The final week of my reviews has arrived. Quill Shift Literary Agency with either disappointed once more or surprise me beyond belief. Let me give you a hint: I'm smiling. Quill Shift finally broke their radio silence. Though it is only two posts on Twitter, I am elated. The reemergence of the "useyourquill" hashtag makes my heart soar. In an early post - probably the first - I remarked how clever this was. The statement ties in writing and their company and has the potential to catch fire.
Though these occurrences do not represent a company that I would trust my book with - such as 3 Seas Literary Agency - this reinvigorates my hope ten-fold. Week by week, I was disappointed because I have been rooting for Quill Shift; the agency has an inclusive, personable premise that appeals to modern writers. If they began modeling 3 Seas Literary Agency's social media platform, surpassing through more quality posts, there is no telling what's in store for Quill Shift Literary Agency next. I cannot wait to tackle the possibilities in my campaign proposal!
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Despite myself, I hoped. I crossed my fingers for one, little tweet on Quill Shift Literary Agency's Twitter account as this project dies down. Next week will be my final review, and I would have liked to have more to shown for it.
But Quill Shift's decisions are out of my control. 3 Seas Literary unusually posted little this week with only one Twitter post and no Facebook posts. Additionally, the lone tweet did not connect with the agency or their authors, rather praising Netflix for one of their new shows. This week, 3 Seas Literary dropped the ball, but I can hardly penalize them when I remember that Quill Shift Literary Agency has not posted a single time since this assignment began in January. There will always be off-weeks, but off-months? Unacceptable. Another week with no social media activity on Quill Shift Literary Agency's three accounts. By now, I expect this, and I am no longer disappointed (ie. hopeful). Additionally, my emails have been left unanswered, and I believe I will never receive a reply, either. Now more than ever, I wonder if Quill Shift is even a business anymore. Of course, 3 Seas Literary has posted with six times on Twitter and twice on Facebook. This amount is low compared to previous weeks, but then I consider quality over quantity (which Quill Shift is failing at in both respects). Here are two screenshots from 3 Seas. 3 Seas promotes their brand while showing support to their authors. In the long run, this shows prospective authors that the company cares.
Quill Shift does none of this with their online presence(absence). There is no quality, because they have no quantity. Furthermore, in terms of building confidence within a prospective audience like 3 Seas Literary has done, they have utterly failed at it. I was perhaps one of their biggest supporters, but now, my hope has dried up. If Quill Shift did surprise me and replied positively to my internship application, I am not sure how I would respond. Would an internship with Quill Shift Literary Agency even be meaningful on a resume? Quill Shift Literary Agency continues its online absence, and I do not have the same hope - even as minuscule - as before. Additionally, both of my emails have gone unanswered. In contrast, 3 Seas Literary Agency is consistent as ever with four Facebook and eight Twitter posts in the last week. This number is fairly usual for them. I find myself comfortable with their social media activity compared to Quill Shift's. Here are a couple snapshots of 3 Seas activity. 3 Seas undoubtedly knows what it means to promote their authors. The audience can feel the excitement through the screen regarding Kerrelyn Sparks' new book; the full post is linked to their Facebook page, which is a smart social media marketing tactic that builds all of their platforms.
Quill Shift Literary Agency has quite a bit to learn from companies (competitors) like 3 Seas Literary Agency, whether it is in terms of simple social media activity or how to have an effective online presence. Once more, Quill Shift Literary Agency is nowhere to be found on any of their three social media accounts in the past week. They have officially passed the two month mark in their online absence, yet I am still hesitant to say that I have given up on them posting before this course project is up. I want to hope. I want to see them do well. I have followed them for more than six months now because I adored what they stood for from the get-go. Particularly, the meaning behind their name. While "Quill" represents "writing," "Shift" represents their understanding of the digital evolution occurring in the industry itself. There is a shift in writing - in how it is produced and published - so I fell in love with their innovative premise immediately. Which is why it saddens me so much to see them drop off the radar so suddenly. On the other end of the spectrum, 3 Seas Literary Agency continues to thrive with four Facebook posts and eight Twitter posts in the last week. In this small portion of their online activity, 3 Seas manages to promote two of their authors, mention / support one of their publishers (Sourcebooks), and announce their presence at an upcoming conference.
3 Seas Literary Agency has a phenomenal handle on what it means to be both active and effective online, and Quill Shift Literary Agency could learn quite a bit from them, even in simple consistency. As suspected, Quill Shift Literary Agency has not updated any of their three social media accounts (Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+) within the last week. In total, two months have almost passed since their last online activity. I'm worried. Not for my eventual campaign proposal - as Quill could benefit from quite a bit - but I am worried for the company itself. This radio silence is concerning, above all. Akin to every other week, I will compare Quill to 3 Seas Literary Agency. Within the past week, 3 Seas has posted seven times on Twitter and five times on Facebook. Screenshots appear below. Michelle - one of the founders - is supporting three of her authors. Clearly, 3 Seas is booming with business. Or at least, in the publishing realm, as the two pictures above display.
