Facebook Fan Page for the WGtR

I decided to conduct an orchestrated social networking extravaganza for The Wadsworth Guide to Research (the textbook I co-authored; it finally printed last Fall). On August 1, I made a Blogger blog, Wetpaint wiki, Twitter account and a Facebook fan page.

In the first week we got over 70 fans and now, August 23, we have 121 fans. WOW. I admit, that a large number of the first number burst came from Devon A. inviting his students (he suggested his high school students purchase the book, some have and I’ve even got one review!). I now need to suggest it to my friends as well!
What I’m interested in is the passive nature of “fan” pages. It seems to me people can just “fan” something and never go back. Now, I’ve started posting stuff to the fan page every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Basically I’m posting to Blogger on Mondays (pushing the URL to both Twitter and Facebook) and then posting extra stuff to Facebook and Twitter. However, I’m pushing different stuff to Facebook and Twitter (not blanket repeating). Now I’m excited about doing all this; however, I’m wondering how do I access the effectiveness of this work. I’m imagining my primary audience as instructors; however, I know students are there too (and most of the stuff is useful for both). I started this to help support students and faculty using the book; however, how do I know if they are “using” it. And of course, you know the publisher wants to know if it is helping with sales. And since I don’t have direct access to the when/where/how of sales, I don’t think I have a way to cross-analyze hits and sales.
If anyone has ideas, definitely hit reply and share. Otherwise, I’m sure I’ll post about this more in the future.

August 23 2009 | Posted in WGtR