Readers Meet Authors and Bloggers
I started a Google+ community a while ago called Readers Meet Authors and Bloggers. The aim was to promote interaction between bloggers (who aren’t always authors), and readers who had other passions to promote (photography, art, cooking, knitting, animals, personal healing, funnies – you name it), but still loved to read. Probably due to my own fault – I’ve had a whacky and seriously stressful couple of years – I’ve neglected it, and community moderators have lost interest and stopped going there. My fault, but still a viable community.
These days it’s become pretty much an “Oy Buy My Book” spammy kind of place. I still believe that it has potential though, and with three thousand, five hundred odd members, I think that it has the potential to be a good place to market as well as interact with other writers in the future. Rules need to be put in place though, and proper content (not just links to blogs and books) needs to be regularly posted.
In the beginning anthologies were planned, joint book promo functions, read for review opportunities, and allsorts were envisioned. Unfortunately I dropped the ball with too much else going on.
The community is still growing all the time, with newbies often posting and trying to start an interesting conversation or put a marketing idea out there, but these are all lost in the white noise of the promos. In a last ditch attempt to get back to the original vision for the community, I’d like to invite any of you guys who’d like to try and make a fresh start with it as community moderators.
I reckon with the current membership we’d need about five people who were prepared to actively control the site on a regular basis, as well as come up with ideas for marketing Indie books, art, photography or any sort of craft, and having a bit of fun while helping each other. With a couple of thousand people already there, I think that this might be something that could benefit all of us. Remember that Google rules – it’s much more powerful than Amazon or any other site, and it streams your content to strangers. As far as SEO goes – Google rules. Even if you haven’t been active there – or haven’t even joined yet – and would like to start – don’t be shy to step forward for this. We need talent and we’ll talk you through the steps of signing up if you have something to contribute.
It’s a very casual community, and posting personal funny pics or memes should be encouraged as well as posting our daily blogs and so on. Often poets post their work on the wall – anything not linked and posted straight on the wall automatically gets G+ SEO points.
Would any of you be willing to jump in on this one, and see if we could mould it into something helpful, and maybe conducive to selling more books? It would be awesome to have some group leaders who are not writers, but other artists – painters – photographers – inspiring people – craft people – just people. Moderators would pretty much have carte blanche with ideas and input. Check it out on Readers Meet Authors and Bloggers, and let me know what you think.
February 8, 2015 at 5:26 pm
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog….. An Author Promotions Enterprise! and commented:
If YOU would like to help Jo moderate this great G+ Community, please contact her on her blog 😀
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February 13, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Thanks for sharing Chris! MWAH! 😀
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February 13, 2015 at 4:22 pm
Welcome Jo – I need you back on the books 😀 😀 😀
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February 8, 2015 at 5:29 pm
Reblogged this on Zoe Ambler – Author.
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February 13, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Thanks for sharing Zoe! 🙂
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February 13, 2015 at 4:59 pm
Thank YOU!! 😀
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February 8, 2015 at 5:29 pm
Great idea, Jo, and I would volunteer, but I know I couldn’t find regular time at present with all that’s going on. I may pop in from time to time though!
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February 13, 2015 at 4:14 pm
Thanks Sue! It might take a little time, but I’m pretty sure that this can be a great community. I’m checking out the new volunteers, and then when all the new moderators are in place we can get to making special places to post book ads rather than on the discussion wall. The more we have the bigger our chances. We also have to redo the mission statement to properly include all creative artists, photographers and so on too. If you change your mind about being a moderator any time just yell – you would be a brilliant addition to the team.
