to them. There are sites with forums. There are sites with chat rooms. So there are numerous types of ways to communicate on the internet. I know that the more famous an individual becomes, the less and less time they have to post in anything and also everyone knows where they live (that's why they get security systems, body guards, high fences, surveillance cameras, yadda, yadda, yadda). I would have to say that as far as websites go the more interesting it is and the more it changes the more people would come back and see whazz-up, I think people like feeling a connection to a celebrity, look at Oprah for example, check out her website sometime. Eventually when fame takes over, the individual has a staff that handles everything, so that even changes things more.
P.S. Mexico was a gas!
Jimbo
WELCOME BACK! Glad you had a great vacation! Hope you enjoyed the book. Yolanda is still stopping by regularly, and we missed you. Have you had a chance to take a look at the new website? We've got the cover for the sequel posted now, and a whole new look! We'll be tweaking it some more over the next few weeks, but we're really happy with the overall look.
ANYWAY, welcome back!
Good morning Cie!
I have to agree with you, as long as you stick to matters that don't make it TOO personal and give away TOO much about you, in case some sicko's out there watching for clues - I know that sounds suspicious, but you just never know - there are some weird people out there!
The way that you handle your Blog is great, I think. There's just enough detail to get to know you and about your writing.
Anyway, I enjoy checking your entries out every morning, so please, keep writing away... can't wait for that second book, by the way! The countdown has started!
Oh and Jim - Howya doin' mate? Good to see you're back and that Mexico was fun! It's been a little lonely with me being the only one posting away comments and Cie answering... except there has been a few times when others have commented! Anyway, WELCOME BACK!
And Cie, LOVE reading what you wite, so keep it up!
Hope you're enjoying your writing. Are you still working on the mystery? I've been hacking away at my first draft every single day (except weekends!) and am about halfway through - PHEW!
See Ya!
Hi Cie and Yolanda! Yes, Mexico was great! 70 to 80 degrees everyday and very, very, very, relaxing. I ate great food, had two big salads a day, exercised everyday......oh, and guess what else? Yeah, lots of tropical drinks, but serious, did you guess? I read "Hunter's Moon"! O.k., I have 80 pages left to go, I wasn't going to post until I finished it (that's why my other entry today was so "low-key" ha, ha). I will give a full report when I finish it. I gave a copy of "Hunter's Moon" to both of my Sister's before I left, and one of them finished it and guess what.....she wants a copy of "Moon's Web" already, I said I will be ordering at least 7 copies of that one one right off the bat already. I ended up buying yet "another" copy of "Hunter's Moon" as I wanted to bring it to Mexico, read it and leave it in Mexico sitting on a table somewhere or to give to one of the Canadians I met there. Oh, and yes Cie and Cathy, you will definitley be getting a full report on "Hunter's Moon" from me.
Jimbo (thank you Cie and Yolanda for welcoming me back!)
No worries Jim - nice to have you back!
Isn't HUNTER'S MOON fantastic? I know you haven't finished it yet, but I absolutely loved it! I was so into it that I kept getting annoyed at everyday stuff... like eating and sleeping! I'm sure you know what I mean!
Can't wait for MOON'S WEB!
See Ya... :)
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