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What's Your Answer? Today's Topic Is Social Media

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We haven't played this game in a while, so it's time to start it up again. I present a topic, ask some questions, and offer my answers. You pick one or more questions to also answer. If you only choose one, please expand. If more, please shorten. You're allowed to include one website URL or blog link of your own. Okay, here goes:

Which social media sites do you visit? (not including blogs or Yahoo groups)
In the order of how often I visit them: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google Plus, and Goodreads.

Which do you find most relaxing?
Hands down, that would be Pinterest. I can't resist all the pretty pictures. I wish I had more time to play there. 

Which do you find most stressful?
Facebook is definitely the most stressful. People are not bashful about expressing opinions there, which don't always coincide with mine. Trying to offer a differing opinion, even politely, gets me into trouble, so I don't try too often.  LinkedIn and Goodreads are mildly stressful, but for a different reason. I tend to muddle along on them, because I haven't completely figured them out.

Which do you find most useful to sell or find a book:
Posting an Event on Facebook helps during a promotion, which can spur sales afterward. However, regular posting on Twitter works best for me. When I'm looking for a book, I find plenty likely choices by visiting Facebook groups.

Now, it's your turn. Please offer your answers in the comment section.


Experience the diversity and versatility of Morgan Mandel. Romantic Comedies: Her Handyman, its sequel, A Perfect Angelstandalone reality show romance; Girl of My Dreams.  Thriller: Forever Young: Blessing or Curse,its sequel: the Blessing or Curse CollectionRomantic suspense: Killer CareerMystery:Two Wrongs. Short  and Sweet   Romance: Christmas   Carol.  Twitter:@MorganMandel Websites: Morgan Mandel.Com    Morgan Does Chick Lit.Com.

Comments

  1. I have accounts with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google Plus. I'm on Facebook daily and find it quite relaxing. It is my aggregate news, comics, and watercooler break. I don't allow drama there. I would like to be better at LinkedIn and Twitter, but haven't made it a priority timewise. Twitter is like reading heiroglyphs. I find all of them useful for connecting with other people, sharing blog posts, learning from other people, finding new authors, and I hope others are finding my books there too.

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  2. Yes, LinkedIn is still a semi-mystery to me. Twitter is easier for me to understand.

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  3. Like Diana, I find Facebook most relaxing and interesting. I was an editorial columnist for too long not to occasionally comment on an issue, but I don't get into arguments. If a good debate starts tuirning snarky, I bail. I like Twitter, too, and visit it every day. I'm just starting to learn how to use Linked In. I have no idea if visiting any of the social sites actually impacts sales significantly, except for when I'm doing a promo.

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    1. Yes, Facebook can be relaxing, if you don't go to volatile pages, but Pinterest is the most relaxing for me.

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  4. Which social media sites do you visit?
    Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and Pinterest. The last two are only rarely used (like once a month or so), and even Google+ I use only once a week or so.

    I use Facebook a ton on a personal level. As a writer, though, I don't use most of them much other than posting. Facebook has pretty much killed off pages unless you are willing to fork over $$$$ and Google+ just isn't well designed for such uses, at least to me.

    Which do you find most stressful?
    Facebook is probably the most stressful though also the most relaxing, which I realize makes no sense. Facebook can bring out the worse in people, especially in comments on pages or news posts, but also the best and I like being able to keep up with the few people I have any connection too.

    Google+ just isn't very useful or active for me, and the interface for reading new content is so convoluted that it's difficult to follow anything.

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    1. I post on Google Plus, but I don't interact much there either. Facebook is easiest for interaction, and finding out what's going on.

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  5. I also prefer Facebook. But I'm not happy about their recent changes to organic reach, meaning that fewer people who've liked your author page see your posts. I've signed and shared a change.org petition. I'm enjoying Goodreads, and I do some Twitter, too, but right now that's about it. www.ruhjkaufman.blogspot.com

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    1. Argh! http://rjkaufman.blogspot.com/
      That's what I get for multitasking!

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    2. Ruth, they're all out trying to get money from us. I stopped using the business pages I have on Facebook, because, first, I have no time for them, second, I like to share fun stuff going on in my life, and third, the business pages don't seem to promote unless you pay money. One of these days, I do want to figure out Goodreads better.

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  6. My Facebook account is deactivated, but I have never found it to be relaxing. Anything but, actually. I do belong to LinkedIn, but rarely go there. Pinterest will be my next time investment. I like what I've heard about its format.

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    1. Some say Pinterest is great or promoting. I do know it's very relaxing. I add stuff to my blog board there at times, also a board for freebies. It's been a while since I've had time to actually check the feed and add pics to my other boards, of which I have many.

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  7. I love Facebook and have made a lot of friends on there. I do like lively discussions and like Maryann, bail when it gets too heated. Some have heated up on posts I've initiated. I tweet but find most of the time I'm preaching to the choir. It is not a favorite of mine, though I know I've bought others' books from interaction with other authors, and they have bought mine. I blog on Goodreads, getting extra mileage out of already-pubbed blog posts, but I don't participate in the groups I belong to. I have an account with Pinterest but never posted anything. Too many social media sites are a time suck I don't need. Maybe when I finish this book, I'll give it another try.

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    1. I don't initiate hot topics on my timeline at Facebook, but at times succumb on other's pages, and usually regret it.

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  8. The social media sites I visit are Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Goodreads. Just getting a good start on the last two so I don't have a big network there. Twitter is definitely my favorite, so I spend a little too much time looking for real connections (as opposed to book ads).

    I never set up an author page on Facebook so there's only one place to find me there. I tend to hide the updates of folks who rant, but have to admit I have a real weakness for funny cat videos.

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    1. I don't own a cat, since the DH is allergic to most of them, and I'm allergic to certain ones. However, I do like the cute cat videos and like to post them on my Facebook page.

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  9. Your socially awkward correspondent has this to say about that: I look at Fazebook once a day for about five minutes ... mostly just to see if there are any music events or a post from a friend that I might be interested in ... oh, and I do post something on my HEADWIND page once a week ... but beyond that zippo.

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    Replies
    1. You sound very disciplined, Christopher! I tell myself I'll only be on Facebook a few minutes, and before I know it over an hour has passed, if I'm lucky!

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