July 23, 2007

Getting Out There!

Written by Margo Maguire in Jaunty Post

What do you all think of MySpace and FaceBook? What about this new thing called Shelfari? I now have a MySpace page, and you’re all welcome to “friend” me, but I’m wondering if this isn’t just more clutter on the worldwide web. I mean, if you’re looking for an author on the web, are you going to look for her on MySpace, or try for her website? I would think you’d get a lot more pertinent information on her website, but maybe I just don’t have enough MySpace saavy.

What do you think of Shelfari? It’s really a fun place to visit, and I love “seeing” my friends and acquaintances there (thanks for hooking me up, Haven!) … But I worry that I’ll use it as yet another way to procrastinate. Do I care what other people are reading? I guess I do, to some extent, but that doesn’t usually influence what I read. On the other hand, there are some interesting groups to join, and good discussions on writing and reading.

So tell me … Are you a devotee of MySpace or Shelfari? If you are, “friend” me via one of those pages and I’ll enter you into a contest to win some Avon goodies - cover flats and bookmarks - and an autographed copy of A Warrior’s Taking.

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20 Responses to “Getting Out There!”

On July 23rd, 2007 at 7:38 am
Jenna Petersen Says:

I love my MySpace and I feel it’s been a great place for me to interact with readers I don’t normally come in contact with.

Shelfari annoys me because of their spyware, so I won’t do that. I figure I don’t have enough time to devote to Facebook (since MySpace is now another place where I update pretty regularly).

I like the opportunity to communicate in different ways with new people. Anything that lets me do that is cool with me!
On July 23rd, 2007 at 7:38 am
Shana Says:

Margo, I just don’t have any time to play around with MySpace or Shelfari. I signed up for Shelfari, but that’s all I’ve had time to do.

If someone sends me a link to their MySpace or Facebook page, I’ll go check it out, but I don’t have my own account. I can barely keep up with my email. Plus, I don’t want sleazy guys propositioning me online.
On July 23rd, 2007 at 7:48 am
ladydawgfan Says:

I know what Myspace and Facebook are, but what is Shelfari? I’ve never heard of it. And what is the difference between Myspace and Facebook, since I’ve never been to either site? (Yeah, I know that I’m thoroughly behind the times on this one!)
On July 23rd, 2007 at 9:29 am
brownone Says:

I don’t allow my kids on Myspace because I’d rather avoid trouble. After watching those “Dateline” shows, I told them to forget it. Then you have the online bullies, etc. I think they’ll stick to Jetix and Nickelodeon sites. As for me, it just never interested me…
On July 23rd, 2007 at 9:36 am
Margo Maguire Says:

I agree, brownone - you don’t want your kids getting into MySpace right now. My own kids (in their 20s) have theirs set to “private” so only their actual friends interact with them. But it’s such a time-sucker!
On July 23rd, 2007 at 9:38 am
KimW Says:

I haven’t signed up for Myspace. Although I’ve been tempted many times, I think it will take away from my reading time and I want to spend as much time doing that as I can. I’m not familiar with Facebook. I heard about Shelfari and received a ton of invitations. It seems that when you sign up it sends out an invite to everyone in your address book. I don’t like that they have the ability to do that. I’m too suspect to sign up now.
On July 23rd, 2007 at 9:40 am
AndreaW Says:

I completely agree with brownone. I’ve heard too many bad stories, plus it never interested me either.
On July 23rd, 2007 at 9:43 am
Margo Maguire Says:

Kim - when I joined Shelfari, I had to use my password to get into my email program. Only then could I invite a few people to join. I wonder if there’s some glitch that does what you describe. I’ll have to ask the others who’ve joined.
On July 23rd, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Dave Hanley Says:

Hi Margo and KimW,

First, thanks for talking about Shelfari. I work on the web site and love the community of readers there. About invites, Margo is right. Those who join Shelfari have the ability to choose who you want to invite on Shelfari. We try to make it easy by letting you import your address book and determine which of those people to invite. Some people have invited their whole contact list.

Do come try out Shelfari. As Margo implies, it is quite a diversion.

