GA Social Media Discussion

[Trebs]

As we noted in today's blog post, GayAuthors.org is looking to expand and enhance our social media presence:
 
 

[A]s a website, we've had an internet "presence" for over ten years now -- but as everyone knows, there are so many additional means of keeping up to date and interacting than just visiting a website.

• GA's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/gayauthors.stories) that we encourage you to "Like".
• Our Twitter account (follow us @gayauthors)
• Gay Author's Google+ Page

We're looking into other venues. and brainstorming on the best ways to utilize these vehicles. Like with most changes, the more information available, the better the choices, so we encourage you to chime in with your comments on what would add value to your GayAuthors.org experience. Do you just want tweets when a favorite author has updated their story? Or do you want more detailed information, and if so, what type?

 

 
 
Please use this thread to give us your thoughts and ideas, or to volunteer to assist in these efforts.  Thanks!

[advocatus diaboli]

I think a focus on Facebook is key to driving GayAuthor's social media growth. I think this for multiple reasons, but mainly because the social network has the sheer activity (over 1 billion monthly active users) and also because the active userbase has aged a bit.

 

Twitter and Instagram (which GA shouldn't be concerned about, since it's not really relevant) are for a younger crowd. I'm not saying anyone over 13 and under 18 shouldn't be welcome, but I don't think that should (or is) the main audience that the site is trying to cater too.

 

Google+, as far as I know, is pretty much barren. The only noteworthy feature of theirs is hangouts. It would be cool if live interviews, discussions or round tables could be organized, though. Kind of like what Dark does, ask an author questions. But through a live video feed, it's much more endearing and more personalized.

 

Tumblr is another site that I think GA should engage in. Partly because quite a few of the users here already have their own tumblr blogs and actively use the site, but also because of Tumblr's policies. They allow pornographic content on their site. I'll stop you there, I know GA isn't a site for that type of content, at least exclusively in stories. However, it shows that Tumblr isn't shying away from adult content, which GA is, so there's less risk of being removed from the site and losing that opportunity.

 

I'm sure there's other stuff I'll think of to say later, so maybe I'll post again or edit this one.

 

I volunteer for any social media efforts you need. I don't have any specialized experience in the field, but I'm well aware of how these sites work from my own use and have enough customer service experience to know how to handle situations that may arise.  At the moment, I have a lot of free time, so time commitment shouldn't be an issue.

[Ieshwar]

I'm already on Facebook (kinda lurker over there) but I won't be able to 'like' GA Page because I'm still in closet. Having 'Gay Authors' on my profile listed alongside names of my friends and relative is a no-no. GA offers an anonymous platform which is necessary for some of us. Besides what I love about GA's website is that it's self-sufficient. It has features such as "like", status, profiles, galleries... Everything that is Facebook-ish is already here. But if I had the choice, I would have 'liked' it even on Facebook. 

 

Putting my personal situation aside, I think Facebook may be the right step to give GA, along with the authors, more exposure. 

 

Personally, I would have liked something which brings 'an added value' to GA's website. Maybe vlogs on youtube? I would definitely check out my fav author's vlogs. Though I wonder how many authors would agree for that. Tumblr sounds interesting too, though I'm not a member over there. I may join if GA starts a tumblr thing. 

 

By the way, I've always thought that LinkedIn is mostly for professional contacts. Is it?

[Thorn Wilde]

I second Advocatus's comment about Tumblr. Making a GA Tumblr that promotes featured stories and content would be a really good way to get things out there. Tumblr's reblogging feature is an excellent tool in spreading content.

 

I would also like to respectfully disagree with his comment about Twitter, which I see as a far more grown up social media site than Facebook, since it's all about communication and not really about 'look at my new haircut'. Getting out properly on Twitter can be a good way to amass a more mature audience.

