Cruel Fact About Facebook

The Publicity Hound’s
Tips of the Week
Issue #693 Feb. 23, 2013
Publisher: Joan Stewart

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“Tips, Tricks and Tools for Free Publicity”

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In This Issue
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1. Cruel Fact About Facebook

2. Testimonials on Autopilot

3. Quantum Leap for Authors, Experts

4. Hound Photo of the Week

This Weekend in the Hound House: Recommendations wanted for a
good mystery novel. What’s the best one you’ve read lately? Must be
good bedtime reading.

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1. Cruel Fact About Facebook
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Facebook makes me crazy.

It’s one of those sites that gives you, I’m guessing, more than
50 ways to connect with your friends and fans.

Because it’s one of five social media sites where I’m fairly
active, there are days when I simply can’t remember where to
click when I want to do something very basic like change one of my
settings. I sit there and stare at the screen and think, “Why
can’t I figure this out?”

I’m not alone.

Several weeks ago, I tag-teamed with my assistant, Christine
Buffaloe, to teach about 150 romance authors how to use social
media to sell more books. She taught Facebook. I taught Twitter.

Many of our tips were way above the heads of dozens of authors on
the call. We knew that as soon as the questions started flowing
in:

“What’s the difference between a Facebook friend and a fan?”

“Where do I click to create a Twitter profile?”

“Can I use my book cover as my avatar on my Facebook profile?”

That’s when this cruel fact hit home: Many people are doing some
of the most basic tasks on sites like Facebook and Twitter all
wrong.

They’re confused about how to create an account. They’re baffled
by the many privacy options in the settings. Authors still don’t
know if they can use a pen name.

If you’re confused, too, don’t be embarrassed. Don’t apologize.
And don’t give up!

Help is on the way.

Starting next week, Christine is hosting a series of webinars for
social media newbies. It’s call “Social Media KISS for Authors:
Keep it Simple & Serene.” It will feature a short presentation on just
the basics, with plenty of time for Q&A.

Pick and choose from any of the 10 webinars on Facebook, Twitter,
Pinterest, LinkedIn, Amazon.com and Blogging. Or grab the entire
series at a deep discount. Christine kicks it off next Thursday,
Feb. 28, with the first of three webinars she’s presenting on
Facebook.

Read about the training and how you can participate, even if
you’re not an author:

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2. Testimonials on Autopilot
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If you missed Thursday’s webinar on how to generate testimonials
on autopilot, create helpful case studies you can offer journalists
during media interviews, and gather statistical data to back up
claims about your products and services, there’s still time to
listen to the replay.

It’s and it will be there until 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, Feb. 25.

Lots of tips from Jeanne Hurlbert on how to use three important
pillars–marketing, sales and products–to grow your business
this year and get more publicity in the process.

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3. Quantum Leap for Authors, Experts
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Most authors and experts never begin to tap their financial
potential, which is too bad because there are often some
relatively easy ways they can make a whole lot more money.

Smart authors don’t only write books. Successful consultants
don’t only consult. The most in-demand speakers don’t only speak.

You’re invited to a free telephone seminar on “How To Thrive As
An Author/Expert In Any Economy” with Steve Harrison on Thursday,
Feb. 28, at 2 or 7 p.m. Eastern.

Discover proven tips for creating spin-off income streams based
on your book or expertise. Learn how one non-fiction author created
over $720,000 a year in non-royalty income, and seven other
surprisingly easy strategies for quickly making a quantum leap in
your income as an author/expert.

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4. Hound Photo of the Week
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Feel good photo of the week on Facebook: A dolphin saves a dog
from drowning on Marco Island, Fla.