Social Media

Technology Workshop for SCBWI New Orleans – Saturday, September 17, 2011

by dlcasas on September 18, 2011

9-17-11 Carrell Gueringer, Dianne de Las Casas, and Karen Konnerth after the SCBWI technology workhop and meeting

Friends:

On Saturday, I gave a 1.5 hour workshop called “Taming Technology: Using the Internet for Book Biz Success.” It was for my local SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) meeting. Here is the workshop handout although my presentation was really more of an overview because of the limited time span.

A couple of extras I talked about too:

Website Grader – Grade your website and see how it ranks from 0-100 and learn how to improve it.

KidlitBookTrailers.com – A social networking site for kidlit book trailers. View kidlit videos and post your own.

Taming Technology: Using the Internet for Book Biz Success
Workshop Handout

Contact Information
Name: Dianne de Las Casas
Address: P.O. Box 2656, Harvey, LA 70059
Daytime Phone: 888-721-5915
Email: dianne@storyconnection.net
Website: www.storyconnection.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/diannedelascasas
Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/fanofdianne
Twitter: www.twitter.com/storyconnection (@storyconnection)

Synopsis:
Google Calendar, Plaxo, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, Ping, Toodle-Do, Twitter, Blogs, Podcasting, Smart Phones, Ning, Wikipedia, YouTube… It’s a jungle out there! Technology can be so overwhelming but have no fear; your tour guide is here! Go on a safari with tech-savvy author & storyteller Dianne de Las Casas. Tame technology and harness its power to streamline your book biz. You’ll find out how technology’s tools can catapult your career. You’ll be swinging in no time!

Objectives
• Understand the various free tools available on the Internet
• See how you can integrate technology to streamline business practices
• Create a “Taming Technology” strategic plan to enable them to use 2-3 of the web tools immediately

Writers will learn to tame technology by using it to:
1. Streamline Business Practices;
2. Market through Social Media; and
3. Market through other online methods.

Streamline Business Practices
Writers can manage the day-to-day administrative duties of a small business using the following (mostly) free tools:
• Google Calendar – Scheduling management
• Plaxo – Address book management
• Toodle-Do – To-do list management with multiple user capabilities
• EPK – Electronic Press Kit
• Booking Request Form – Booking online
• Gmail – Web-based email with the best search feature provided by Google
• Smart Phones – A phone with the ability to call, text, surf the Internet, and send/receive email

Market through Social Media
Artists can increase their visibility with social media marketing through the following sites:
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Google+
• Klout
• Ping.fm
• Ning
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

Market through Other Online Methods
Gain a following using other online marketing methods:
• Email Newsletter
• Podcasting
• Blogging or Vlogging
• Wikipedia
• Skype or Oovoo

Internet Terminology
• App – Means “application,” a platform/software built for use with a mobile device such as a smart phone or tablet computer
• Booking Request Form – Booking online
• Blog – Online journal of thoughts and/or information
• Blogging – Online journaling
• Blog Tour – A virtual book tour where authors promote their books on various book blogging sites
• Cloud Computing – Storing files online instead of a traditional computer hard drive so you have instant access to them anywhere
• E-Book – Electronic book made to be read digitally on the computer, a smart phone, a tablet device, or a dedicated electronic book reader such as the Kindle or Nook
• EPK – Electronic Press Kit
• Email Newsletter – Newsletter shared electronically
• Facebook – Popular social networking site
• Gmail – Web-based email with the best search ability feature
• Google Calendar – Scheduling management using Google’s free online software
• Google+ – New social networking site by Google
• Klout – A measure of influence on the web – Klout.com
• LinkedIn ¬– Social Networking Site for professionals
• Mashable – Social media information site
• Micro-blogging – Online journaling in a very small way, using very few characters to get your point across
• Oovoo – Online video chat using web cams
• Ning.com – Customizable Social networking site
• Ping.fm – A service that allows users to update all their social networks at once
• Plaxo – Address book management
• Podcasting – Stands for Portable On Demand broadCAST – through the Internet via voice or video
• Skype – Online video chat using web cams
• Social media – An online forum that allows you to interact with other users worldwide (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, Plaxo, etc.)
• Social networking – A form of connecting through various social media such as Facebook or Twitter
• Synch – Synchronizing or sharing information from one electronic device or web source to another
• Toodle-Do – To-do list management with multiple user capabilities
• Tweet or tweeting – Blog posts in 140 characters or less
• Twitter – The premier micro-blogging social networking tool on the web
• Vlog – Video log or a video recording used as a blog post
• Wikipedia – User-created online encyclopedia to which anyone can edit and contribute information
• YouTube – Social networking site through sharing of videos

Creating a Strategic Plan for Integrating Technology into your Biz
Number the list in order of importance. What part of your business do you wish to work on? The corresponding FREE Internet tool is listed next to it.

