Oli Hille, Author of "Creating the Perfect Lifestyle"

Welcome to a four-part series on social media. Four authors will stop by each week to share their expertise and knowledge. Today, Oli Hille will join us to discuss social media in general. Then, Phil Torcivia will focus on Facebook. Next, Melissa Foster will discuss Twitter. Finally, Jason Baudendistel will discuss LinkedIn. Significantly, I met all of these folks directly or indirectly through social media sites.

I got the idea of doing this series on social media after Oli asked me if I wanted to read and review his book, “Social Media for Income, Influence and Impact”. The book is a gem, and I knew I had to interview him. He’s an international bestselling author. His first book, “Creating the Perfect Lifestyle,” was an Amazon #1 Bestseller within two weeks of its release in November 2011. His other Amazon Bestsellers are: “Internet Marketing – for Income, Influence, and Impact” and “Trading for Profit.” He’s also a science fiction writer, and is in discussions with a top Hollywood director on the screenplay of his science fiction novel “The Simulan Game,” due out in mid 2012. Join me in welcoming Oli Hille, and on to the interview!

What led you to social media?

I realized quite early that Social Media allowed me to do something that has never been possible in the history of the world until now:

-Connect with like-minded people in my specific niche, quickly and easily. And then interact with them.

What is social media, and why should authors do it?

Social Media is any internet platform that allows you to connect with people in your specific area of interest or expertise (i.e. your niche). By far the most important are Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

What have you gotten from social media?

For a start I have made wonderful new friends. This is not surprising because I am connecting with people who have the same interests and passions as me. But also I have a network of people who are connected to tens of thousands of other people who also share those interests and passions. Obviously as an author this means I have a very large potential audience for my books.

Why are Facebook, Twitter and YouTube so important?

Simply because that is where the people are! It is the old 80:20 rule. 80% of the people are on the top 20% Social Media sites. Except that it is really a 95% – 5% split. Facebook is the most important, especially for an author because it is so easy to communicate directly with your readers and potential readers. Although a number of authors have had excellent success communicating via Twitter.

You advocate that the largest portion of time be spent utilizing Facebook. Why?

It is much easier for people to personally connect with you on Facebook. They see your Facebook profile, your photos, your book covers, your “Likes” etc. It is also much easier to see people responding to your posts.

Do you see the various social media working synergistically?

Yes this is a big part of both of my books “Social Media for Income, Influence and Impact” and “Internet Marketing for Income, Influence and Impact”. You need to syndicate your content to all of the main Social Media platforms. For example your blog posts need to automatically go to Twitter and Facebook. And if you have a video as part of your blog it needs to be on YouTube. Also for authors, Amazon allow you to link your blog to your Amazon author page which is a great opportunity to engage your readers there.

How can fiction authors utilize social media to connect with potential customers in their genre?

That is a very pertinent question because my Science Fiction novel “The Simulan Game” is coming out this year. This is what I recommend and plan to do:

1.Have a website where people can sign up for the launch – I have a very simple one page website for this already www.TheSimulanGame.com

2.Set up a Facebook “Like” page specifically for your book.

3.Set up a Twitter account especially for your book.

4. Join Facebook groups in your genre.

5. Join the wonderful “Amazon Kindle Publishing Group” www.Facebook.com/groups/kindleauthors on Facebook, where all authors are mutually encouraged and mutually helped.

6.Set up a YouTube channel for your book and create at least one video.

7.Send out excerpts of your book (e.g. Chapter 1) on all the Social Media sites – i.e. link the URL back to your website where people can read the first chapter.

What are some social media do’s and don’ts?

Don’t use Social Media to sell. Social media is about starting conversations, helping other people and connecting socially. Once you have a good connection, and trust, then and only then talk about your book (or other product and service).

The more people you help and advise and be friendly to on Social Media, the bigger your impact will be.

Tell us about your book, “Social Media for Income, Influence and Impact,” and what authors and businesses will find there.

I desperately wish I had a book like this when I started out with Social Media. The information in the book represents thousands of hours of research as well as hundreds of hours using the Social Media sites.

I used the information and knowledge contained in this book to launch my first book “Creating the Perfect Lifestyle” which became an Amazon #1 Bestseller within two weeks of being launched. That success would not have been possible without the information in the book.

I have over 20,000 Twitter Followers – in my niche: www.Twitter.com/lifestyle_book

I also have over 3,000 “Likes” on my website www.LifestyleBook.com

My major blog posts routinely get over 300 “Likes” and “Shares”

I have had thousands of views of my YouTube videos.

In the book I give people my blueprint for being successful using Social Media – it’s as simple as that!

You’re a big believer in doing what you love and are passionate about. Tell us about that!

Life is too short to be spending time doing anything else! My books on Social Media and Internet Marketing are about using these tools to earn an income following your passions, NOT finding a way to make a few quick dollars. That way is usually unsuccessful and soul-destroying. If you do what you love it never feels like work and you can’t wait to be doing it! It is the only sensible way to make a living!

Tell us about your other books!

I currently have seven books on Amazon. You can see them all at a glance here:

www dot Amazon dot com/author/1 (please note the cool URL!)

I thoroughly recommend people purchase my #1 Bestseller “Creating the Perfect Lifestyle”. It took me seven years to research and write, is 266 pages long and currently has 42 Amazon “5 star” reviews. It talks in huge detail about designing a life centered around what you are passionate about doing. The reviewers say it is a life-changing bargain at $8.97, but please make up your own mind.

Oli, thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your insights!

Links:

Oli’s Website: www.LifestyleBook.com

Oli’s books on Amazon: www.Amazon.com/dp/B0060O1LLM

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/lifestylebook

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/lifestyle_book

Creating the Perfect Lifestyle