[thebrinkoftime]

I have to agree on Facebook, Twitter and tumblr. Places really only have Facebook pages because Facebook is huge -- but other social networks are a lot healthier and better designed than Facebook*(see the end of this post for an epic Facebook rant). I think it really only should be used to keep people abreast of announcements, maybe targeted toward lurkers or readers who don't register here. Like leshwar said, Facebook is not nearly as anonymous as most of the rest of the internet is and the anonymity of GA may not be required, but it is appreciated. Also Facebook is a political cesspool and it doesn't take long for Facebook interaction to get people of the wrong sorts to start interacting with the GA community through its Facebook page, even if they wouldn't be able to register here.

 

I quit Facebook 3 years ago, but if I still was registered there (and I probably am in some sick, venomous, money-grubbing way), I too would never like this site. Even though I doubt it would affect my social life much, I like keeping myself anonymous on the internet, putting a wall between my real life and my internet life. That's just the way I prefer it. But imagine if I was an educational degree graduate and looking for jobs -- employers pull up my Facebook page and find out I liked a site that contains sometimes graphic sexual imagery between teenagers -- I'd have to luck out on the open-mindedness of said employers for that to go well.

 

Twitter and tumblr on the other hand, are great. It's easy to participate in both while remaining anonymous. They're both a lot more fun to interact with than Facebook and more importantly it seems like the emphasis on both sites (at least when they are used properly) is to have a bit of silly nonsense fun.

 

Twitter was originally supposed to be the public repositiory of those little thoughts you have every day and keep to yourself -- but since those thoughts can be bizarre, charming, introspective, thoughtful and funny, they make for great social fodder. It's not just teenagers, not at all. Even from the very beginning, I knew many 20-,30- and 40-somethings who use the site. My mom even uses it! More than announcing new material on the site, twitter works best when you do things like live tweet -- post your thoughts on twitter while you consume a piece of media, such as a GA story or a TV show, game or movie. Those thoughts, when they're off the cuff and fun promote a silly environment. I mean it wouldn't be named Twitter if its original purpose wasn't silly in nature.

 

When tweets get retweeted they have the potential to really reach a wider audience than GA does right now because they organically start infiltrating the followers and twitter feeds of people who don't have GA on their radar, but perhaps would be interested in the site if they knew it existed. However twitter is frustrating and no fun at all when it gets used as a platform to editorialize complex and controversial views or argue endlessly. It's also not so fun when co-opted by huge corporations in order to force feed the hashtags into marketing for them, see exhibit A, Blurred Lines.

 

tumblr is genius because it's like twitter with images and the functionality to contain a richer kind of conversation, but neither of those things are necessary.  I know that we have a gallery here at GA, and I'm sure a lot of users enjoy it. Personally I would browse the gallery more and get involved with it more heavily if it were more integrated like tumblr, but that's just me. tumblr (yes I like not capitalizing it at the beginning of sentences, it makes me feel like a grammar rebel) contains a lot of AU, or alternate universe fiction, where users mash up gifs, images and fiction to imagine their favorite people in situations that differ from reality. A lot of the fiction on GA would resonate well with all sorts of fans of AU on tumblr and getting their attention would be a great idea.

 

However, tumblr is not so genius when fanbases get into tumblr wars on it -- it quickly becomes corrosive and annoying. If you've ever seen one start and followed its development, one is all you need to see to know that you don't want to see another one and become scared of how it is hard not to get sucked into them, so I imagine any interaction with tumblr would need to have GA's strict moderation on the prowl to keep it from being.

 

Instagram, however, can go screw itself.

 

One option I don't see is reddit. I don't participate in the site myself and I know there is already a button to report to reddit on this site, but since the entire original idea of reddit is to promote things that are worthy of reading, personally I think promoting GA into relevant subreddits is worth more time than putting any effort into Facebook. Dunno, just kind of struck me as odd, considering what kind of site this is.

 

 

 

And now my Facebook rant. Before I start, let me assure you I think no less of anyone for being registered or using Facebook, because at the end of the day it's just a tool. The following is simply an observation of Facebook as a social platform, a look at the whole thing when you take a step back, not an attack on you as a person or potential Facebook user. Okay? Cool.

