Trailer Park Tuesday: Facebook Addiction

Happy Tuesday! In honor of New Year's Resolutions our Trailer Park Tuesday spotlight is Nnamdi Osuagwu's Facebook Addiction. Since Facebook opened its gates to more than college students in 2004, its mission to “make the world more open and connected” has done more harm than good for many. Some users have forgone their relationships and responsibilities, in order to Facebook. Parents have reached out to school counselors, corporate HR departments have sought work performance psychologists, and couples have turned to marriage counselors to help their spouses overcome social media addictive behavior. In fact, this past week Facebook Detoxing has been trending online as a top New Year's Resolutions for 2010.

Help: Skype for BookClubs

Skype for Bookclubs

This summer I've decided to begin cataloging all that I've learned about Web 2.0 technology and hot it can help publishing houses, authors, bookstores, and book clubs. Before I put all these juicy bits into a book(hint, hint) I'm sharing some of the content.

One thing I think authors and readers need to have a basic grasp of is Skype. Not only can you talk to your family through your online service, but you can host your favorite author for a spot of e-tea. lol. So here's my Skype for BookClubs Guide... You can also read it above. Let me know if it's helpful.

Dee

weekend chatterbox: Will Oprah Fail Twitter?

Now that Oprah is @Oprah on Twitter will social media change for readers and authors? I've been on Twitter for two years now. In the beginning it was many techies and probloggers hibernating and connecting there. When journbloggers, mombloggers, journalists and pr pros began to use it, we knew that eventually this thing would become a pop culture phenomena. Boy were we right! President Obama's team used it last year to galvanize masses of people. Today Oprah finally signed up and did half her show focusing on Twitter. Really. Although this news is exciting, but it also is a double edged sword. With masses of people coming on and Twitter's bandwidth limitations, how can we continue to support this product, while at the same time making sure it remains a pure ad free microblogging service? If we don't want to see the Oprah Fail Whale, we need to come up with something, else Twitter become monitized soon. Your thoughts. What can Twitter do to pay for the bandwidth and its staff without becoming an adnetwork?

The Oprah Fail Whale pic is courtesy of @TechCrunch

Why Authors Must Catch up to the Social Media Wave before the Fail Whale

The dreaded fail whale. lol.

This morning I received a group email from a writing buddy regarding the usage of a social media tool. Usually I skim through my email and only respond to questions are specifically addressed to me or I know that my answer will benefit the group conversation, so I answered it. Yet after a little thought I felt a little concerned.

Pam Perry, owner of Ministry Marketing Solutions is a friend/biz bud and book marketing coach. We have worked together through the years and last night had one of those we haven't talked or connected in far too long kind of conversations. We recorded it on Utterz-a micropodcasting social media service just for the kicks. And the gist of our conversation came down to we have to be proactive about connecting with people. We have to use all tools out there to facilitate that connection.

I have to admit I haven't spoken to Pam in a while. She'd shoot some email here; I'd shoot some tweet there and we veered away from the commonality between us. In short we fell off each other's wave. Pam talks in her book Synergy Energy about connection and using shared connection to expand and engage the marketplace. I agree.

A part of that expansion, however, doesn't just happen because you write a book, record a CD, set up a Facebook page, become a Twitter user. Becoming a catalyst for expansion means having the discernment to catch the wave before it passes you by.

In a nutshell this morning my reply to my writer's group was a breakdown of some of the drawbacks of the service and a mention that the service has morphed into a Facebook appi. Most importantly, this change happened two years ago.

Two years ago.

If we are going to be enact change, build communities, engage with our fans we must not be on the tail end of the wave, else we may be kicked off of it.

For the past three weeks I have been meeting every Thursday with some of my author clients for a group coaching session on Social Media. I am honored that some of my clients have taken this free opportunity to learn from me. It is my mission to get them up to speed before the next wave comes in. And yes there is a new wave. I've had the opportunity to beta test some appis that will blow your mind.

March 30th Pam will be hosting a free seminar for those who have no clue what a blog is, but know they need one. I encourage you to please take this seminar.

Moreover, next month I will be hosting three events:

1. April 16 I will be giving a seminar on The Business of Book Events at the Virtual Fiction Writer's Conference. For those of you who are still chatting about CBE or Book Expo or NBCC prep this is the seminar for you. I will be talking about how to Hack your next book event.
   
2. I will be hosting a free teleseminar on How to Build a Better Birdhouse on Twitter: Tips on Using Twitter to Reach your Psychographic. Follow this Blog or subscribe to my Twitter Feed to stay posted on the date.
   
3. My 90 day social media bootcamp for authors. It is free to my clients, but not free to the rest. However, the cost is very affordable. That bootcamp begins April 28-August 4(I'm taking a week off for the Faith and Fiction Retreat.)

