This is one of those posts that by the time I'm done and some person smarter than I am comments on it, then I will have a better understanding of the topic--at least that's what I'm hoping.
I recently signed up for the social networking site,
Klout. Yes, Klout means exactly what you think it does--who has clout or influence over other people on different subjects from blogging to business? Basically it takes all your social networking accounts and puts them together and assesses how active you are and how people interact with you and then you get a score for your "Klout."
I've been using it all week, and my Klout score is rising, and I've added new sklls, and I've earned Klout Perks (which are like coupons to use at businesses for things like business cards), and I'm still asking myself: Who cares? How is this not a waste of my time?
Does it matter if my score is 17 like it was when I first started or 59 like it is today? Am I selling more books with an above average score? Is WOW! getting more hits because my Klout score went up? Am I getting higher paid freelance writing assignments? The answer to all these is no. I, for the life of me, cannot figure out why having a high Klout score wil really help you--except maybe if it helps your self-esteem.
If you are on Twitter, you've probably seen tweets that say things like, "I gave +K to @womenonwriting for blogging expertise." Here's what Klout's website says about this program, "Anyone can recognize you for your influence by giving you +K. You can do the same for others by visiting their profiles and clicking the Give +K button by the topics they influence you about."
Okay, so again, my question is, "So what? How do I use this? How do I use Klout to gain more readers for WOW!? How do I use Klout to sell books?""
I've played around with Klout and read some. I know very few people worrying about Klout. So here's my question: if you are a writer, blogger, published author, or editor/publisher and are using Klout, what do you do with it? How does it benefit you?
Thanks for sharing, and here's hoping you have a high score on Klout!
Post by Margo L. Dill; Margo is the author of the newly released middle-grade historical fiction book, Finding My Place: One Girl's Strength at Vicksburg (http://margodill.com/blog/finding-my-place/).
Are you an author who wants to build your online following?
Or perhaps you're still working on your book and want to build a platform to attract an agent or publisher?
If so, you're in luck! We invited social media expert Leili McKinley to answer a few questions about social media marketing for authors. She also shares a special deal with WOW readers at the end of this interview that you'll want to check out. Enjoy!
Leili McKinley is an award winning entrepreneur, social media coach and branding architect for authors and writers. Utilizing her expertise in social media, branding, search engine optimization (SEO), and e-commerce, Leili empowers her clients to sell more books, get more speaking engagements, build platforms and increase their overall profitability. She is the branding expert for Bob Proctor and social media marketing expert for bestselling authors like 6 time award winning Auriela McCarthy. In her 15 year career she has been engaged by top companies Saks Fifth Avenue, Starwood Hotels and has a host of international clients.
You can find out more about Leili by visiting her website: http://www.leilimckinley.com
WOW: Welcome to The Muffin, Leili! We're thrilled to be chatting with you today about social media for authors. Let's start at the beginning. How did you get started in social media training?
Leili: I have been involved in Internet marketing since 1997, when I built a website for my first company. To my great surprise, people ordered stuff off my site! I mean it looked like a child did it because it was my first try at selling anything online. But, after orders started coming in overnight, I realized I could make money in my sleep. I was totally hooked!
So I devoted myself to learn everything I could about Internet marketing. It was intrinsic to my success as an entrepreneur. After I built and sold two companies, I retired to Maui. Then I started focusing on teaching social media. I knew it was going to be a fundamental shift in the way we did things online and I wanted to help people get it right. So about two years ago I started to teach it to my favorite people--authors!
WOW: Wow...I love Maui! That's where my hubby and I went on our honeymoon, and I always thought it would be fantastic to retire there. So why is it important for authors to engage in social networking?
Leili: One of the things that I'm seeing in this hyper-competitive book market is that publishers are turning down (or hesitating on) books they would have jumped on in the past because, even if the author has something of a reach already, it's just not enough of a platform. By platform, I mean how many people they reach on the Internet and through traditional means like traditional media and speaking.
The value of a platform becomes the leverage it gives you to create new business for yourself. You know that you hav
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I hope others chime in on this because I have wondered the exact same thing! Seems like just a cyber ego booster, but maybe I'm missing something too.
Monette: I was hoping the same thing, but either it's quiet because it's the weekend OR no one quite knows. . .:)
Maybe it's just the way you've written the post, but I fail to see the value in it. I'll be interested to see what others think.
@gwenstephens: yes, I suppose my bias came out--the fact that I don't see the value in it either. That's why I was hoping someone, somewhere used Klout to gain readers or something. . .:)
I don't see any value in it. One of my friends from Twitter jokes with me because according to the site I have "klout" when it comes to tequila, microbreweries, wine, and writing.
Who cares? It's a marketing tool to get you to use their coupons. I did qualify for a free photo book from Shutterfly from it one time, so that was nice, but I don't see the need to check in all the time.
That is so funny, LuAnn, now I want Klout in wine. :)
I never thought about the coupon idea. I earned some free business cards; of course, those are easy to get without spending time on Klout, too. So, maybe it's good to go on every week or so and see what free offers there are. . .:)