The Most Important Thing to Know
About Social Media and You
By: Alice Orr
The most important thing about social
media and you is this—your Presence
there. Your Presence is how you pre-
sent yourself. The nature of that Pres-
ence should be a conscious, even cal-
culated choice.
Ask yourself this crucial question.
How is it in my best interests to be
seen? That means you must first ask
yourself another question. Why am I
on social media? What do I NEED to
get out of being there? That was two
questions. I know. So sue me.
Case in point. My last snarky comment, “So sue me,” might be
out of sync with the way I want and need to be seen. It might not
be the Presence I intend to present. I’m on the internet mostly as a
book author. I want to attract people to me. In turn, I hope they
will be attracted to my books.
I want and need to be likable, approachable and pleasant,
somebody you would enjoy a chat with. Snark may not accomplish
those ends. Snark could turn some people off, and I must think
about that. The point is I must be what we now call “intentional”
about such choices.
You should be intentional too. You might ask “Why bother?”
And I would answer “Because of visibility.”
Social media is not a peephole only accessible to your chosen
friends and followers. Social media is an unbelievably wide picture
window. All it takes is Google and your name for anybody and eve-
rybody to look through that window at you.
They may be casual browsers or prospective employers or po-
tential consumers of your work. What they see through the world
wide web window is the Presence you present. So, you must think
very seriously about what you want and need that Presence to be.
If you want and need to be seen as a political firebrand or any
brand of firebrand, rant away. If you want and need to be seen as a
sex pot, vamp away. I’ve got no dog in your fight. I’m just advising
you to make a savvy and considered choice regarding what breed
your Presence pup will be.
Social media, as I see it, isn’t a come-as-you-are party. It’s a
come-as-best-suits-your-agenda party. Is that manipulative? You
can bet your pugilistic pooch it is. Oops! Was that me being snarky
again? Maybe that’s an aspect of the Presence I intend to present.
What Presence do you intend to present? Make a considered
choice. Go for it. Most importantly, make sure your choice works
for you and your career success, on social media and everywhere
else you may go.
Biography & Contact Info:
ALICE ORR is the author of sixteen novels,
three novellas, a memoir, and No More Rejections:
50 Secrets to Writing a Manuscript that Sells.
A former book editor and literary agent,
Alice now lives her dream as a full-time writer.
She has two grown children and two perfect
grandchildren and resides with her husband,
Jonathan, in New York City and New Jersey.
Alice’s latest novel is A Time of Fear & Lov-
ing—Riverton Road Romantic Suspense Book 5.
The Riverton Road series is set in Riverton,
New York and features the Kalli and Miller fami-
lies, as well as th e Women of West Main who
will debut in Book 6. You can find out more at
http://www.aliceorrbooks.com
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