• About Megan Cashman
  • Author Interview Guidelines
  • The Dark Proposal
  • Video Services for Authors

Megan Cashman

~ Author

Megan Cashman

Tag Archives: spam

Hey You! Get Off My Platform!

15 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by Megan in Being an Author, Self-Publishing

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

authors, book promotion, Facebook, Facebook spam, promotions, self-published, self-published authors, self-publishing, spam, writers

The other day, I noticed an alert on my Facebook author page app, which indicated someone had either liked my page or left a post on my wall. Excited, I checked it out, hoping I had a new fan.

My hopes were dashed when I saw a post that kind of went like this:

“Hi Megan! I’m [so-so]! I’ve just published my book! Here’s the link to it on Amazon, please tell everyone you know about it! Thanks!”

I blinked, took a deep breath and deleted the post from my wall altogether. Gran Torino meme

I do not know who that person was. I never heard of that author, and that author had never before contacted me. S/he had not liked my Facebook page at all, never followed me on Twitter or Google+, or anything. I had never interacted with that person before, and yet here s/he was crashing on my Facebook page – which is part of my platform used to promote my books.

This wasn’t the first time this happened, and sadly it won’t be. There are some authors out there who simply don’t seem to understand how to properly promote their books. They may have heard social media is the way to spread the word, and that authors are supposed to help other authors. But the way they go about it is kind of rude and unprofessional.

If that person wanted me to help them get exposure, I would have been happy to do so. All they had to do was check out this blog and see that I offer author interviews. If they were polite when they contacted me, and not pushy and arrogant like a few have, I would have gladly featured them on my site. Crashing in on my Facebook page as they did was not appropriate. In fact, it was more like spam than promotion.

The same has happened here on this website. I’ve gotten comments left by authors responding to one of my posts. Only they are not really commenting on my posts. They’re leaving comments like this: “Buy my book! Here’s my Twitter handle! Like me on Facebook!” Again, authors resorting to spam promotion. Even worse, they are spamming on another author’s space.

Some self-published authors seem to really misunderstand how to promote their work. It could be ignorance or desperation. But either way, I can’t fathom why anyone would think hijacking another person’s platform is a good way to increase book sales.  It doesn’t at all, and they only make themselves look bad.  All they have to do is ask to do a guest blog post, offer their book for a review, and all the other networking strategies. Basically, asking for permission works, not stealing!

Learning to promote your book is simple. There are many websites and blogs that give great suggestions. Even I’ve given tips. If you’re going to self-publish your book, educate yourself. Don’t make a fool out of yourself or become disrespectful. Self-publishing isn’t easy and they are many who fail terribly because they made poor decisions. Don’t make yourself a statistic.

June 2022
S M T W T F S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
« Apr    

Archives

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

The Dark Proposal by Megan Cashman

Now on Kindle!

Also on Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/276775

My Facebook Page

My Facebook Page

Twitter Updates

Error: Please make sure the Twitter account is public.

Categories

  • Author Interviews
  • Being an Author
  • Between Light and Dark
  • Blog Awards
  • Book Trailers/Videos
  • Books
  • Characters
  • Entertainment
  • Miscellaneous
  • My Books
  • On Writing
  • Random Thoughts & Opinions
  • Reading
  • Reviews
  • Self-Publishing
  • Staten Island
  • Storytelling Musings
  • The Cats
  • The Dark Proposal
  • The Future
  • Vampires
  • Word Grammar Punctuation

Recent Posts

  • Vampires Today: Smartphones
  • Who is Your Audience?
  • Are Vampires Passe?
  • Why Do I Write?
  • “The Dark Proposal” – on tour at Bewitching Book Tours

Top Posts & Pages

  • Disclaimer: This is a Work of Fiction...
  • Wednesday Interview: Alayna-Renee Vilmont
©Megan Cashman and Megan Cashman Books 2012 - 2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Megan Cashman and Megan Cashman Books with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Blogroll

  • Discuss
  • Get Inspired
  • Get Polling
  • Get Support
  • Learn WordPress.com
  • The Dark Proposal – Now on Kindle!
  • Theme Showcase
  • WordPress Planet
  • WordPress.com News

Archives

wordpress stats plugin

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Megan Cashman
    • Join 1,392 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Megan Cashman
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...