 

Now then, at least among my social circle, Facebook is on the way out. The reason why is because Facebook feels more like an obligation you have to join to keep in contact with people who are too lazy to put any real effort into maintaining a relationship with you and lack the courage to make a decision to become a better friend or simply say goodbye. So they add you as a "Facebook friend, " which is basically purgatory for friendships. Any real relationship would of course go beyond Facebook and I can't imagine any real relationship being helped by many of the corrosive trends Facebook tends to help encourage. Raise your hand if you've ever felt insulted when either a) someone decides to share something on Facebook you specifically asked them not to, or they decide to share something and you find out about through Facebook when any real friend would have told you something like that in person first?

 

Moreover, this site and many others like it have already taken the good ideas of Facebook's social networking innovations and incorporated them into the site itself. You can already follow and like people on GA, add them as friends and keep track of what they are doing in numerous ways. This is healthier on GA than it is on Facebook, because there a set reason why people get interested in and come to GA in the first place and it stems from the narrow focus on gay literature. GA has become and is more than that now, but it all orbits around that nucleus. When I get to know people on GA, these features help, because I came here specifically to interact with other people who like gay literature. It's like going to a bar or meeting people who like to play or watch a sport you enjoy, or joining a book club. On Facebook, there is no nucleus to orbit around other than endless, endless amounts of internet idiocy. It's a country club where all you do is sit in upholstered chairs, drink lemonade and gossip about people while you feel good about yourself for being "upwardly socially mobile." (This would be the theoretical "you," not "you" as in the person reading this.) Anything worthwhile happening on the internet happens outside of Facebook. Facebook has served its purpose by helping sites integrate more social features into their structure, but actual Facebook's interface is awful, vanilla and boring compared to the vibrancy, spectacle and personality of a site like GA.

 

It's been said that many users are becoming inactive on Facebook and I can see why. Compared to sites which have an active interest in fostering unique conversation and interaction, all Facebook ever accomplishes is diluting those interactions into something more shallow, ludicrous and worthless. It's a chore to maintain. I already have to maintain a social status and appearance in real life that has to survive the scrutiny of people I'd rather not interact with for the sake of being "socially acceptable," why would I want to work even harder to do that again on the internet? No thank you.

 

Facebook is a scummy site invented by a scummy person in order to make money off of people's relentless social desires, but offering no really unique or valuable angle on such interactions. It sells people the seedy and self-serving idea that your identity is made up of all the things you like and choose to spend your time on, and helps perpetuate the idea that that's all your identity is.

Edited September 11, 2013 by thebrinkoftime

[advocatus diaboli]

I'm already on Facebook (kinda lurker over there) but I won't be able to 'like' GA Page because I'm still in closet. Having 'Gay Authors' on my profile listed alongside names of my friends and relative is a no-no. GA offers an anonymous platform which is necessary for some of us. Besides what I love about GA's website is that it's self-sufficient. It has features such as "like", status, profiles, galleries... Everything that is Facebook-ish is already here. But if I had the choice, I would have 'liked' it even on Facebook. 

 

This. While I'm out, no one knows about this site and that I write. I'd like to keep it that way.

 

Putting my personal situation aside, I think Facebook may be the right step to give GA, along with the authors, more exposure. 

 

Personally, I would have liked something which brings 'an added value' to GA's website. Maybe vlogs on youtube? I would definitely check out my fav author's vlogs. Though I wonder how many authors would agree for that. Tumblr sounds interesting too, though I'm not a member over there. I may join if GA starts a tumblr thing. 

 

By the way, I've always thought that LinkedIn is mostly for professional contacts. Is it?

 

Agreed. This is a great opportunity to give more authors more exposure.

 

Added value is key. That's what I was trying to get at with me mentioning Google+ Hangouts. YouTube is another great method for social media.

 

Yeah, I'm not sure why LinkedIn is mentioned. One of the key reasons to not promote an author to Promising and/or Hosted is if they try to use the site as a spring board. It's actually a reason for the author to having posting privileges revoked. To include LinkedIn or to have any sort of presence on there would seem contradictory and send a mixed message.

