Do you tweet? Upload YouTube videos?

November 1, 2017

Thank you all for your feedback on the title for my book. I'm still debating, but it looks like From Darkness to Light: Hope and Encouragement for those with Depression is in the lead.

I finished it last night and sent it off to three friends and family members to read. Which is a little iffy because what are they going to say to me if it really stinks? I'm hoping they will not worry about hurting my feelings (too much!) and will give me honest feedback. 

In the meantime, I've been looking into how to publish my book and market it.

Seems like a lot of people advise you to get big into social media, which I'm not. I haven't posted anything on Instagram for months. I never post on Facebook, only go on to like other people's posts. I do love Pinterest.

But tweeting? About what?


And have a YouTube channel? You've got to be kidding.
Then again, everybody tweets. Everybody uploads YouTube videos. Right?

Do you? Would you?

I kind of practiced a little making some videos using my iPhone. Oh my gosh. Now I think I need a facelift. My teeth whitened at the very least.

And I saw some advice that, you know how the camera adds 15 pounds? A video also halves your enthusiasm. You really have to exude sparkle and excitement.

I tried. Hah. I wish I was brave enough to upload my attempts.

But I had some good laughs.

17 comments

  1. Hi Deb. Big congrats.

    I am so proud of you!

    I do not Tweet and upload YouTubes of my cheerleading nieces now and then is it.

    xxoo

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  2. Oh my gosh, I can't stop laughing about your You Tube attempts! I can't even take a selfie - the camera is waaaay too close! haha! Such an achievement to write a book - and so wonderful that it will help people, too. I don't tweet, but I do post on Facebook - my blog is linked to Facebook. Hope you find a good way to promote the book! xx Karen

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  3. Congrats to you dear Deb. How exciting.

    I don't tweet or FB, have put up a you-tube or two of my gardens, but that's it. I do watch some vloggers though on you-tube and I think they must have outgoing personalities to begin with, something I don't have.

    Do keep us posted and Happy Fall ~ FlowerLady

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  4. Hi Deborah, I'm happy for you that you crossed the finish line of drafting - congratulations! I have a sister-in-law who is a local author, and her social media presence is simply a separate FB page - with her name, author as suffix (no comma on the page). It works well for her. She is 77, and has used the page for nearly 6 years and 3 publications. It's a great place to post publication dates, availability, noted reviews, appearances and any recognition that will certainly be yours! Good luck!

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  5. I think the title is a good one and I know most of us will be anxious to read it. I don't do any other social media but many do. I hope you get good advice on getting your book out there. Best of luck! If you need another 'reader' let me know! Hugs, Diane

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  6. One step at a time Deborah. Now you've got the title fixed ... one step further along. I hope your family enjoys the book and maybe it will bring a broader sense to them of what you deal with as well. I'm not great for social media, although I did recently join Instagram, which I enjoy because it's photos :) Twitter ... no, too fast paced for me. FB ... I joined to find people, but I've not posted one thing. If I joined all that was out there, I'd have to be on the computer/phone all day long. I would get nothing done! But perhaps for the sake of selling your book, you could plug that a bit on those sites. I did upload a couple of videos to youtube, but it was of a river and I wasn't in it! Have you thought of podcasts? Lots of options, but you might have to step outside the comfort zone once again. Hugs to you as you challenge yourself.
    Wendy xox

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    1. Exactly. I don't want to be on the computer all the time. Like you say, one step at a time, and hopefully, I'll find the right balance. xo

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  7. Your book title sounds like a good one...concise and to the point. Now abut the You Tube thing...you are a brave soul! I don't even video chat because of this old woman that keeps getting in the picture...ha! Miss Rita has an excellent idea...a separate FB page. Good luck with the book...you will find a way to promote and sell it (and help folks). xoxo

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  8. That title sounds great! No, I don’t do all the social stuff, but I do read a lot of tweets by a certain someone. Interesting about videos diminishing one’s enthusiasm. I can tell you this, I shut down many an enthusiastic crochet tutor for having too much sparkle. 🙂

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  9. Congrats on finishing your book!

    I'm not a big social media user. But a few months ago, I joined the Twitterverse and created a FB page for a work-related project...and I'm still riding that steep learning curve!

