Writers Tricks of the Trade Volume 6, Issue 5

INDUSTRY NEWS INTERESTING ARTICLE ABOUT FACEBOOK While constantly scanning industry news for new developments and trends, I came across this September 6 article on www.pubexec.com entitled, Publishers Are Looking at Facebook the Wrong Way: It's Not a Publishing Platform, by Eric Shanfelt. The title caught my eye and made me want to read further. So many people have so much to say about Facebook and how it has changed over the years, I was curious to know what the insider had to say. And it was well worth reading. To read the full article click this link. Here are some of the important ideas it contained in case you decide not to click.    We’ve heard how Facebook is changing its algorithms and how the organic reach of Facebook posts is rapidly declining. Organic reach is now estimated to be less than 6% Ogilvy has even predicted that organic reach on Facebook will soon be zero. (Click the link to read the Ogilvy article.)  Maybe Facebook is really smart: hook us on acquiring followers and then make us pay to talk to them.  Our mistake has been to look at Facebook — and all social media for that matter — as another publishing channel. Facebook is NOT a publishing channel … it’s an audience development tool. Even with reduced organic reach, your Facebook page can still help build your own audience database. Facebook ads can help you cost-effectively build your email database.   As writers so many of us use social media to get the word out about our books, short stories, articles, etc. Facebook is one of of our major resources, but how are gradual changes affecting it, and in turn affecting our efforts? Shanfelt sheds light on a lot of misconceptions about Facebook and its strengths and weaknesses. Not wanting to be guilty of plagarism, I suggest that you click the link and read the full article. It is well written and quite enlightening. WRITERS’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE PAGE 9 SEPTEMBER-OCTOB

Writers Tricks of the Trade Volume 6, Issue 5 | Page 17