So my question to you: What are you doing to stay on the Social Media Wave? If not, what do you plan to do?

1. 
   

Pay it Forward Fall: Gifting Your Service

Me singing "You Can't Beat God Giving," click to listen if you date. :)

We spoke about starting a kindness journal two weeks ago. I hope those who began theirs with me share what they found today at Christian Fiction Blog or on their blogs, just link back to me, so I can find you. So far I discovered many acts of kindness and that I forgot to record some. I'll do better this week. Below are six that standout. Four of which deals with this blog's topic:

Gifting your Service as an Act of Kindness

Although this economy is tight and about to get down right ugly, wouldn't it be nice if we chose to provide our services to someone deserves it? I challenge you to do that this week and let me know how it goes next week.

Now unto my Six:

1. Every day I did saw acts of kindness at Atlanta Gas Stations. Yesterday I bumped into my mom there. We had a mini-family reunion as we waited for gas. I took a bad pic, but we got the crowd smiling.

2. Ella Curry, host of Blog Talk Radio's Black Author's Network has given me her Tuesday show(Tonight). Ella's show is popular. I'm new with BTR. I listen. I chat. I don't host. She's giving me a spot to chat with some of my write-or-die chicks tonight. I'm honored.

3. A vendor at the Rockdale County Fair gave Selah and me a pair of shades for free just for coming back to his table as we promised.

4. I offered to do a free press release for a Christian duo who desperately needs it.

5. My friend and internet marketing strategist, Deontee Gordon edited an article I have written for a trade journal.

6. My other new buddy Social Media Marketing expert, Alejandro Reyes gave this same Deontee Gordon his business coaching package for free.

• Pay it Forward Fall: Start Kindness Journal

• God, Good Books & Girls Chat tomorrow on Blog Talk Radio

Weekend Chat & Contest: Have you ever been a Part of a Social Movement Inspired by a Book?

I read books and therefore receive many kinds of bookmarks for gifts. I have jeweled ones, cute Hello Kitty Ones, and your basic paper variety. But this summer I received the best bookmark ever, so far. Jerry B. Jenkins' Riven bookmark.




Why am I gaga over this bookmark? Look above. It comes with a pin. The pin is designed in the shape of a crucifix with the words "Riven" inscribed on top. When I saw it I immediately knew I wanted to wear this.

Why?

• It's a evangelism tool
• It's a book marketing tool
• It invited community into the discussion
  

I will talk about these whys in detail through the week and would like you to help me write these posts, so I am opening this discussion up to the community via utterz, twitter and on your blogs. I have 2 questions for you. Let me know your answers between now and August 3, 2008, and you will get the chance to enter a drawing to win a free copy, of Riven and the cool bookmark that I'm wearing. So The questions are:

What's Your Favorite BookMark? Or What's Your Favorite Tee-Shirt?

(I just won a cool Eat.Live. Tweet Tee-Shirt last night at The First Online Tweet-up hosted by my new buddy, Billy Fairchild AKA Tw3nty3ight

Have you ever been a part of a Social Movement inspired by a Book or Media Platform?

I have been a part of a few: Terry McMillan's novels changed not only my perception of AA women, but my generation, as well as Sweet Valley High, teen novels. I'm pretty sure Sherri Lewis' The List, which comes out in March 2009 will start a revolution among progressive, single Christian women. And of course you know I'm Twitastic.

About Jerry B. Jenkins' Riven, the novel:

Brady Wayne Darby and Thomas Carey could hardly have been more disparate individuals. Yet when Darby, a no-account loser raised in a dingy suburban trailer park, encounters Carey, a weary man of God, an entire state—indeed a nation—is affected. Embark on a wondrous journey where death, guilt, and despair are unfathomably trumped by rebirth, forgiveness, and hope. (Tyndale, 560pp, $24,99)
Click here to order.

Mobile post sent by deegospel using Utterz. Replies. mp3
Click here to listen.

CFB Author Chat: Marita Teague

Listen to Walk Worthy Press Author, Marita Teague and me on Utterz as we discuss her debut novel, Taste of Good Fruit and how women bible studies can use her book as a great companion piece. Click here to listen.

Dee Stewart is a writing diva mother, Christy Book Awards Judge, contributing Editor for Hope for Women Magazine, inspirational book reviewer for Romantic Times Magazine, and owner of Christian Fiction Blog. Her writings have appeared in: Spirit Led Woman, Gospel Today, Good Girl Book Club, The Dabbling Mum, Atlanta Christian Family, Mosaic Literary, Precious Times, Vertical Fix just a few. Visit her at Christian Fiction or follow her on Twitter.

Thanks Rhonda!