Help for authors timid about technology
You’re an author. Your time is sacred. Finding time to write is hard enough even before your agent told you to get something called a “platform.” What you want is maximum platform bang per minute. Here are 4 reasons why MySpace is not for you.
Reason 1 – Hard to Give Value
If I were to summarize networking in one phrase it would be “collecting favors by doing favors for others first.” So, how exactly are you supposed to provide value to other people on MySpace? Facebook makes it easy to connect with old friends. Twitter makes it easy to spread the word about your work. LinkedIn has a dozen ways to help build your professional network.
Reason 2 – Mostly for Kids & Bands
Now if you are a band, you can provide value by putting up full length songs to which people can listen. MySpace started off as a band and groupie hangout and it still does that well. Bands can provide value by letting fans listen to their music for free.
Reason 3 – MySpace is Messy & Unprofessional
One of the biggest reasons people say they avoid MySpace is because it’s ugly. Giving 14 year old girls the ability to decorate their own page is not a recipe for professionalism. Especially when their photos show up on your page.
Reason 4 -The People Are Somewhere Else
MySpace has a lot of users but most of them are empty accounts as people have left for greener pastures at Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Not Worthless But Not Worth It
This is not to say that you can’t get value from MySpace. But for the same amount of time invested, you can get more from other social networks.
What do you think? Have you been able to use MySpace to promote your book? Leave a comment below.
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i could not imagine using myspace. there were two teenagers from Buda that got involved with each other thru myspace. the boy ended up in jail and the girl ended up in therapy.
it has a negative connation
Never before in the history of mankind has it been easier to reach out to people all over the world. Online communitieslike MySpace, make meeting new friends with similar interests incredibly easy. MySpace is a great place to share tips, ideas and stories about the things you find most interesting. If you have a question about your hobby, you can easily find the answer through your network of members with similar interests.
James
I have had access to the internet for only a couple months now but winter before last, I was at my son’s place and his wife talked me into creating a MySpace page. What can I say? I was not and am not all that impressed with it but where it applies to this article, my friends list isn’t all that big and none of them are kids. I’ve put a link to my book there and I’ve asked a few of my friends to do the same. So far, I believe I’ve sold one book in this way. (This was all done in the last couple months.) Since I’ve had a dish, I’ve created a Facebook account and a Twitter account where I’m trying to do the same thing. So far, that I know of, I may have sold one book off of Twitter and one book from Facebook. I suppose it’s a little early to tell but all in all, I really can’t tell much difference.
Anna