Red Room Where the Writers Are

Ananda’s Social Media Adventures, an excerpt from That Which Awakens Me: A Woman’s Poetic Memoir of Self-Discovery by Ananda Leeke

Copyright 2008 by Madelyn C. Leeke. All rights reserved.

When did your social media adventures begin?
Web 2.0 gave birth to my social media adventures. They started with my first blog on Blogger in 2005. Since then I have developed a passion for social networking sites (i.e. Myspace, Facebook, Meetup, and Ning.com sites), video and photography social media sites (i.e. YouTube and Flckr), social bookmarking sites (i.e. Twitter, Utterz, AddThis, Delicious, Reddit, Mixx It, and Stumble It), podcasts (i.e. Gcast and Gabcast), and online radio shows (i.e. Talkshoe.com and Blogtalk Radio).

Why do I love social media tools?
I love social media tools because most of them are free to use or have a low fee. Also, you don’t have to be a techie whiz to use social media tools. You just have to have time and energy to learn how to use them.

What have social media tools done for you?
Social media tools have helped me share and chronicle moments in my creative journey as an artist and writer that I can use in my poetic memoir and novel series, define and market my healing arts practice as a yoga teacher and Reiki practitioner, create a cost savings online marketing strategy for my debut novel, build brand awareness for my products (i.e. books and apparel) and services, expand the portals of exposure for and access to my creative content, establish and join social networking sites that address my various interests and allow me to connect with like-minded individuals and groups, support the creative and advocacy efforts of others, collaborate with others to create and deliver content via radio shows and podcasts, introduce videos and photos supporting my book and healing arts services, learn and experiment with new Web 2.0 tools, gather and share information, educate myself about green living, yoga, meditation, health and wellness, finances, Black women’s issues, social media, current events, popular culture, and politics.

What were your three greatest social media adventures in 2008?
My first greatest social media adventure was attending Blogging While Brown (http://bloggingwhilebrown.com), the first international conference for bloggers of color held on July 25 and 26 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. My second greatest adventure was creating BAP Living and Go Green Sangha social networking sites and radio shows. My third greatest adventure was realizing the unique ways Black women use the web to advocate, create content, teach, learn, and share information. That’s why I have declared that we are in the midst of Black woman web renaissance!

Do you have any social media adventures planned for 2009?
My main adventure is divided into four parts: learn about new tools, gather and share information, market my new products and services, and continue to create new content with support from others. I am also planning to purchase a smart phone and attend the 2009 Blogging While Brown conference.

Do you have any social media suggestions for authors, artists, and entrepreneurs?
1) Explore and experiment with different social media tools to see which ones meet your needs. It might take a few months or even a year to see which ones work for you. So be patient and stay open.

2) Determine how much time and energy you have to invest in using and maintaining these tools.

3) Create a schedule for updating and sharing your creative content on your blogs, social networking sites, and social bookmarking sites.

4) Subscribe to a social media blog, web site, podcast, or radio show that provides information about new tools and marketing strategies. I subscribe to www.chrisbrogan.com (great blog on community and social media) and http://ezinearticles.com/?cat=Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Social-Networking.

5) Participate in online and offline educational events so that you can learn about new social media tools and marketing strategies. Blogging While Brown is a great conference to attend. I hear that Blogher and some others are great too.

6) Evaluate your use of social media tools every quarter or twice a year so that you can streamline your efforts.