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February 13, 2015 at 4:18 pm
I’d love to, Jo, but I really doubt I could guarantee enough time at the moment. I enjoyed modding forums for years, but unless I can give it my best, I won’t take on another. I’ve already got four full time jobs 🙂 I even get paid for one of them 😉
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February 8, 2015 at 6:52 pm
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
If you can help Jo out with this G+ community then please contact her direct…
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February 13, 2015 at 4:15 pm
Thanks for sharing Sally! You’ve already made a difference to the community, and once the rest of us get ourselves into gear this will be cool! X
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February 13, 2015 at 5:01 pm
I see that I have also been promoted in Free to Blog… this is fun… have a great weekend.. just about to have strawberry shortcake Haagen Daz for a birthday treat….second childhood is great…..XXX
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February 8, 2015 at 7:00 pm
Reblogged this on Fiction Favorites and commented:
Jo Robinson is looking to revamp the Google+ site Readers and Bloggers. If you can become a moderator let her know
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February 13, 2015 at 4:16 pm
Thanks for sharing John! ❤
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February 8, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Jo. I reblogged this and wish I had the time to moderate. You are right the site looks like a mall for authors.
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February 13, 2015 at 4:20 pm
Thank you John! If you ever change your mind just yell. It really is spam city right now. I’m pretty sure that we can fix it with categories and firm moderation though. At the moment all the ads are going into the discussion category. There are some amazing authors and readers there already though, and for the future I think that getting together for anthologies, boxed sets, and writing or promo projects and functions as well as getting together with the rest of the creative artists for tours and so on could really happen.
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February 8, 2015 at 9:45 pm
Jo, a great idea! Wish I had time to help out, however I’ve made a commitment to work on my writing and not take on any new projects. Good luck with your new start-up. Christine
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February 13, 2015 at 4:21 pm
Thanks Christine! You stick to your guns and scribble away! X
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February 9, 2015 at 1:57 am
Hi Jo, just a heads up that I have moved my blog address to a cheaper, more migraine-friendly address. You are very welcome to join me there. I will do my utmost to get back here and support you as often as I can.
Don’t forget, if you want to do that guest post, there is still heaps of you and I haven’t lost momentum in blog reach.
http://cateartios.net/CommuniCATE_Blog/
Have an awesome week.
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February 13, 2015 at 4:28 pm
I’ve just followed your new site Cate – it looks great! I’m also going a bit dizzy with all the changes here, so saner blogging is good! I’ve got my guest post for you almost blogworthy so with a few tweaks I’ll send it to you tomorrow if that’s alright – yes please! I got my hand caught and crushed a bit between a really germ ridden wall and a metal gate, so it’s been really slow going with the typing, but it’s healing now and I’m zooming forth again. Have a fabulous Friday, and my post will be winging its way to you tomorrow. XX
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February 15, 2015 at 10:13 am
Ouch! That sounds like a nasty accident. I hope you heal faster, now. I did see you subscription, thanks Jo. Whenever you are ready, no worries, I am going through hell with technical hassles at the moment, so no hurry.
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February 9, 2015 at 2:12 am
Reblogged this on rhanidchae and commented:
I reblogged this today in hopes that you might find this idea, this blog, interesting and worth your time to follow & support. I’m also hoping that one or two of you might be willing to step in as the moderators she’s looking for.
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February 13, 2015 at 4:30 pm
Thank you for sharing Rhani! ❤
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February 9, 2015 at 5:34 am
Reblogged this on lightningbooksbyagmoye and commented:
Sounds like a good place to meet. Just joined myself.
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February 13, 2015 at 4:31 pm
Thanks for sharing! I promise we’re going to work hard to make it a great place to be. XX
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February 9, 2015 at 5:17 pm
Reblogged this on Random Ramblings and commented:
Just joined this group.
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February 13, 2015 at 4:32 pm
Thanks for sharing Clive! It’s going to be properly nipped and tucked so it becomes a proper and helpful place for us all, rather than ad central. XX
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February 10, 2015 at 3:41 am
Great idea. Shared on my sites and try to keep up on G+. I’m new at all of this media site maneuvering, but am willing to learn. Joined the group. Thanks.
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February 13, 2015 at 4:36 pm
Thanks Bette! G+ is actually great – I prefer it 100% to Facebook, and I think that we really can channel the spam ads on a different thread and turn things around totally. I know that a lot of the people who were in at the start are still there – only given up because of the white noise book ads. I’ve seen a lot of groups on FB close because of this, but on Google and with some more invested moderators I’m very sure we can use the base that we have to make something great. XX
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February 14, 2015 at 2:51 pm
I would be interested in participating
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