In 2003, I was rehired by the aerospace company I retired from in 1995. At the time I was 63 and worked for seven more years. During this period, it was essential that I become computer and world wide web savvy. When I first started working on technical reports and proposals back in the 1960s, everything was done on typewriters by professional typists. Now everything is online, and authors and editors worked on their computers. They also had to know how to get around private proposal servers and websites particular to our company and customers.
At first, it was daunting, but by the time I retired for the last time in 2010, I was designing and creating the content for several company websites.
I also began to branch out as a creative writer in my spare time. To get my writing out to the public, I created my blog and website. When my memoir, Leaving the Hall Light On was published in 2011, I had to make my presence on the internet more widely known. Even though I posted on my blog regularly, my publisher encouraged me to join Facebook and create both a personal and author page, and sign up for LinkedIn and Twitter. I was told to make my presence known on those sites. Later on, I also joined Pinterest, Goodreads, and Instagram. I also became adept at my new smart phone using it for sending and receiving emails and texts, and taking and posting photos.
When one of my friends complained that her grandson never returned her calls, I encouraged her to text him. Within minutes I taught her how. I maintain if I could learn to use all these resources at my age, so can you.
Here are some simple ways to connect:
Facebook is the epitome of the social networking websites where you can easily connect with your family and friends, share photos and links, send birthday, anniversary, and new baby greetings, and commiserate with your network about their ill health, sadness, and grief. Facebook can also be used to promote your business. I created an author page, sometimes called a fan page, to promote my memoir and other writing work. I have joined many fan pages and groups related to writing, surviving suicide, and mental illness – all subjects that interest me.
Twitter is a 140-character message to your friends, family, and business-related contacts. I’m still getting to know the twitter lay of the land. If I like what someone tweets, I’ll retweet it, or if I like a message about someone’s book, I’ll like it or retweet (share) it. When I blog or post on Facebook it automatically links to twitter and my message gets out there – thanks to the person who helped me design my website. I have a Twitter username: @madeline40. All usernames start with the @. Another Twitter feature is the hashtag or # sign. I use those to connect with others in the same kind of discussion. For example, a lot of my tweets have the hashtags: #memoir, #writing, #suicide, #novel, #blog, #amwriting.
LinkedIn, a professional network, for people looking for jobs and employers looking for people. LinkedIn encourages its users to endorse their followers for their business and creative skills. And it’s always nice, if someone endorses you, for you to endorse them back. LinkedIn connects me with other writers as well. I belong to several LinkedIn writing and memoir groups.
Pinterest is like a visual online poster board. People use Pinterest for (according to http://www.makeuseof.com/): event planning (weddings, parties, dinners, etc.), reading lists, recipe sharing, home furnishing and décor ideas, inspirational quotes, gift ideas, health and fitness, and ideas for holidays. I use Pinterest to let people know about my memoir, share writing tips and quotes, share about my causes and favorite places, post photos of my family and other things I love, and find recipes, hair styles, and latest clothing trends. I currently have twenty-seven pin boards, some on my own and some shared with others with similar interests. I love the visual aspect of Pinterest. The possibilities there are endless.
Check out our Boards on Pinterest
Instagram is another place to post photos and videos. I love seeing other people’s photos, especially the wonderful shots of the young members of my family. Instagram allows its readers to make comments and like the photos they see on this online site.
Goodreads is all about the books we’ve read; we are reading or would like to read. My favorite aspect is that it keeps track of all the books I’ve read and gives me a list at the end of each year. Goodreads is also a place to leave book reviews.
With more and more people in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s still working, being adept with a computer and knowledge of social media have not only just become good to know but mandatory in the 21st Century.