 

I would also like to respectfully disagree with his comment about Twitter, which I see as a far more grown up social media site than Facebook, since it's all about communication and not really about 'look at my new haircut'. Getting out properly on Twitter can be a good way to amass a more mature audience.

 

Maybe it was unfair for me to lump them both together, then.

 

I have to agree on Facebook, Twitter and tumblr. Places really only have Facebook pages because Facebook is huge -- but other social networks are a lot healthier and better designed than Facebook*(see the end of this post for an epic Facebook rant). I think it really only should be used to keep people abreast of announcements, maybe targeted toward lurkers or readers who don't register here. Like leshwar said, Facebook is not nearly as anonymous as most of the rest of the internet is and the anonymity of GA may not be required, but it is appreciated. Also Facebook is a political cesspool and it doesn't take long for Facebook interaction to get people of the wrong sorts to start interacting with the GA community through its Facebook page, even if they wouldn't be able to register here.

 

I quit Facebook 3 years ago, but if I still was registered there (and I probably am in some sick, venomous, money-grubbing way), I too would never like this site. Even though I doubt it would affect my social life much, I like keeping myself anonymous on the internet, putting a wall between my real life and my internet life. That's just the way I prefer it. But imagine if I was an educational degree graduate and looking for jobs -- employers pull up my Facebook page and find out I liked a site that contains sometimes graphic sexual imagery between teenagers -- I'd have to luck out on the open-mindedness of said employers for that to go well.

 

I have to agree with all of this, for the most part. GA needs to be on Facebook, simply for the huge userbase of the social network. However, since most people also use it for personal reasons and have personal friends and family members added, GA needs to be aware of that as well. In the Facebook-specific context, GA shouldn't be encouraging their fans to reshare their posts and engaging in those tactics. However, using it, as brink says, to make announcements and increase exposure to current stories is a fantastic use.

 

 

One option I don't see is reddit. I don't participate in the site myself and I know there is already a button to report to reddit on this site, but since the entire original idea of reddit is to promote things that are worthy of reading, personally I think promoting GA into relevant subreddits is worth more time than putting any effort into Facebook. Dunno, just kind of struck me as odd, considering what kind of site this is.

 

This is actually a really, really good point. A subreddit for GA would be an excellent way to promote and showcase the stories here on the site.

Edited September 11, 2013 by advocatus diaboli

[Zombie]

brink's analysis is informed and instructive, especially about Facebook. I'd also be concerned about building close links with Google - since Google took over Youtube I have found Google wanting my identity to be disclosed along with my Youtube content.  I got annoyed and fed up having to resist Google's persistent attempts to do this, so I ditched my Youtube a/c.

 

Until players like Google start respecting people's wish to remain anonymous I will avoid all engagement with them.

Edited September 11, 2013 by Zombie

[MikeL]

I appreciate thebrinkoftime's comments about Facebook.  I, too, am a former user of Facebook.  I found it demanding and intrusive...always wanting information from me that is none of their business and clearly sharing information where it didn't need to be.

 

I have real friends with whom I share my life.  I'm satisfied with that.

 

If GA links with other social media and that meets the needs of GA members...great!  I will opt out.  If I am required to sign in to GA through Facebook or to like something in order to have access, I'll take a pass.

 

If GA can use social media to expand its reach or enhance the experience of members, then I am in favor even if reluctant.

[TetRefine]

brink's analysis is informed and instructive, especially about Facebook. I'd also be concerned about building close links with Google - since Google took over Youtube I have found Google wanting my identity to be disclosed along with my Youtube content.  I got annoyed and fed up having to resist Google's persistent attempts to do this, so I ditched my Youtube a/c.

 

Until players like Google start respecting people's wish to remain anonymous I will avoid all engagement with them.

 

Yeah, the whole interconnectivity of YouTube and Google is just annoying as shit. I don't even sign in when I use YouTube anymore because it asks me a hundred thousand questions and wants to try to connect my YouTube with my Gmail account.

