In 2017 my first novel released – a novel of the hard life of Mercy Roller living in the backcountry of the Appalachian Mountains during the 1800s. The question was how to pull this book into social media without 1) waving a flag saying, “buy my book” or 2) without seeming self-promoting.
love the culture of the mountains and as time passes, I see the knowledge of those ways slipping past. Mountain folks are friendly, and they are very innovative – which is why their culture is so valuable. When I teach at conferences folks tease me about my mountain heritage, in particular, my accent. But I think they also see a genuineness in me that is purely a mountain girl. I couldn’t imagine how I could spread the word about an Appalachian historical novel, when so few knew anything about the culture. Then it came to me. Mountain Trivia.
The first post on Facebook was simple: In the mountains, people gathered to make apple butter. What type of pot did they cook the apples in? 1) cast iron 2) copper 3) brass. That first post drew in a whopping 10 responses, but I tried again in a couple of days with a second question. Again, only about 10 responses. Was it worth it? However, I stuck with two posts a week for three weeks. None of them ranking more than 15 responses. I decided to stop. This wasn’t working on social media but to my surprise, when I stopped posting them I began to receive a flood of instant messages. “Where’s the trivia?”
I was a bit bumfuzzled (yes, an Appalachian term meaning perplexed). Folks weren’t responding on the posts, but they were reading them and finding them both humorous and insightful. They were learning the Appalachian mountain heritage in a fun way. Those posts get 100-150 responses, but if I miss sending them, I get dinged by the readers. It goes to show, likes and responses really don’t rate a lot because they aren’t true barometers of who is actually reading the posts.
The question becomes, can I see any result in book sales. I would say yes. Both Appalachian historical novels are well into the thousands of sales. I don’t spend hours digging into the sales figures, but I can see success by the royalty checks and that tells me all I need to know about sales. All this to say, I found a unique way to draw readers into the Appalachian realm without screaming buy my books or posting a photo of me and my book every other day. For every 10 trivia posts I do, I mention my book in passing, maybe once. I spend a good part of my time on social media, engaging in social not pressing sales. Rather, I shared others’ works and bragged on them. Of course, I post my own book occasionally, but the focus of social media was to be social – to look at others and develop relationships.
Here’s the clincher. I recently REPOSTED a photo of a block of iron with a neat quote about finding your self-worth. The post went onto my author page (which is only a couple of months old. I had no need for one until recently, when I finally hit the FB limit for friends on a personal page.) I posted that little meme on December 29. Three days later, it had reached 1000 and my followers went from 200 to 700. (Remember, this is a new Facebook author page.) One week later, the reaches on that post were 2287 and my followers had grown to 900. Less than a month from the day I posted that inspiring meme, it had reached 2,329,710 and my followers are now 1500+. (I DID NOT pay Facebook to boost the post). Who woulda thunk it?
I can’t say I understand the ins and outs of social media. The good Lord knows my patience level with learning it, is less than adequate, but I can say this about the growth of my pages. It took consistency and a genuine desire to see it grow. I share my joys, my prayer needs, trivia, and the love and joy I find in life. People appreciate it.
Here are some things from an author who just wanted things to work, that can help you grow your social media.
Social media is a hard road, but it can be rewarding when you do it in the right way. Make the effort. You may actually change a life. Wouldn’t that be nifty?
Present Yourself Approved and Professional
1/28/2021 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Integrity - An Authors Valued Trait
1/8/2021 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Homonyms – Did You Sea/See Them Their/There?
1/8/2021 6:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Writer Self-Care - Welcome 2021
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Hope in a New Year
1/1/2021 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Silent Night
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One More Christmas Thought - Taken from ChristianDevotions.US blog
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A Christmas Saga - Joy in the Season
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When Writing Grows Hard
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Permission to Quit - No Way
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The Power of the Pen
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The Good, The Bad, and the Memoir
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The Immeasurable Power in You
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Scratch It Till It Bleeds
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Humility in Writing
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Let it Percolate
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Divorce My Words?
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Icy Self-Talk Will Freeze Your Writing
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The Power in You
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Waiting
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Social Media When You Aren't Social Media Minded
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The Heart of God
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Writing in a Pickle
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Social Media Blitz
1/19/2020 11:20:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
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12/30/2019 7:53:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Reality of Who We Are?
