Too Much Social Media: Is It Possible?
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Posted by Michelle Schusterman Oct 17, 2009 |
The growing number of social networking sites on the internet (and the even more rapidly growing number of folks joining them) makes it so easy for freelance writers to promote their work online. However, I'm starting to wonder if this is turning into one of those "too much of a good thing" things.
This week I joined LinkedIn, set up a profile, and immediately connected with dozens of others in the writing/editing industry. I'm connected with many of these same people on Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter. We share articles with one another on StumbleUpon, Digg, and Reddit. I'm a member of several forums, where I chat with even more writers. I blog here, there, and everywhere, and I follow dozens of blogs, and I comment on them and participate in discussions. And I'm starting to wonder...how much time is this taking away from my actual writing?
Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for all of these sites and how easy they make it for writers, particularly new writers, to share their work online. But they're so addictive, and most require a little bit of love and attention on a regular basis in order to be as useful as possible.
I think it's best for writers to choose two or three of these outlets, at least to start with, and devote more time to them, rather then spreading themselves thin over half a dozen or more. It's tough to choose, and I don't think any of these are better or worse than any others. It's simply a matter of the individual writer's situation and goals.
Over the last few weeks, I've been working on several articles on social networking sites and how they benefit writers. If you're confused about the benefits or the pitfalls of any of these sites, or if you just don't know how the darn things work, take a look at these links and see which sites speak to you the most.
Blogging (Freelance Writers)
Blogging (Novelists)
If you have any questions about these or any of the dozens of social networking sites available, email or leave a message in the comments section!