 

But yeah, Tumblr would definitely be a good place to start because they don't censor things unless its illegal. 

[Y_B]

Careful about opening the site up to social media...might get a little cray cray when you have this surge of newbs and wanderers log on or whatever. Could be good tho, definitely profitable.

 

GA ain't going anywhere near my FB.

[Thorn Wilde]

But yeah, Tumblr would definitely be a good place to start because they don't censor things unless its illegal. 

 

I have a screenshot from a gay porn blog that illustrates this. One image has been removed, and I just keep wondering what that image could possibly have contained to be censored.

[Johnathan Colourfield]

Spreading GA onto social media is a great idea - for the promotion of hosted/premium/published authors. Everything is going in the right direction

 

I'd like to volunteer to help out with the social media team I admin a couple of facebook groups for my course so I have a little experience in the field

[Gene Splicer PHD]

Reddit. It's got a big, thriving gay community, is gay friendly, and some of them are smart enough to be able to read.

 

Someone's going to have to dig deep into the site or be a redditor to understand why, but there are very good cross-promotional opportunities there. I lack the time to elaborate now, but the essence is that in the reddit.com/r/lgbt subreddit alone, there are 76,000 people who may want to read a good tale or two.

 

The gay subreddits I subscribe to comprise another 100,000 or so users. Not all of them read a lot, but certainly some do.

 

Think about:

 

Submitting an IAMA post with "we write gay fiction. Ask us anything!" 

A place to cross-post story updates to people that want them

A place to discuss (and push people to the forums here to discuss) gay fiction and writing gay fiction.

 

The trajectory here would be for mods here to 

- spend a little time learning and understanding reddit: what it is, the fundamental concepts of subreddits, posts, comments, karma, and user interaction. I would start here: http://www.reddit.com/wiki/index

- how to moderate a subreddit

- how to cross-promote GA on its own subreddit, pushing users here to read and contribute in the forums

- how to use reddit's subreddits themselves to promote the GA subreddit and by doing that, push people here.

 

It's a big job, but other websites have found good success by using reddit to drive traffic. It's the "front page of the internet!"

 

There are other such public blogs, such as Metafilter, that could conceivably spike traffic here, if it were done right.

Edited September 12, 2013 by Gene Splicer PHD

[Ron]

I'll say upfront that I don't have any particular favorable view on any of the varied types of social media being promoted here. I use Facebook but that's mostly family related and even so I have been thinking lately about closing that down.

 

 

I might point out that the leading idea of promoting the authors in the greater categories of Hosted and Promising is a safe bet and that probably should be an initial focus in whatever social media excursion that is decided upon. But! While that is well and good, I would also like to remind everyone not to focus solely in that direction. We have a vibrant and varied community within GA, one that I have come to adore, and that should have its own prominence in however GA is promoted. I came here for the writing and joined because of the greater community. This community isn't just an idea and shouldn't get lost in promoting GA but the idea of a community that you and she and he and that other fella over there can join and belong to... well that should definitely be put out there. People want to belong somewhere - to something. Give them that community.

Edited September 12, 2013 by Ron

[Myk]

I hate social media...

 

facebook - super annoying and violates everyone's privacy, but sure. They have a lot of users and once a page is setup takes minimal effort to maintain.

twitter - annoying little tweets (who ever thought it would be ok for a real mans man to utter tweet and not be made fun of?) about things nobody cares about. Also has a lot of users and can be setup to autopost tweets about each new story, etc.

google+ - does a single person actually use and like this?

 

overall these are easy ways to keep members updated about the site, but how many new members will they really attract? In my opinion not that many, but there is simply no logical reason to not have Facebook and twitter accounts.