    Your YouTube antics cracked me up. I don't know how those YouTube vloggers do it. Some of them make MILLIONS of dollars from their videos.

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  10. The only time I tweet is to link to one of my Blog posts. Otherwise, I hate, hate, hate Twitter. I rarely get any traffic from it. I don't have an Instagram account and I long ago deleted my Facebook account, as I got tired of seeing pictures of people's grandchildren (people I didn't know) and hearing about what they had for lunch.

    I know social media is considered essential, but I think you are doing wonderfully well, Deborah. You clearly have a large circle of friends and followers.

    If you publish it, they will read!

    Cheers, my friend,
    M-T

    Congratulations on finishing your book!!! What an accomplishment!

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  11. Dearest Deborah,
    Well, I had to edit Pieter's book but that of course was totally scientific and a complete different genre. It is not easy.
    Pinterest I use mainly for clearing my favorite files on my iMac and instead uploading them. Great filing system and I've done it in alphabetical order for easy finding things back.
    FB Page i used for my LLC and connected that with my FB but FB is either all about an ongoing sport or about silly things to cook/bake or stir up for getting FAT. Sure not healthy.
    And I hate having to stare at things that everybody does share, share, share. SO STUPID and what a waste of time. Clogging up cyber space with nonsense.
    If I want to do serious research, I find it myself, read and use it but NOT share it. That is up to all others WHAT THEY want to see or read!
    Twitter is my favorite as it is a great brain challenger, it motivates you to say things in a condensed version which is very good. You can add photos if you like to, sure the visual things catch more attention.
    For me it is the best way to keep up in all languages and with the entire world what is going on. Looks often more direct and definitely more reliable than a lot of fake news that is being spewed out for the masses that happily digest it - instant fodder without having to search or do anything!
    Instagram is such a crazy hype and I'm not really on it... long time ago and nothing but flowers and such. I HATE that selfie disease that has infected so many. Just don't care and don't want to share myself like that to the world.
    You made me laugh about having your teeth whitened at the least. Haha, how many false eye lashes do we see on a daily base? Our Church needed a new directory and sure enough such a photo shooting company got its foot inside the door and saw a RIP-OFF opportunity.
    Guess what they charge for each 'touched-up' photo? A mere $ 40 + the photo of course and if you want something framed you can hang yourself in your own palace on the wall for a mere $ 1,000.00.
    It made my heart cringe, thinking about so many Hispanic families with little incomes, not to say that our income is big. But we can at least keep our leg stiff and never give in to their persuasive tactics.
    I really don't care about false lashes, white teeth or less wrinkles. The very fact that you are still alive is reason enough to snap the moment and hold on to it.
    Love this post's subject and hope your book will soon become a reality!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  12. Yea for you in finishing your book, Deborah! I am so proud of your accomplishment!! No, I don't Tweet, but I do upload YouTube videos on crocheting every once in awhile, but that's about it. I don't like selfies, but don't mind when someone takes a picture. Good luck with publishing, and I like your title! xx

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  13. Mariette's response had me nodding my head. We all (myself included) think we have to get on with all the technology. I know that publishers will want to know if you have a platform somewhere (you have this blog, for sure). I don't tweet nor upload videos to Youtube. In fact, I find podcasts a complete waste of time. They are often unfocused blatherings. I much prefer reading words. That said, if someone has uploaded a short (3-5 minute) video about a specific skill I need, I'll look for it.
    Best of luck with publishing. Have you considered having a professional editor go through your book?

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  14. Blogging is about the only think I can manage! I like your book title and I am so proud of you. Blessings for a nice weekend.

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  15. Congratulations on finishing your book! Social media? It seems more important than ever, "they" say, when marketing, but not my cup of tea. The world is changing so rapidly its hard to keep up if we even want to.

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  16. I published my ebook on Smashwords first, and then on Amazon, but that's as far as I got.
    I do facebook the most, but lately I've been backing off. It's not quite as satisfying as it once was. I am on Instagram, but I rarely post. Just don't have time to do two social medias. I don't really "get" twitter at all. My daughter has a Youtube channel, but I don't. I can't imagine doing that much work!

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