A full-service literary agency that focuses on books for the Christian market.

Engage Your Followers and Reap Results

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Blogger: Mary Keeley

Do you like the new, more interactive format of our Books & Such blogs? Adding the photos makes it feel almost like Skype or Google+ when we comment back and forth. And having the blogger’s reply appear just below the comment encourages interaction. I’ve noticed a difference in the way and extent to which everyone is commenting—more three-way conversations going on. Let’s get a conversation going here about a format change can provide positive results, and how you can apply that idea to your social media.

Observation #1: As noted already, the format change lends itself more to conversation. Rather than a top-down structure in which the comments mainly occurred between the blogging agent and individual commenters one at a time, there is growing involvement with each other. And in the course of frequent conversation, you get to know each other better. The fruit of that is you start to care about each other, and supportive relationships start to grow. It’s encouraging when others take the time to involve themselves with your comments.

Observation #2: The increasing involvement seems to build as sharing and problem-solving take place. When there is true engagement with each other’s needs or interests—not just the “hey, great to hear from you; see you at the next conference” variety—people come back for more. We need each other. After all, God created us for fellowship. Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose  (Philippians 2:1-2).

Try engaging with your followers, fans, and FB friends in this way and see if it makes a difference in your social media effectiveness. I know…you’re thinking there’s no way you have time to engage on that level with them. But it takes only a minute or two extra to respond in a more focused way to show them they had your full attention. “Liking” a comment on FB  isn’t the same as actually saying something. And, as elsewhere in life, you’ll have acquaintances and you’ll have closer friends. High numbers of followers look great, but they don’t guarantee follow-through. The more social media contacts you try to truly engage with, the more likely they will buy your books and spread the word to others.

What differences do you see between your interactions with social media friends and your closer, “live” friends? If your current social media is different, are you reaping the results you think you should be, based on your numbers?

Reader Interactions

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  1. Lindsay Harrel

    Such a great post. When I switched to the threaded replies on my blog, I felt like I was encouraging exactly what you talked about here. And I have noticed that since beginning to comment here on this blog, I’ve had others comment directly on my post. There is a certain sense of connection you automatically feel when someone you don’t know comments on something you say…especially if he/she agrees with you! 🙂

    Reply

  3. Cynthia Herron

    Mary, this was a wonderful post! I love the way that the Books and Such team encourages interaction.

    I’m with you, large numbers of followers may look impressive, but it’s the interaction with what numbers I DO have that I try to focus on. I always wonder, even with different apps, how it’s possible for people to keep up with 100,000+ followers. I find myself intentionally blocking spam, eggs, porn, etc. so that can be limiting, but that content doesn’t interest me.

    I recently added TweetDeck, thanks to Jill Kemerer’s help, and it has made life (and interacting) so much easier!

    And sometimes it’s far better to build our “tribe” with a few followers at a time, as opposed to dozens or hundreds we wouldn’t interact with anyway.

    An intentional Pollyanna. I guess that’s me.

    Happy Weekend!

    Reply

    • Mary Keeley

      Amen, Cynthia. I so agree with you. Those you really connect with are the ones who will follow through to buy your books and encourage others to do so. Not to mention warm and engaging is so you anyway!

      Reply

  4. Cheryl Malandrinos

    I like the new format here. IT’s definitely a nicer way to interact. I don’t do this as much on Facebook and Twitter as I should. I’m trying to get better. I still haven’t figured out TweetDeck, but I am enjoying Pinterest.

    Hope you have a blessed weekend.

    Reply

  5. Anita Mae Draper

    Good observations, Mary.

    I like the threaded comments when they work. I don’t like when they work for some people and not others due to whatever platform they’re using. Or when they work for some posts and not others in the same blog. Give me consistency any day.

    As for comments vs liking, most of my Facebook friends have come from people who saw my comment, ‘liked’ it, then followed up with an invite. Not only does it encourage me by knowing people read my comments, it also makes me think twice before writing one.

    Reply

    • Mary Keeley

      Anita, speaking of threaded comments, I don’t think mine is going to thread under yours here. I don’t know why it happens.

      Thanks for your example that shows “liking” can lead to future interaction. Good to hear that perspective too.

      Reply

  6. Heather Day Gilbert

    I love interacting with other Christian fiction writers/reading their tips, but couldn’t find a hashtag on twitter that connected our tweets. So I started one!

    I’m so excited about the #Christfic hashtag (I know many of the above commenters are using it already!), so we can get writing tips from LIKE-minded friends. It’s also for Christian fiction READERS, so I hope we can get more tweets along those lines, too. I love building community, via blogs or FB pages or twitter, and it’s nice to have a place where we can share. Just like the Books & Such blog!

    Reply

  7. Kate

    Great post Mary! And yes, I find the interactive thread here on Books & Such engaging….and beneficial. I feel like a gold miner panning for and finding nuggets of information and ideas from very creative people. Glad you all made the change!

    I was blessed twice last week when a connection from Facebook and Twitter mentioned my Author Page on her blog post. Our Teapot Bank was also featured in another blog post. I had not solicited any support, but it was freely given and I am extremely grateful.

    Thanks again…love keeping up with what is going on at Books & Such and the community of followers!

    Reply

  8. Christine Dorman

    I definitely like the interactive format of the Books and Such blogs. For a while now, I have been following Rachelle Gardner’s blog and now am following Rachel Kent’s as well as yours. It’s great to be able to respond to another commenter, not just to the blogger. When a few people respond back and forth to each other, it becomes a conversation. It feels like we’re sitting around a table, having a discussion the way “live” friends do. I have never experienced that on FB or Twitter.

    Also, Mary, I appreciate that you respond to your commenters. Cynthia, Mary and you mentioned the difference between having large numbers versus having people you connect with. While it will not always be possible to respond to every comment, it’s important never to forget that behind each comment is a person. As busy as you are, Mary, you have demonstrated your sensitivity to that. Thank you.

    Blessings!

    Reply

  9. Sarah Forgrave

    Great post, Mary! I use threaded comments on my site as well, and I really enjoy the interactions there. Even in author interviews I do, I try to make them more fun and conversational so they don’t feel as canned. It seems to fuel a more open environment where we get to know each other better.

    Hope you have a great weekend! 🙂

    Reply

  10. Connie Almony

    Yes, I love the conversational style. It builds community in the business. Now, if only I could “pin” your logo to my Pinterest “Blogs I love” board, I’d be thrilled :o). Any ideas?

    Reply

  11. Cindy R. Wilson

    Great post! It really is worthwhile when followers are more than just faces on a sidebar – and I’ve noticed the comments here are not just on the post, but on other comments. Creating conversations really helps us all feel like we’re part of a community, and that’s why I love blogs so much.

    Reply