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Publishing Trends
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Be Thankful ANYWAY
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Writing Your Mission Statement
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Perseverance to Write
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Common Sense Tips for When You Write
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The Battle is Fought
10/15/2019 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy
Twelve Tidbits of Wisdom from Top Christian Writers
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Pray with Fire
10/3/2019 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
The Easy In
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The Art of Self-Editing
9/10/2019 10:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Questions, Questions
9/6/2019 10:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
15-Minute Appointments - Important Networking
9/3/2019 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Don't Close Your Eyes - Bob Hostetler
2/5/2019 by: Cindy Sproles
Love Your Faculty
10/17/2018 3:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Forging Ahead after Rejection
7/17/2018 8:12:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
cindysproles.com Privacy Policy
6/4/2018 8:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Closing Up Shop - Guiding Seniors to Letting Go
4/9/2018 10:56:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Publishing Naysayers
3/16/2018 1:30:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
In Prayer - I Write
3/3/2018 9:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Keep Them Reading
1/12/2018 11:23:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Encouraged - Even When . . .
1/2/2018 12:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Christmas Tears
12/18/2017 12:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Holiday Elder Care - Be an Elder Elf
11/12/2017 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
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11/9/2017 6:30:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Keep Them Reading
11/1/2017 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Chicken Soup for the Soul - Writer Call Out
10/27/2017 10:05:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Five Ways to Assure Your Work will Find the Slush Pile
10/24/2017 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
23rd Psalm Revisited
10/21/2017 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Contentment in Writing
10/19/2017 9:30:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
5 Common Sense Tips to Better Writing
10/10/2017 7:00:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Overshadowed
8/21/2017 10:05:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Chicken Soup for the Soul Callout - Stories about Love
8/21/2017 7:54:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Five Keys to Overcoming Rejection
8/12/2017 7:00:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Writing Call Out - Chicken Soup for the Soul
8/10/2017 8:47:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
When Words of Encouragement Wane
6/28/2017 10:54:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Writing Truth with Love
1/13/2017 11:05:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Oh To Be A Writer
1/4/2017 11:12:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Why Write?
1/1/2017 11:16:00 AM by: Cindy Sproles
Scammed
6/21/2016 3:48:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Pain of Unsolicited
3/9/2016 3:51:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Not Alone: A Literary and Spiritual Companion for Those Confronted with Infertility and Miscarriage
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Thankful Despite . . .
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Stepping Up to Na-No-Wri-Mo
11/16/2015 3:08:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Gift of No Gifts
11/2/2015 3:11:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Writers Be Encouraged
10/15/2015 3:17:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Keep ‘Em Reading – It’s the Writer’s Responsibility
8/13/2015 3:26:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Saying Goodbye
7/17/2015 3:31:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Overcoming the Fear of Writing Failure
7/8/2015 3:38:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Making the Move – Home to Assisted Living
6/17/2015 3:41:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
I Kid You Not
6/6/2015 3:44:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Hearing the Call to Foster – Renee McCausey
1/13/2015 3:54:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Throw Out the Crutches
1/10/2015 5:02:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
So You Were Asked to Be A Beta Reader?
1/10/2015 3:59:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
REJECTIONS – Aaughhh!
1/5/2015 5:04:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Bachelor – Stephanie Reed
12/14/2014 5:06:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Making of a Servant
11/30/2014 5:10:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Miracle in a Dry Season Review – Yvonne Lehman
8/27/2014 5:12:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Write Anyway
8/26/2014 5:17:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
World Blog Tour – Catching Up with Cindy Sproles
7/22/2014 5:19:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Progression of Life
7/17/2014 5:23:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Instrumental Writing Helps – Aaron Gansky
7/4/2014 5:27:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The Question Saga
6/29/2014 5:28:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Defy the Night – REVIEW
4/28/2014 5:30:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
When the Work is Hard to Do
4/1/2014 5:31:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
My Heart Belongs to Him
2/14/2014 5:32:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Review of The Vicar’s Wife
2/2/2014 5:44:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The In on Self Publishing – Part 2
12/29/2013 3:44:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
The In on Self Publishing – Part 1
12/26/2013 3:47:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
In a Pickle
10/1/2013 3:52:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Bigger and Better
9/27/2013 3:54:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Putting SOCIAL back in Media
8/10/2013 8:08:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
After the Conference Ends…
8/8/2013 8:13:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Here a Tweak, There a Tweak, Everywhere a Tweak, Tweak
8/2/2013 8:15:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Can You Hear Me Now?
7/23/2013 8:18:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Golden Years, Cherished Moments
3/20/2013 7:47:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Broken Heart Syndrome
9/26/2012 7:56:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
What About Our Elders
8/24/2012 7:57:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
A Minute – A Lifetime
8/10/2012 7:58:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
Water, Water – Who’s Got the Water
7/31/2012 7:59:00 PM by: Cindy Sproles
