[Guest]

So I was trying to notify all the Twitter account on this page http://theselfpublishingtoolkit.com/kdp-select-free-promo-resources/ of my free promo when my account was suspended, I guess for Tweeting the same thing over and over again - but then, how are you supposed to notify these accounts, is there a 'right' way to do this? Not familiar with using Twitter to promote obviously...

 

[KevinMcLaughlin]

One tweet is usually sufficient to inform people of an announcement. Maybe mix it up with another differently worded announcement 8-12 hours later, or something. The majority of your tweets should either be talking WITH other people (as opposed to at them), or passing along information your tweeps will find useful.

Most people simply unfollow or ignore folks whose tweet content is mostly "hey, look at me!" stuff. Twitter is about connecting with people, not selling things.

 

[Guest]

One tweet is usually sufficient to inform people of an announcement. Maybe mix it up with another differently worded announcement 8-12 hours later, or something. The majority of your tweets should either be talking WITH other people (as opposed to at them), or passing along information your tweeps will find useful.

Most people simply unfollow or ignore folks whose tweet content is mostly "hey, look at me!" stuff. Twitter is about connecting with people, not selling things.

Hmm, so how is one supposed to interact with the accounts on that list? Anyone with experience doing free promos know?

 

[Becca Mills]

Hmm, so how is one supposed to interact with the accounts on that list? Anyone with experience doing free promos know?

I think you're supposed to message each one of them privately, so that you're not sending the tweet to all your followers each time. That's what I did this last time, anyway.

FWIW, I don't think any of those free-book RTers actually RTed me. The only folks who tweeted my free book were free-book websites I'd contacted separately who also happened to do Twitter promo.

 

[Gertie Kindle]

I think you're supposed to message each one of them privately, so that you're not sending the tweet to all your followers each time. That's what I did this last time, anyway.

FWIW, I don't think any of those free-book RTers actually RTed me. The only folks who tweeted my free book were free-book websites I'd contacted separately who also happened to do Twitter promo.

I gave up on the RT'ers.

 

[PaulLev]

Either publicly tweeting to a specific person, or specific group of people, can be considering spamming.  Same with DM's (private or direct messages).

The way to get word out is just tweet it and hope that your followers see it, and even better, RT or favorite it.

 

[Guest]

I think you're supposed to message each one of them privately, so that you're not sending the tweet to all your followers each time. That's what I did this last time, anyway.

FWIW, I don't think any of those free-book RTers actually RTed me. The only folks who tweeted my free book were free-book websites I'd contacted separately who also happened to do Twitter promo.

Oh okay, I thought you couldn't direct message someone unless they're following you though.

 

[Gertie Kindle]

Oh okay, I thought you couldn't direct message someone unless they're following you though.

Yes, that's true.

When I run a free promo, I tweet every 2-3 hours with completely different tweets. I intersperse those tweets with RT's and personal comments.

 

[Becca Mills]

Oh okay, I thought you couldn't direct message someone unless they're following you though.

True. But with sites like those, if you follow them, they'll follow you right back. They want as many followers as possible.

Still, I suspect it's a waste of time. I bet almost everyone who follows them is an author. There's no point in tweeting your free book to a bunch of other folks whose only interest is in getting their free books RTed.

 

[Catana]

[quote author=Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

When I run a free promo, I tweet every 2-3 hours with completely different tweets. I intersperse those tweets with RT's and personal comments.

[/quote]

That's exactly what I consider spamming, and when I was on Twitter, it was the primary reason for unfollowing someone. Too many tweets in one day, and too many that attempt not to look like what they really are. Ultimately, there was so much of this that I gave up on Twitter altogether.

 

[Lisa Grace]

I do get retweeted, and a retweeter the other day got my book recommendation from @Amazon, which is cool.
I do use twitter for promotion, but the best way (for me) is through the judicious use of the hashtags and @s so new people can stumble upon my books. For instance, I @ to free book tweeters, so they then can spread the word to their followers.

Personally, I don't think your followers on twitter are the reason for tweeting if you are using it to promote your books or brand. Reaching new people is my goal so I don't worry if someone unfollows. Frankly, if they have less than a thousand following them, my tweets in their newsfeed would be annoying and I expected them to unfollow.

I only send out two to four promo tweets a day (I don't go on everyday), but I retweet, reply, and post interesting stuff too.

 

[@Suzanna]

One tweet per day from someone about their book puts them on my "watch this person for spamming" radar. If I start seeing two or more tweets per day (outside of release day or a limited sale, which is different IMO) linking to someone's book, I probably won't unfollow them, but I do add them to my blocked list on Tweetdeck so I don't see anything they post.

When most of the people you interact with on twitter are other authors, there really is no point in constantly posting the same link to your books. And if you have readers who follow you ... well, they'll likely only buy your book once!

 

[Guest]

One tweet per day from someone about their book puts them on my "watch this person for spamming" radar. If I start seeing two or more tweets per day (outside of release day or a limited sale, which is different IMO) linking to someone's book, I probably won't unfollow them, but I do add them to my blocked list on Tweetdeck so I don't see anything they post.

When most of the people you interact with on twitter are other authors, there really is no point in constantly posting the same link to your books. And if you have readers who follow you ... well, they'll likely only buy your book once!

Well in this case the 'extra' messages were meant only for those promo accounts... I'm just a total Twitter noob, wish you could private message non-followers like on Facebook though lol.

 

[Andrew Ashling]

Use hashtags. E.g. I have a column in TweetDeck that follows mentions of "mmromance."

I follow (almost) everyone who follows me. When I follow you, you land in my general "friends" column. Once in a while I take a look at what floats by. I also have 1 to 5 stars columns. If your tweets are interesting to me I'll promote you (but never tell you I've done so) to one of the star-columns.

Spam away. I don't care.

 

[@Suzanna]

Well in this case the 'extra' messages were meant only for those promo accounts... I'm just a total Twitter noob, wish you could private message non-followers like on Facebook though lol.

Yes, and that was a harsh way to be introduced to Twitter. These self-promotion waters can be difficult to navigate, especially when one is just starting out.