If you are scandalized by the title of this post, you aren’t thinking of what I am ! The word that begins with F and ends with K that I have in mind is for something which has changed the way millions of people interact. F is for Facebook:) . Call it the best known face of social networking.
I signed on for Facebook years ago, much before many of my age. In the initial years I was more active on LinkedIn. In my mind, LinkedIn was my professional gateway to the cyber world, Facebook was a closer group made of family and friends. Two events changed all this. Over the last year, I hung up my professional boots as a talent management specialist and executive coach. I became a full-time author with the publication of my debut novel “It Can’t Be You”, a psychological thriller in November 2010.
These changes in my life made me realize the power of Facebook. This was the way the world was going. At last count, FB supposedly has more than 500 million active users with 50 % of them logging in on any given day. The average user has 150 friends. These stats are from Facebook.
These days people speak of the need for an author to have a platform. I found that Facebook lends itself to promote your work in a variety of ways, including through a Facebook Page or a Group. For example, I have a Facebook Page for It Can’t Be You. I remember the day I started it and later my excitement when I got 25 “fans”. This enabled me to get a distinctive URL instead of a long string of numbers. I am pleased that now we have reached something like 370 “fans” and the number keeps growing.
It’s not necessary to start a Facebook Page after your book is published. There are merits in starting a FB Page even as you begin the journey to have the book published. Your readers can share this journey with you until they see the book in print and in their hands.My second book “Lucky For Some , Thirteen” is now complete. I am looking for publishers who may be interested in publishing this book, which like my first, is also a thriller.
Facebook has led me to many new friends all over the world. It is interesting that my friends list , currently numbering 541 is largely made up of two types of people. One set is of very old friends who go back to my childhood. The other and larger set are more recent friends who follow my blogs, like my book and so on. I wonder if in the many intervening years, I was too busy at work to make friends!
Facebook is for people of all ages. I interact often with fans ranging from 16 to 60 years. It has given me access to a large number of people who are interested in books and in writing. May their tribe increase.
Prem Rao : Stories from a Story Teller 
I’ve been on Facebook for about two years but only recently set up an author page. I interact with a wide age range of family and friends also.
Gail, I am sure you are seeing the difference after setting up an author’s page on FB. Best wishes!
Facebook makes for a great subject. As an author, it’s probably one of the easiest ways for you to keep in touch with your fans and your audience. Of course, it is also a great way to stay in touch with family and friends.. 🙂 🙂
Good post! Happy A-Z!! 🙂
Thanks. FB offers you the opportunity to meet so many like-minded people whom you wouldn’t have met otherwise!
I think I started on facebook about about 7 years ago (does that sound right, 7/8 years). I’m tired of it now, but still too nosey to give it up.
Facebook certainly has its uses
In FB speak, I like your comment:)