You’ll find my shelf at http://www.shelfari.com/dhanley
On July 23rd, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Stacy S Says:

I don’t really get all of these myspace & things. I’ve been to a few author pages but never really saw anything that wasn’t on their website or blog. Sorry.
On July 23rd, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Lois Says:

I’ve visited other peoples myspace pages, but I just don’t really see the point to them. . . it’s just another website of sorts, but the only different between that and a site is everyone has their myspace page in one location, so maybe it’s easier to find than having to google them. Still though, since it pretty much does all the things a site does, I’m sticking with my site — and if it means I’m not getting visitors like I would if I was at myspace, that’s fine with me, I really don’t have all that much interesting to say. LOL

Lois
On July 23rd, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Lacey Says:

I’m on MySpace, but I let everyone come to me. I don’t have time to wander around looking for people! Unless I’m mega-procrastinating. Wanna mega-procrastinate with me? Click Approve!
On July 23rd, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Clarisse Says:

I think for an author a MySpace page taps into those readers who don’t go out to author webpages but who will either respond to an invitation there or stumble on you as someone else’s friend. There are a lot of readers who are not part of the “romance community” of places like the Avon Board or author blogs and a lot of them are MySpace junkies. If you have the time to set up a page and keep it reasonably current, it seems like a really cheap marketing tool.
On July 23rd, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Crystal B. Says:

I have a Myspace page and a Facebook page. I am careful who I “friend”. Usually just people I know personally and romance authors/readers.
On July 23rd, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Jen Says:

I like MySpace to keep track with my fav authors. But whatever you do, don’t sign up for Shelfari, it will immediately send out spam to all your addresses in your mail programs. Every yahoo group I belong to is inundated with join shelfari. So damn annoying!
On July 23rd, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Cherie J Says:

I am not familiar with Shelfari so I can’t really comment about it. I find myspace interesting although I have never joined. Just don’t have the time since I had my baby girl 9 months ago. She and her 4 year old brother keep me rather busy. Reading is about the only hobby I am still able to make time for.
On July 23rd, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Stephie Says:

I don’t use Myspace anymore, but I think it’s probably a good way for authors to get their name out there. People spend hours on myspace, clicking on friends of friends of friends of friends… and while they probably won’t run out and buy your book after one look at your page, your name might stick in their head. I know I pick up books by authors with a “web presense” far more than authors who don’t maintain a blog/etc.
On July 23rd, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Helen Says:

I don’t use My Space or Shelfari although I have had heaps of email about joining Shelfari but I get a bit worried about signing up for too much in case something happens to my computer. I enjoy all the places I visit now and that seems to be enough for me. BTW Margo I am reading A Warriors Taking at the moment and loving it.
Have Fun
Helen
On July 24th, 2007 at 2:18 am
Haven Rich Says:

Well a friend hooked me up to Shelfari and for a reviewer of books, it’s a good place to let others know what you think.

For an author, I’m not sure what “bonus” points it has, other than seeing what your fans think of your books. I know posting a review at Amazon is a pita! This is so easy!

My space, I personally think reaches out to younger readers/fans. If you happen upon one author, you can check their friends lists and wander around looking at so many other authors. Unlike a website, which you hope the author will link to others. I’ve actually found a few new *to me* authors.

My 15 y/o daughter as a myspace account, but I’m able to check her email and see what she’s doing. I guess as a parent, you have to allow them to be somewhat free, while watching for all the “germs” surrounding them.

It was mentioned that Shelfari came with spyware? Funny, my spyware catcher didn’t alert me when I ran it this morning. I’ll have to scan my pc again, just to make sure!!

Also, you have to sign in to your email server to get to your email address book. I was also able to include or exclude anyone I wanted when sending out invites.

But as with anything, these programs are completely optional! If you don’t feel good about using them, don’t. I’m easy to get along with lol.
On July 26th, 2007 at 8:19 am
Bonnie Ferguson Says:

I have a Myspace page and a Bebo page. I like them both and don’t find either to be too time consuming.

I just sent you a friend request on Myspace

July 23, 2007

Getting Out There!

20 Responses to “Getting Out There!”

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