Comments on: Proactive Writer: Building an online presence

By: Scott Siglar is a Proactive Writer

Scott Siglar is a Proactive Writer — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:29:26 +0000

[...] They have an active and consistent online presence, [...]

By: You should blog everyday

You should blog everyday — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:22:13 +0000

[...] say this not to be controversial, but as a simple reality. I have talked in the past about the importance of seeing your online platform as a web, with your blog as the central hub and other platforms, such as Twitter, as spokes that lead back [...]

By: Gary Smailes

Gary Smailes — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 08:21:04 +0000

Dave,

The spider/fly image did occur to me and perhaps it is not the greatest of metaphors. I think I need to develop the spoke/hub idea for marketing your brand (you and your book) and the development of network for building your audience. The concept of a platform is too ‘flat’ and and rigid for me. One of the most important aspects of the writer’s marketing is that you are not developing a network of people to which you will sell directly, this means platforms like twitter come in very handy. However, it does mean that a lot of the ideas developed for business (e.g. email marketing) are just too ‘strong’ for a writer.

By: Dave James

Dave James — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:48:36 +0000

Interesting stuff on webbing, networking, hubbing and spoking. How we love metaphors! Last year we were building platforms, but that isn’t so subtle as spinning webs. Extending the image of the spider at the centre of the web, we must also see the reader as the fly, moth or mosquito who gets caught and ultimately consumed. Perhaps that’s what we all seek: being consumed ultimately by another.

By: Gary Smailes

Gary Smailes — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:53:02 +0000

Nicola – wise words…

By: Nicola Morgan

Nicola Morgan — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:38:51 +0000

I also like the term Magnetic Marketing, especially as I come out in a rash every time I think I’m being marketed TO or networked with. I’m an advocate of both networking and marketing (partlye because I enjoy it because it feels like communication and I love what I learn from other people, too) but, as you say, it has to be mutual and giving.

Carole mentions humour – I agree, but lots of people find humour difficult to pull off. I’d say maybe warmth and personality, because even if you can’t make people laugh out loud, making them smile is all that’s necessary.

By: Gary Smailes

Gary Smailes — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:04:47 +0000

Carole – wow great advice. Magnetic marketing is indeed a great term and I think I need to weave it into the thinking. One thing you touch upon is humour. This works very well in blog posts and is a real winner. I would suggest that caution is needed when being ‘funny’ in twitter. It is very easy to have a tweet mis-understood.

By: Gary Smailes

Gary Smailes — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:01:15 +0000

Kristina – The web sums it all up. Though it does suggest you are a hungry writer waiting in the centre to consume your readers! I am glad you find the tweets useful.

By: Gary Smailes

Gary Smailes — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:59:26 +0000

Janet – My advice is to be remarkable on one or two channels. Find the one that works for you and stick with it. It is important to make it work in real life and finding time can be tough. Personally facebook is not part of my network. I don’t really ‘get it’ and therefore feel it better to have no presence than a weak presence. One other bit of advice is to see your network as ‘work’.

By: Carole Blake

Carole Blake — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:52:38 +0000

Very much agree with previous comment. ‘Magnetic marketing’ is an attractive term, accurately picturing what I think is vital: create an alluring presence that people will want to return to, encourage curiosity, perhaps a little envy, and constantly (and consistently!) ‘refresh’ your image so that people will return for updates. Add humour where possible too. And try to make sales messages informative + interesting, rather than simply ‘buy this’. Added value for the recipient makes your message an attractive proposition.