It seems like I’m hearing more and more about Myspace! Readers and writers everywhere are sending out emails asking to "be my friend". I’m the mother of grown children, so I know a few things about Myspace…but aside from my kids and their buddies coming by to check out my space, I’m wondering if this is a viable way to promote my books.
Many of my friends think Myspace has its benefits. True, it’s very time-consuming, and they take anywhere from five minutes to an hour a day accepting friends and responding to comments…but they believe the networking is worth the time and effort spent. Since I’ve been trying to spend more time and energy on promotion, I decided to take the Myspace plunge. Well…sort of. I went on Myspace last night and started my account. I added a current photo, and after a few minutes, I decided I needed to wait until I wasn’t so tired to fill in the rest of the information. Or perhaps I’m just procrastinating, knowing that I’ll have to spend precious minutes of each day maintaining myspace. Time away from writing
. Will it be worth it? I sure hope so!
So what are your thoughts on Myspace? 
Waste of time? Worth the effort? Readers and Writers alike…I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Oh, and to all you Myspacers out there—if you get an email from me later on this week that asks you to "be my friend"—I hope you say yes! 
Hey Julia!
and on myspace I place excerpts of my books. I’ve found that I love using them both, for different things. On MySpace I like to use it as mostly promotional, and I’ve been amazed at the number of hits to my site, because of it. For me, being a cyber hermit (I don’t visit blogs often, at all, or belong to groups) it isn’t time consuming. I have found a few new “friends”, authors and readers I don’t know if I would have connected with, otherwise. I’ve even had an editor visit my myspace and contact me! She read an excerpt and liked my flow 
Okay, let me make a confession. I LOVE my myspace, LOL! It’s different than blogging to me. I have a blogger account, where I’ll have little one-sided rants with myself,
I also love my musical playlist. I have a crazy mixture of all the music I like, including gospel, R and B, rock, and I think I have a naughty Vanity 6 song I LOVE!! I had a reader tell me when she goes to work she goes to my myspace page and mimimize the page and listen to my songs while she’s at work! HAHA, maybe I can get a side-gig at being a D.J
Although, I do have to admit to feeling like I’m in high school with the whole “be my friend” : LOL I go, usually once a week, and accept the friend requests, and try and go out and make a comment on most of them, time permitting.
I’ll befriend ya once you’re up and running! ( http://myspace.com/kimberlykayeterry )
Can’t wait to see you in Houston, Mami
xo
K
Comment by Kimberly Kaye Terry — April 17, 2007 @ 8:43 am
It’s a great place to be, Julia! You can really give visitors a fast insight to you and and your work all on one page. In terms of promo, just my take, but i think it’s important to hook up with other people as well as the authors out there. For example, my last publication had a pagan theme, and I’ve hooked up with relevant artists, musicians and practitioners. With DOUBLE DARE, I’ve hooked up with a lot of fetish groups and corset designers, and posted my corset wearing book cover as my sig in their comments. It generates a lot of interest in potential readers who may not already know your work. I found it took me time to set up, but once it’s done it’s just a few mins a day. And it’s FUN!
Comment by Saskia Walker — April 17, 2007 @ 9:25 am
PS a lot of the review sites/reviewers have Myspace pages, and some of the smaller publishers.
Comment by Saskia Walker — April 17, 2007 @ 9:31 am
Author, Mary Stella, dragged me into MySpace kicking and screaming. I was certain it was a time sink, a place populated by kids, and by wackos who stalk kids. Although, sadly, the latter does occur, I have learned MySpace is also populated by extremely positive, spiritual people. Readers, writers, industry professionals. Moms, dads. Or as they put in their profile–proud parent. As the ladies before me here commented, I have met and traded emails with people I wouldn’t have connected with if not through MySpace. I have turned some readers on to my books who may not have tried me, if not for MySpace.
It CAN be addictive, and I do have to practice restraint otherwise it is time away from my writing. But I do think it has proven a positive marketing tool. Beware, an occasional questionable person will try to befriend you. I check out every profile before I approve anyone.
Hope to see you there soon, Julie! (sorry for the ramble!)
Comment by Beth Ciotta — April 17, 2007 @ 9:48 am
Julia, I forgot to add, that if you want to make sure the comment pics are kept within margins, and not spread out your page, I will send you the code! Girl, no matter how you ask folks not to post this big @ss pictures they will! I have a code I put into the about me section, that keeps the pics small
Comment by Kimberly Kaye Terry — April 17, 2007 @ 9:59 am
I felt like you did, Julia — figure MySpace was a huge time sink and was avoiding it like the plague. But Mark showed me a few simple ways to make it look more than just bare bones, and I’ve built up a few friends…. Since then I’ve been amazed at the huge amount of traffic MySpace drives to my web page.
I admit I don’t use MySpace enough. There’s lots more I could do, I know, and Kimberly’s comments, above, about coding to minimize those bloody great big pictures would be very useful. Kimberly, if you’re reading, could I have the secret, too?
I’m inspired by the foregoing comments to try and be more user friendly on my Space.
Comment by Tracy Cooper-Posey — April 17, 2007 @ 11:41 am
Like you, I haven’t taken the plunge into MySpace yet. That will probably change after I get back from RT. I’ve already spoken to one of the book video companies about designing me a site. I just have to decide what its focus will be. I have to admit that I’m not looking forward to diving in there. It’s hard enough keeping my blog updated. Much less two separate sites.
Comment by Jordan Summers — April 17, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
Okay, I’ve got questions. I have a big problem because there are already people on My Space with the names Rebecca York and also Ruth Glick. I put up a page. I can’t remember what I called it!!! A few people have found me, and I don’t know how they did it. Boy does that sound dumb. MS told me I couldn’t change my name. I suppose I need to transfer my profile to another site called Moon Princess or something similar. Or maybe there will turn out to already be a Moon Princess. Any suggestions?
Rebecca
Comment by Rebecca York — April 17, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
Rebecca, I called myself saskiawalkerauthor (I think
You can still use your name as usual on the page title itself, ie it doesn’t have to the same as it is in the URL name.
Comment by Saskia Walker — April 17, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
I like myspace although I have to admit I had a lot of help setting it up from my 15 yr old son! I’m reluctant to invest too much time in it because I really want to be writing more but it’s a lot of fun!
I must admit that the European version Bebo is much easier to navigate and has specific pages authors can set up.
Comment by Kate Pearce — April 17, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
I have a MySpace page. I think it can be a great promo too, but it is what you put into. I need to spend more time on MySpace than I do. I think after I get this next book written and sent in, I’ll be on MySpace more.
Comment by Patrice Michelle — April 17, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
I’m still dragging my feet! I’m a little stubborn and thinking, “I already have a blog!” Still, I really enjoy these discussions where people list out the pros! Thanks everyone, for these great details.
Comment by Jolie — April 17, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
I must confess, that while I’ve had a myspace acct for a while, I’ve just started really using to add friends and hope to later on fix my page
I’d love to be added as your friend, Julia 
Comment by Ali — April 17, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
Ladies,
Thank you all for the valuable information!!!!!
Saskia, thanks for the fantastic ideas in terms of marketing certain companies! I’ll have to do that.
Comment by Julia Templeton — April 17, 2007 @ 10:58 pm