Three Weeks Later…
When it comes to MySpace, I’ve already admitted to my weakness and peer pressure issues. Blame Alison. She blogged about it. A few authors commented. My procrastination craving required a fix. And, well, setting up the page didn’t cost any money.
Three weeks, numerous jibes (including those from Wendy, Kassia and Sybil) and 272 friends later, I remain skeptical about the overall promo value of MySpace and the friending process. However, I do have a few thoughts - that can’t possibly be a surprise to folks who know anything about me. Here are those general observations:
1. Some of the MySpace pages I’ve checked out have either so much going on or such dark colors/graphics, that my tired old eyes and even sleepier old brain can’t read or follow along. Seems to me if I can’t find your book cover or read the blurb on it, the promo value here is zero.
2. Having one more place to receive private messages is not a great thing for me due to my natural laziness.
3. While the additional message location is a con, the supportive private messages I’ve received from a few readers and fellow authors are a definite plus. Writing is solitary. Support from the world outside my home, in whatever form, is an amazing thing.
4. In what I consider a promising development, I have purchased books and sought out author information after getting a friend request or seeing a cover/author on someone’s page. I’m not ready to say this means the promo aspect of MySpace is a definite success, but I did buy books that I otherwise would have missed. That’s something to consider as far as I’m concerned.
Here are a few of the books I’ve bought solely due to my MySpace adventures:
February 26th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
I’m not really sure why I’m on MySpace. But I’ve 184 friends and counting.
I can say that:
1. I’ve never bought a book because of MySpace.
2. I’ve never even been interested in an author via MySpace.
3. I did only because everyone else has.
February 26th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
I’ve bought WAY too many books because of MySpace. My latest are Patry Francis’s and Jennifer McDonough’s (Is that right? Too blind at the moment to double check) that I blogged about. I think it’s awesome.
February 26th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
It’s getting to the point where I get depressed every time I find another book i want to read. At this point, I’ll die with too many books unread! How sad!
February 27th, 2007 at 10:28 am
Yeah, there’s always one more book out there. Catching up is impossible and now Alison gave me two more to go track down.
May - You’ver never seen a book or author on MySpace and checked it out? See, I can’t resist some of those covers. The YA ones really grab my attention. They’re pretty cool.
February 28th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
I am not sure why I have a MySpace since I am not an author who needs to promote herself and I am not looking to “hook up” with others, but it is fun. I have discovered new-to-me authors and books through it. I never thought I’d ever get a MySpace page, but so far I don’t regret doing so. I originally started it to be able to read blogs and enter some MySpace only contests authors have. Now I blog occassionally and look for new books and authors to try.
Oh, and I have to agree though with your first point, HelenKay.