____ Create a manageable calendar. (Google Calendar)

____ Build my professional network. (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Klout, Ping.fm, Hootsuite, Plaxo, LinkedIn, YouTube, Ning sites)

____ Build a manageable to do or project list. (ToodleDo)

____ Manage my contacts (Google Contacts, Plaxo)

____ Build a fan base through blogging. (WordPress, Blogger, LiveJournal)

____ Start an email newsletter. (Yahoo Groups, Dada Mail)

____ Build an electronic press kit. (Sonic Bids for performing artists)

____ Start a podcast. (Blog Talk Radio, Talk Shoe Radio)

Dianne’s Favorite Biz Productivity iPhone/iPod Touch Apps:
• Amazon Kindle, iBooks and B&N Nook – Read books/periodicals on your iPhone or iTouch
• Bump – Bump iPhones to exchange contact info, pics & files instantly
• Calengoo – Calendar that integrates with online Google Calendar
• Dropbox.com – Not just for iPhone, it allows you to drop files into a “box” that you can access from any device – desktop, laptop, phone, iPad, etc.
• Facebook – Integrates with online Facebook
• Hootesuite – Helps manage your Twitter account
• MileBug – Tracks business mileage
• MyHub – Puts all contacts from Plaxo, Facebook and Twitter in one place
• Toodledo – To do list that integrates with online
• WorldCard – Scan business cards directly into your address book
• Wunderlist – A to do and list management app

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Article: 10 Reasons to Get Social on the Web for Your Biz – Tuesday, August 25, 2009

by dlcasas on August 25, 2009

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10 Reasons to Get “Social” on the Web for Your Biz
By Dianne de Las Casas

What if you were invited to the largest party in the world for your industry? Entrance to this party is free and all the key players in your field are attending. You would have the opportunity to meet, greet and make valuable connections. Would you go? Chances are; you would.

Here’s the good news. You can do this every day on the World Wide Web through social networking. You’ve probably heard all the rage about Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and other social media sites. If you are looking to boost your biz, here are 10 reasons why you should start getting “social.”

1. Brand Yourself – Branding is very important for anyone in business. When you are “branded,” this means that you have created a particular image that people come to know and trust. Through social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook, you can get your brand in the spotlight.

2. Develop a Following – When people like you, you develop a following. On Facebook and MySpace, people “friend” you. On Twitter, people “follow” you. On LinkedIn, you connect by giving and receiving recommendations. You can even create an interactive page on Facebook, where people become “fans.” NBA basketball player Shaquille O’Neal uses the power of Twitter to meet up with fans from around the country, continually building his “brand” and his following.

3. Network – When you become an active participant in these online social forums, you are creating valuable connections. You never know when the next connection will lead to an opportunity to help your business grow. Through these connections, you build relationships. People do business with people they know.

4. Find Out Who the Key Players Are – Every industry has its “superstars.” Find out who the key players in your industry are. Through normal channels, you may not have the opportunity to actually talk to the big gurus in your field (you just hear them at conferences or see them in the media). But through social media, many times, you can actually personally connect and converse with them.

5. Conduct Business – Yes, it’s possible to actually conduct business through social media channels. I have scheduled media interviews, booked author visits, and even scheduled a book launch party all through the power of social networking.

6. Spotlight Your Message/Cause – Do you care about the environment? Are you interested in national health policy issues? Do you want people to notice the growing poverty in America? Through social networking, you can help make a difference by connecting with like-minded individuals who support the causes you do.

7. Engage in Professional Growth – There are so many experts delivering their messages on social media channels. Through the articles and resources they post, tweet and recommend, you can engage in meaningful professional growth.

8. Keep Up with Trends – The latest trends, topics and current events are being discussed through social media channels. Often, breaking news is leaked through Twitter before mainstream media reports it. Be in the “know” now!

9. Become an Expert – If you have expertise in a certain field, perhaps only a handful of people in your industry know it. Through social media, you can actively participate in conversations, dispense your knowledge, and quickly become labeled as an “expert,” giving you a much wider audience. This, of course, can lead to new opportunities.

10. It’s Fun! – If you are a “people” person, becoming “social” on the web is just another way to connect with people. You can make new friends and even gain an extra laugh or two every day. So what are you waiting for? Join us. Mingle. We’re waiting for YOU!

A Few Social Media Sites
* Facebook – http://www.facebook.com
* Hubpages – http://www.hubpages.com
* LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com
* MySpace – http://www.myspace.com
* Ning – http://www.ning.com
* Plaxo – http://www.plaxo.com
* Tagged – http://www.tagged.com
* Twitter – http://www.twitter.com

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Dianne de Las Casas
Friend me! Facebook –
http://www.facebook.com/diannedelascasas
Fan me! Facebook Fan Page –
http://www.facebook.com/fanofdianne
Follow me! Twitter –
http://www.twitter.com/storyconnection

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