Remember when companies first started including their website address in their TV, radio, and print ads? Similarly, networking was handled on a separate plane – one where you talked with people by phone or in person. Email and chatrooms were ‘hobby” activities, not business operations.
Now, in order to network you have to be networked … and that includes social media. There are myriad broad-based tools – like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, et al. – that you can use as part of your marketing platform. New social networks are popping up every day, many of which tap into the online experiences that are now part of our everyday activities. If you aren’t familiar with Ning, I’d suggest spending some time exploring the network groups there and finding one that might interest you.
In the book world, Goodreads, LibraryThing, and Shelfari combine personal library cataloging and social networking. Each of these tools lets you create a library with books you like, read, plan to read, or have read. GoodReads has an authors program, too. [I have a LibraryThing account but have not used it in a long time.]
In addition to creating virtual bookshelves, each of these services have lots of groups that talk books and book ideas. I participate in a number of groups where people post requests for a specific type of book. You could be an author who responds! Goodreads, LibraryThing, and Shelfari let you connect with friends like you do on Facebook and Twitter (and see what they’re reading); and of course, you can write reviews or read reviews of your book. Definitely check them out.
One of the things I love about Shelfari is the AWARDS category on the detail page for a book. In GoodReads, only the big awards are included automatically. In Shelfari, you can add it. Here’s how.
First, I searched for I Love You more Than Rainbows
If you are not familiar with a book, you can hover your mouse over the cover to get a description.
You can type in the information and … Voila! Your Mom’s Choice Award is now part of the Shelfari description on the page.
The more MCA honorees who add details to their record and Mom’s Choice Award to their book, the more recognition for you, too.