Jerks & Irks XLIV: WLC, WTF?

The World Literary Cafe used to be my jam. I learned about it through Facebook/Twitter and spent hours on there a week, poking around. I stalked the forums and learned about new authors and releases. Then I found my favorite feature: A list of all the members’ Facebook Fan Pages, with the goal being for everyone to go down the list and Like everyone, receiving Likes on their own page in the process. Everyone gets mucho Likes. Everything is mucho bueno (I don’t speak Spanish, can you tell?)

And so it went and it was awesome for a good, long while. I even blogged about it. Then something changed. That plague of a practice that began on Twitter infiltrated the WLC Facebook Likes arrangement. You know what plague of a practice I’m referring to. The one where someone follows you on Twitter, you follow them back, then they promptly un-follow you. Sneakily and quietly. And you’re left following their selfish-ass for the rest of eternity, retweeting their witty remarks and news of success, none the wiser.

And this is what WLC is slowly becoming. I lingered right under 500 Likes FOREVER. Every time I would reach 500 or 501 I would get so happy. Blowing noisemakers, tossing confetti, buying celebratory cupcakes and dabbing icing on my cats’ noses. Then BAM! The very next day, I see my page sitting $hitty (the opposite of “sitting pretty”) at 499 Likes again. WTF, WLC???

I put celebratory cupcake icing on my cats’ noses, people! They hate that! I can only get away with doing it but so many more times before they eat me in my sleep! And there’s freaking confetti in my curly hair that simply WILL NOT come out! All because you couldn’t stay a while, get to know me, see how frickin’ funny I am, possibly buy my book… Wait, who threw that last part in there?

Anyway, World Literary Cafe is still my jam. I still poke around. I still naively like the Facebook Fan Pages of the other members. But I gosh darn REFUSE to buy any more celebratory cupcakes and I’m keeping the confetti aside for a more verifiable milestone.

Are you a World Literary Cafe member? Have you witnessed this atrocious practice? Have you bought my book, yet? Dammit, seriously who keeps throwing that in there?

 

The Road to Happiness is Paved With Facebook Likes

A couple of months ago, I was confused.

My blog had almost 200 followers.

I had about 700 Twitter followers.

But only about 27 Facebook Likes?

What the jumpin’ jelly beans, right? I found it completely ludicrous that I wasn’t as popular on Facebook as I was elsewhere in the social networking stratosphere. I scratched my head in contemplation until I developed a bald spot that could only be concealed by awkward, out-of-date side-ponytails.

“I think the scrunchie really helps disguise that pesty bald spot, don’t ya think?”

Then Missy Frye, one of my fabulous tribemates (if you’re not familiar with Triberr, you should be), posted about World Literary Cafe’s linkytool to gain more Facebook Likes on your fan page. You simply follow the steps to add your page and then go through and like everyone else and watch the Likes roll in on your behalf as well. As stated, I started with somewhere around 24-27 Likes and instantly shot up to near 100 over a few weeks. They still trickle in here and there, so now I’m just under 120. Not too shabby. There are a few cons though. Let’s discuss:

1. There are over 800 pages listed. You obviously can’t like them all in one day. I usually like 15 pages per sitting. You also don’t have to like them all. If you happen to morally oppose certain content or themes, no one will publicly flog you for skipping those pages.

2. There are over 800 pages listed. Once you start really liking pages, your newsfeed can get a bit cluttered. But is that really a bad thing? Being aware of the trials and triumphs of other authors is inspiring. The memes they post are relatable. The articles informative. I say, suck it all in folks! But, honestly, a fair share of the pages aren’t really that active. Couple that with the fact that Facebook only allows about 10% of your fan base to even view each post, and it’s really not a big deal.

3. There are over 800 pages listed. During the first few weeks when the visits to your page are really pouring in, you’ll receive a lot of copy-and-pasted direct messages. At first you will be delighted by all the attention, but at some point, you’ll wish that, just once, someone would leave a personalized message. Then you get one. And it’s awesome.

For the record, World Literary Cafe is all in all just a fantas-balls community for writers. There are forums, articles, and even book promotions. Even if you don’t participate in the Facebook Likes thingy (there’s one for Twitter too!), you should still sign up.

Now go find your happiness! And like my Facebook page!