Google+ for Writers Part 2: Engaging Your Audience

with Dee Scully

Regardless of what genre you write or what business you are in there are five essential steps to successfully engaging with your Google+ audience.  

1.  Pictures/Graphics

In the world of social media, books…or rather posts are judged by their cover. With Google+, viewers often have dozens of posts to read, most of which will be skimmed. You need a great visual to snag a viewer's attention. (Of course, you need awesome content to keep that attention, but that’s a whole other blog post!) A great picture will entice Google+ers to stop and read your post. Google+ even allows you the option of using animated graphics!

2.  Linking

Once you have that all-important visual, you need to get viewers to link into your blog or website and you need to make it easy for them to do! After all, this is the 21^st century—no one wants to go searching for a new post…there are too many other posts with easy access links to click into! Utilize the LINK ATTACHMENT to ensure easy access to your blog or website.

3.  Key Words

So your graphics weren’t the best and you didn’t utilize the link attachment. What’s left to grab a viewer’s attention? Key words. The first 40-50 words of your Google+ post should not only summarize your article but should also spell out in black and white text why a viewer should click into your link and read your blog/website content. Having said that, often viewers won’t read beyond the first line, so I prefer to make that first line all about them e.g. ‘Wanna win a red kimono? Visit the Breathless blog and leave a relevant comment for your chance to win.’

4.  Circles & Communities

Image courtesy of Nanette Nielsen & Flickr.

Tailor your key words/first lines for specific circles and communities. This article, Google+ for Writers, can be tailored to market to writers of any genre…Google+ for Romance Writers or Google+ for Suspense Writers, but beware: some communities don’t allow marketing and you could get booted from their community if you don’t adhere to their particular policies.

Also, remember to click the ‘Also send emails from you to Circles.’ This lets those in your contacts know a new post has gone up and helps when there is a time element to your post e.g. "Leave a comment by Friday for your chance to win a gift pack."

5.  Content and Posting Regularly

You want viewers to be attracted to your visuals, click into your links, read your content, and return often.  If your marketing is spectacular but your posts are abysmal (or even just ok) viewers will not return. It’s just like writing a book. You’re only as good as your last one. If you missed the mark with your most recent post, viewers won’t be swayed by pretty graphics and easy links again. Make sure everything you put out is your best work. 

Dee Scully Romance Author

Post regularly. People come to expect your weekly Google+ posts. If you skip a week or two, attentions will wander to the next best thing…and you’ll have to start all over again.

  

Do you adhere to all five steps?  Is there any one step you don't fully utilise?  Why/Why not?

I love to love...helping other newbie writers connect with a larger audience via Google+!

I love to learn...new ways to use Google+!

I love to laugh...at all the silly mistakes I've made marketing myself and my writing!

Check back for Dee Scully’s Google+ for Writers Part 3:  Optimizing Your Profile.