It’s week 15 of the MFRWAuthors 52-Week Blog Challenge, and this week’s prompt is My Social Media Hangouts.
My hangouts are pretty basic: Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest. Please feel free to friend or follow me on any of the above links. I’d love to connect with you online.
The fact that I have any social media hangouts at all is due to my friend Elena Dillon, who taught an online social media class a while back for my local OCCRWA chapter. I now consider her my social media guru.
This year, I took a class on Visual Content Marketing for the Confused and Terrified Writer, also taught by Elena. In it, I learned how to make kick-ass graphics for my books and social media sites. The big breakthrough came from learning about Canva, a terrific website that helps you create graphics using templates designed for each social media site, postcards, blog and web graphics, etc. They even have a template for an e-book cover! Haven’t tried that one yet.
Here are a few examples of what I did in class:
My first attempt at using Canva.com to create a graphic.
Facebook cover image for my Linda McLaughlin author page
Facebook cover image for my Lyndi Lamont Author page
Twitter graphic for How to Woo… A Reluctant Bride
I have to admit, though, that I wasn’t entirely successful at the class. The branding still challenges me, and I tried and failed to create an account at Instagram, and gave up after a while. I’ll just have to live without Instagram, I suppose.
If you’re like me and still a bit leery about social media, Elena has a another website where she discusses social media for the Confused and Terrified Writer.
Where do you hang out on social media?
Linda / Lyndi
Use the linky list below to find more great blog posts in the #MFRWauthor 52-Week #Blog Challenge.
love the cover for Tova’s dragon. nice work.
Thank you, Helen, though that isn’t the cover. I paid someone to do that.
I love these Canva graphics, Linda! I love playing around in Canva, I too struggle with Instagram. They changed something in the last few months and it’s much harder to post photos, or let’s say, I’m challenged by it!
I couldn’t get past the sign-up process at Canva, so you’re ahead of the game! I’ve been getting re-aquainted with Pinterest and enjoying it a lot.
Canva can be fun but all the photos I really liked cost more than the budget allowed. I don’t do Instagram either. Pinterest takes up enough time for me. Congrats on the class, you’ve created some good graphics.
Helen, I just found your comments in spam and approved them. So sorry.
I got lucky and was able to get the App Sumo deal at Deposit Photos: 100 downloads for $39. Maybe they’ll do it again next year.
Those graphics are great! I’ve heard Canva mentioned in one of my FB writing groups but never looked into it. I think I’ll need to give it a try and see what I can do. I always enjoy looking at the graphics that other authors put up. Thanks to the link for the class.
Instragram I struggle with. My daughter actually set the account up for me. I’ve done a few pictures, but still not sure how to effectively use it.
Instagram seems to be challenging for a lot of people. Canva, on the other hand, is much more accessible and really powerful. I love it.
Thanks for the ideas, those graphics are awesome. I made an ebook cover on Canva for my next book, but I haven’t tried the other features yet. I need to check our your friend’s class!
Thanks for your comment, Robin. I think Elena is gearing up to teach the class again.