Social Media – Does It Live Up To The Name?

I won! Yes, I did! A few weeks ago I entered a contest on  Anita Stafford’s The Family Dance  – a blog about Memoirs, observations, and a sprinkling of her experience on children and family life stages. I didn’t have any hope of winning – well, maybe a teensy, weensy,  bit of hope – and then I forgot about it. I was surprised to receive an email and see it on my Facebook page and couldn’t believe I had won. The prize was a trio of books – two of which I had never read and one a children’s book I had read to my children and grandchildren often. As you all know I am a reader and am waiting for my prize in the mail so I can add them to my summer reading pile! Anita has two blogs – the other is Aunt Nubby’s Kitchen – a blog about recipes, organizational tips, crafts, and kid-friendly cooking to help make your house a home. She post recipes and pictures that I drool over. It will worth your while to get over there and check these blogs out!

I wonder  sometimes if anyone reads my posts on my blog site or pays attention to what I write on Facebook or even knows I am out there! I get plenty of like, shares, and followers from people I don’t know – thank you, thank you for your interest!  I am pretty sure my kids and family read them, but the comments are slow to come – even when I run a contest.

I’m having a contest right now and to be honest with you, I am not having a lot of luck with it so far. All you have to do is read’ Crossing The Line’ and add a  comment on Where Oh Where Does The Storyline Go From Here? Comments Please!  I’m giving away signed copies of the sequel ‘What Line’  to the best three comments when it is published. There’s only nine days left to post your comment on www.knowleselle.wordpress.com. Get your comment in and see if you can be one of the lucky winners.

Also on my Crossing The Line Facebook page, I am going to give away a signed copy of Crossing The Line when I get 100 likes. Check it out and keep up with ‘Crossing The Line’ and the progress on the sequel ‘What Line!’

I had a friend respond to me on something I posted on my personal facebook page the other day about Andrew’s laundry – so she must read my blog posts! Thanks! And I don’t really mind doing his laundry – especially when he helps me out with projects when he is home! 🙂

I did finally get a twitter account-  @knowleselle –  and every time I get a new follower it is exciting. Most of the people who follow me are not anyone I know personally. I follow a lot of people I don’t know personally, but have interesting things to say on subjects I am interested in.

I do notice that when I publish a new post or post an update on twitter or Facebook, my stats go up and I sell a few more books and obtain a few more likes, shares, and followers, on various social media I am connected to. I’ve even had some new followers on LinkedIn. This is one form of social media I am not too familiar with, but am trying to figure out.

So…this is really about social media. Does it live up to its name –  will it get my name out there –  is the time and effort I put into it worth it – is it the correct path to take – will one day my efforts go viral? I hope so and I think its worth it. I do know my writing improves a little every time I write another post or update another page. I also know that I have acquired many new friends along the way and gotten back in touch with old ones if nothing else. You have to have a lot of patience because the going is slow at first.  Just keep on plugging! Little bit by little bit!

Elle