For the past year, I have been faithful in adding to my Facebook. I tried to share interesting things and be interested. I have built up my Facebook to 500 Friends. I was missing the next step. The social media was not moving toward in the direction of selling my book, just gaining and enjoying friendships.

I needed something to move my book forward. At Christmas time, my daughter set up a Facebook page for me as Betty Slade Creations. She also set up a store. You can show 5 items on the free store on Facebook. She showed me how to track the number of hits, also where they came from. I’ve had several hits from other countries. Also, I have a good local following.

In setting up my Facebook Betty Slade Creation, my daughter used the same profile picture as my website to show continuity. She took advantage of all the things I have done in the past. I have notecards, books, paintings, art lessons, articles, and books. She set up my schedule activity to share and advertise for the next six months.  It is much easier and a time saver, while we were into the site, to add things.

We had free giveaways. Notecards were something I had done several years ago, and were available to use. Look around and see what you have. Maybe, it is time to re-purpose things for its greater benefit.

We set up group e-mails. I have 4 groups. Each person in the group has things in common with the group. For instance, my Wyndham Resort students have art, lessons, vacation, timeshares and other things in common. These need to be notified when there is a sale from one of the art supply websites. It is important I encourage them to pursue their art. I will notify them how to sign up for an art lesson when they are in town.

There is my Mary Magdalene Book contact list. These are the ones who have bought Spirit of the Red Candle, and are waiting for the next book. They are asking when the next one will come out. I need to keep them abreast of the progress of the next book.

I also received a new iPad4 for Christmas. There again, was the learning curve, how to get the maximum use from it. I learned Instagram, and other vital apps.  Everything I have been doing is a ploy of moving ahead with my social media.

I had my grandson, who works with film and edit, film a documentary of myself and my studio and gallery. It sounds like it is an egotistical thing, but I’m taking advantage of opportunities as they come. It will be a three-minute promo on YouTube, to advertise, my documentary on my Website. Today, it might not seem to be necessary, since I am very well and alive, but who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Saving time is essential. There is so many ways you need to go as you are doing social Media. Work smarter, rather than harder.

I have also started a 2013 book for the Artist’s Land Articles. As I write a weekly article for the Sun News column, I am copying it to my book, also to my Blogspot that has been set up for the Artist’s Lane Column.

I am keeping a log of things happening. At the end of the year, these postings will be a book, for anyone interested in my progress as a writer and artist. The things I am posting at this moment will be added to this book.