I
just picked J.K. Rowling and viewed her Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/JKRowling
. The first thing I noticed was that all of the posts are written by someone
working for her and not by her at all. Also, these posts only contain her accolades
and her new books you should buy in the dry, matter-of-fact tone of someone
just doing their meaningless job.
I
find these types of pages ridiculous and offensive, personally. Why would
ANYONE “friend” an author’s employee to read reports about how great J.K.
Rowling is? What is the point? If you’re not going to take the time to connect
with your fans delete your Facebook page and
stop using it as an empty, free billboard. The theory behind Facebook is great:
connecting people all over the world. In reality, J.K. Rowling isn’t connecting
to anyone.
Not only that, but Rowling's Facebook page doesn't use any obvious SEO practices. Then again, I suppose she really doesn't need to. Everyone already knows her and her work. But to me, authors enter into an unspoken, magical contract when readers pick up their books. The unspoken part is that your book will positively impact their life (no matter how menial) either through providing entertainment, passing time, providing insight, explaining views and other perceptions of the world, etc. A true author, one who loves the magic part of it – namely the ability to emotionally impact another using nothing more than the written word – would be the one to write the posts if they want a FB page. Connecting with readers only enriches both the writer and the reader’s experience, and advice for fellow writers is the least an author can do to “give back” to those who are the very reason for their own measured success. Then again, that’s just me.
Not only that, but Rowling's Facebook page doesn't use any obvious SEO practices. Then again, I suppose she really doesn't need to. Everyone already knows her and her work. But to me, authors enter into an unspoken, magical contract when readers pick up their books. The unspoken part is that your book will positively impact their life (no matter how menial) either through providing entertainment, passing time, providing insight, explaining views and other perceptions of the world, etc. A true author, one who loves the magic part of it – namely the ability to emotionally impact another using nothing more than the written word – would be the one to write the posts if they want a FB page. Connecting with readers only enriches both the writer and the reader’s experience, and advice for fellow writers is the least an author can do to “give back” to those who are the very reason for their own measured success. Then again, that’s just me.
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