SOCIAL MEDIA

SOCIAL MEDIA FOR AUTHORS

Some of you may have noticed I haven't blogged in a very long time. This isn't a result of procrastination but more a result of consternation. What to blog about? What will my niche be? 

It's taken me a while, but I've finally decided to blog about social media for authors. Tweet this.

Why social media?  

I’ve spent the last nine months immersing myself in podcasts, blogs, workshops, etc. that educate on the area of social media, and I have become enthralled with the topic.  I want to blog about what I’ve learned (and am still learning) in the hopes that other authors can benefit from my research.  

With that being said, today’s post is going to start a series of posts that take a look at Visual Social Marketing. The use of images and videos to promote one's content. 

This post is talking about the difference between embedding an image and uploading an image.  You need to know this. 

#467231455 / gettyimages.com

This is an image that I embedded into my blog.  Embedding is different from uploading.  When you embed an image, your site is not hosting the image. It is still being hosted by the site you snagged it from. This is a good thing when it comes to legal issues regarding using another's photos.  My understanding is that as long as I'm not using the photo to sell a product, then I can embed it and not be sued for stealing someone's photo.  Notice how at the bottom of the photo, it shows you the site it came from and gives the artist credit.  I didn't manually add all of this, the credentials magically happened when I embedded the image. Whoot!

How does one embed an image. 

I got this image from:  http://www.gettyimages.com/Creative/Frontdoor/embed 
And, below, I've pasted their verbiage for my right to embedded this picture on my site, so that you can read it. In no way do I pretend to be an expert on the legal side of embedding pictures. 

Embedded Viewer

Where enabled, you may embed Getty Images Content on a website, blog or social media platform using the embedded viewer (the “Embedded Viewer”). Not all Getty Images Content will be available for embedded use, and availability may change without notice. Getty Images reserves the right in its sole discretion to remove Getty Images Content from the Embedded Viewer. Upon request, you agree to take prompt action to stop using the Embedded Viewer and/or Getty Images Content. You may only use embedded Getty Images Content for editorial purposes (meaning relating to events that are newsworthy or of public interest). Embedded Getty Images Content may not be used: (a) for any commercial purpose (for example, in advertising, promotions or merchandising) or to suggest endorsement or sponsorship; (b) in violation of any stated restriction; (c) in a defamatory, pornographic or otherwise unlawful manner; or (d) outside of the context of the Embedded Viewer. Getty Images (or third parties acting on its behalf) may collect data related to use of the Embedded Viewer and embedded Getty Images Content, and reserves the right to place advertisements in the Embedded Viewer or otherwise monetize its use without any compensation to you.

That being read - They have an icon on some of their photos (not all) that you can click on and it gives you the embed code.  You copy the embed code. Then you go to your blog post and where you have a button that says HTML,  that's where you will paste your embed code.  

Don't freak out.

When I first clicked on the HTML button, a box full of code came up. I quickly closed the box thinking I was about to erase my entire blog or something.  Then I reread the instructions for how to embed, took a deep break, clicked on the HTML button, and took another look at the box.  I realized that at the bottom of all the scary code, I could hit return and have a free line to paste my code.  I did this.

Then I went to the preview page of my blog post and - ta da - my photo was there.  

I hope you give this a try in your next blog post.

So before you read this post, did you know about embedding an image vs. uploading an image?