Before I launched my Facebook page for Socialexis, I sent the link to my sister and my best friend, asking them to look it over. Both came back with the same criticism: I needed a more professional photo. I knew they were right. Not only did I need one to promote my new business, I […]
I hate all the emphasis in the publishing world on “platform.” I even hate the word itself. I think it takes away from what writers should be focusing on: writing. But the reality is, platform is important. I get that. I get that platform is vital to selling books. Yet I wonder if we’re all […]
I love communicating with readers of this blog, hearing about your projects over e-mail, getting updates on Twitter. It’s so great hearing from you that I’d like to take that private communication to another level — and introduce you all to each other. We’ve had successful blog parties here before, but lots of readers have […]
This lady knows her stuff. That was obvious to me the first time I “met” Marian Schembari on Twitter (she’s @marianschembari). She knows what she’s talking about. Whenever I have an idea about social media, I bounce it off Marian. And the cool things for readers of this blog? Marian specializes in social media for […]
I’ve felt slightly overwhelmed this week trying to juggle three major projects: book revisions, my new social media biz and a revamp of my website. Everything, including this blog, will soon be at alexisgrant.com. Finally! To lighten my to-do list, I’m going to pass on the writers’ roundup this week, and instead ask you to […]
Everyone’s always complaining about how much time it takes to build an online community — to grow a following on Twitter, Facebook, your blog, etc. It’s true. It does take a lot of time. So I like to give my clients tips to maximize every minute they spend online. And this particular tip will help […]
You’ve thought about whether you should start blogging, and decided the answer is yes. You’ve seriously considered your content, pondering what makes a blog successful. Now you ask: How do I get started? 1. Pick a platform. If you’re a newbie, you’ll probably want a hosted platform, one that’s easy to use. They’re also free. […]
Welcome back! We’ve already talked about why you should have a blog and whether you’re ready to start one. Up today: What makes an awesome blog? There are as many ways to produce a good blog as there are bloggers. But when you’re new to the blogosphere, you need concrete goals, right? So here are […]
Whenever I don’t know how to do something, I ask Google. Usually I ask little things. Like how to add a signature with live links to my Gmail. Or whether it’s possible to give my YouTube channel a cool background. Or what a baobab tree looks like (to help me describe it in my book). […]
A handful of writers have approached me recently asking for help with their blogs. Some are trying to decide whether they should start a blog and how to go about it. Others want to improve an existing blog. So this week I’m running a series that will address three questions: Should I start a blog? […]