The Hartsock Agency

Wonderful post by Cameron Chapman at Mashable that lists 100 authors that are using Twitter. And I love what she wrote in regard to how she picked the folks to list, “One very apparent trend is that some authors only plug their books or related products in their tweets and never provide any other information. These authors were culled from the list in favor of those writers who are trying to carry on a conversation with their followers and present information they might find valuable, whether it directly benefits them or not. After all, why would I want to follow someone who only tries to sell me something?”

EXACTLY! If you’re being told by social media “experts” on webinars, in their e-newsletters or even in their tweets that Twitter is a viral marketing tool, that you can sell thousands of books by overtweeting and overfollowing folks etc., then please re-read Cameron’s quote above. And also read the tweets those authors on her list are putting out.

I challenge you today to disconnect for one month from all webinars focused at social media and how they are going to teach you how to do it, espescially if you have to pay for the webinar or online EVENT.

Think of social media like you would riding a bicycle. You’re the rider and the shiny red bicycle will take you anywhere you want, but it has to be YOU (the real you – not a ghost you, not a marketing assistant you, the REAL you) riding the bike!!! Now get pedaling!

Start slow – pick out one social media site or tool to tackle and you’ll be surprised how quickly you drop your training wheels and are speeding down the road!