 

other things that were mentioned: tumblr, youtube and reddit. Tumblr I have come to enjoy personally. It's great for pictures and reblogging is easy and can spread those post easily. When it comes to content though, not so much in my opinion. Youtube, as annoying as a google controlled youtube is, it is actually like a search engine in its own way and could be an easy way for people to stumble on content from people here. There is the key though....people. Someone would need to be posting videos in behalf of the site. Vlogs do present an entertaining medium but they take work, they remove anonymity and it's not exactly spreading the content of this site, which is mostly text based. Reddit, as much as I hate to admit it has become an extremely large online community. It could very likely be one of the better ways to attract new members and attention to stories here. It would require dedication on the account of members from here to promote the site there though. It wouldn't be easy but could pay off.

 

overall one of the better ways and more traditional is simply content based. The more posted here, the more browsers will return this site and the higher ga will be in those lists. Also the more authors post stories to other sites (including nifty, despite their awful policies) and either include links back to here or keep portions exclusive to ga, the more people will be drawn here to read. In the end ga will be as popular as the people who choose to call it home. Thus talent and quality people should always be the driving force here...

 

of course there is the whole domain name discussion, but I don't think that fits with social media.

[Celethiel]

double thumbs down to social media

[Mikie]

having been involved in site promotion for a role playing group, and also being involved in my dance studio's social media campaign, I think social media is the way forward.  I'd love to be involved in any way I can help.  I think it'd be especially helpful if our active hosted authors and published authors who have facebook pages, twitter pages, etc, would be so kind as to link back GA, or tweet about or @GA every now and again to help build exposure from any of their readers who might not yet know about our community here.

 

Clearly, to me at least, promotion via social media is the way to go; the way of the future.  I'm sure we can find a happy medium of preserving the anonymity of those who wish to remain anonymous and promoting GA.

 

Mikie

[FrenchCanadian]

For sure social media is the trend, these days, no organization can really survive without a facebook / twitter account. Therefore, I'm all for more social networking presence. 

 

Personally, I see a greater potential with Twitter as a way to post rapid updates, news, or promotion of new release. Naturally, I wouldn't mind giving an helpful hand if asked... 

[Myr]

Any social stuff we add to the site will be entirely optional and geared at promoting the site and our content.  It's kind of silly for a social website like us to tell people to go to Facebook.   and I completely understand the issues with FB.  Alas, the times are changing and we need to adjust to at least accept the change and opportunities that it presents.

 

My goal will be a GA+ social media situation.  We will always have our own membership, which you can be anonymous with, and any social media connections will be optional.  If you want to participate, great!  if not, that's just fine too!

 

Myr

[advocatus diaboli]

Myr, could you post the code to add the Like button to our signatures?

[Trebs]

Here is the code I use for my signature's version of the Facebook like

<p><span style="color:#800080;"><em><strong><span style="font-size:18px;">Check out and "Like" our GayAuthors' Facebook Page!</span></strong></em></span></p>
<p><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=https://www.facebook.com/gayauthors.stories&width=450&height=80&colorscheme=light&layout=standard&action=like&show_faces=false&send=true&appId=267905147055" style="border-style: none; overflow: hidden; width: 450px; height: 80px;"></iframe>

[advocatus diaboli]

Just to give everyone a heads up, because I just learned this. Regular users won't be able to add the Like button to their signatures themselves. HTML is blocked for security reasons (I'm assuming). I can't speak for the admins, but I'm sure if you asked nicely, one of them can add it for you.

[DearRadee]

If you guys need someone to help you out, I'd be more than happy to help

 

I can use Tumblr if you guys need someone for tthat thingy :3

[Former Member]

I can't be of much help until probably the New Year, but if you need anything, I'm game

[JamesSavik]

Reddit. It's got a big, thriving gay community, is gay friendly, and some of them are smart enough to be able to read.

 

Someone's going to have to dig deep into the site or be a redditor to understand why, but there are very good cross-promotional opportunities there. I lack the time to elaborate now, but the essence is that in the reddit.com/r/lgbt subreddit alone, there are 76,000 people who may want to read a good tale or two.

 

 

I can't stand reddit. It is impossible to become established there.

 

It doesn't matter how you post there. Unless you are part of the clique, you will be ignored.