Perhaps I have mentioned this in a previous analysis, but if I could describe 3 Seas in only one word, I would pick consistent. This consistency lends itself well to words such as considerate, trustworthy, and genuine. They care, and you can tell. They have branded themselves extraordinarily well, and I can only wish the same for Quill Shift Literary Agency after my campaign proposal. Nothing. Nope. Nada. The above words were typed prior to actually seeking out at any of Quill Shift Literary Agency's three social media accounts. From the bottom of my heart, I hoped - hell, I pined - for some action as I typed in the designated URLs. And once more, I am disappointed. My expectations, if you can even call them that, were fulfilled. So as Quill continues their radio silence, I will look towards 3 Seas Literary to pick up the pieces of my once hopeful heart. To move beyond my melodrama, 3 Seas has posted five times on Twitter and three times on Facebook in the last week. A little less than what we are used to, but we'll see the quality of some of these posts below. Akin to every other week, 3 Seas stays on top of their game by both interacting with their readers, their clients, and with others in their industry. In this case, they retweet an event hosted by one of the best, Penguin Random House.
Where Quill Shift Literary Agency is consistent in their silence, 3 Seas Literary is consistent in their presence; placing them side-by-side as I have in the last month, it is clear which company puts forth the effort for both themselves and their authors. Quill Shift Literary Agency, for the fourth week in a row, is silent on social media. I feel awful thinking this would be a wonderful slogan for them. With no social media activity across the board in a month and a half, I'm concerned. I'm starting to question if they're even a company anymore. What are they doing? Is there a new project taking up all their time? If so, why aren't they posting about it? Hyping people up? On the other end of the spectrum, is something personal going on? I sigh. I'm confused. Dejected. I picked this company, loving them, but knowing they did not do enough. But to seemingly do nothing? I feel almost let down, especially in terms of being a hopeful intern. I love the mission of the company, but will having their name on my resume mean anything? Truly? Furthermore, I cannot imagine how prospective clients must feel, especially if they know any better. But if they don't and pursue them, anyway? Are they going to receive the best service in this industry? I cannot confidently say yes because of my observations these last few weeks. Because I have taken this company on as my project, I feel almost responsible for their activity, and the vast amount of improvement they require almost drowns me in despair. When comparing Quill to 3 Seas Literary once more, the dread only intensifies. Don't get me wrong, the successful platform 3 Seas has constructed gives me hope - inspires me - but things are not looking good for Quill. Not at all. In the last week, 3 Seas has posted eleven times on Twitter and twice on Facebook. Again, this amount can be justified based on each follower count. Here are a few examples of their posts: In these posts, 3 Seas promotes their authors, their success, and opportunities to purchase their work. This, and more, can be found on their Twitter as well. Michelle promotes her authors and company throughout this series of tweets, whether it is their books or overall brand (through contests and conferences).
Participating in the #MSWL (Manuscript Wish List) and conferences are a wonderful way of attracting new clients, as well. Additionally, 3 Seas has an author section on their website, allowing their audience to see who they represent, learn about them, and visit their website. Through them, prospective clients can see what working with 3 Seas is like. Overall, 3 Seas Literary's social media activity and presence represents what Quill Shift Literary Agency should be doing. If I were beginning my own literary agency, I would emulate companies like 3 Seas Literary to a T. To sum up Quill Shift Literary Agency's social media accounts in this last week, I only require these two words: Inactivity prevails. To prevail is to be victorious, and Quill's lack of online fortitude is quite troubling. Because I do not know what is occurring for the agency on the other side of the screen, I cannot with good conscience say that their social media inactivity will be the death of them. However, living in the technologically-driven society that we do, I am afraid that may be the outcome if they do not enhance their online presence soon. And by soon, of course, I mean now. So while I am not surprised at this weekly update, I am certainly disappointed. In more ways than one, actually. I am disappointed from the submitter's perspective as a writer seeking a company that cares, and I am disheartened as a hopeful applicant for their appealing editorial internships. If the social media activity of Quill was as consistent as 3 Seas Literary, these concerns would not exist. For instance, 3 Seas has posted eleven times on their Twitter account and three times on their Facebook feed in the last week. With their Twitter follower-count being more than three times that of their Facebook follower-count, it makes sense that their focus is on the account with their primary audience. Here are just two of 3 Seas' engaging tweets: In these two posts alone, 3 Seas does so much for their brand. Michelle, the founder, is both connecting with current clients - maintaining (and showcasing) the supportive relationship between them - and announcing that she will be at a conference, which gives her the opportunity to build 3 Seas through increasing her clients and connections.
I do not know what book 3 Seas is reading, but Quill needs to take a page out of it. Week by week, my confidence in Quill's brand diminishes. As an outsider looking in, I can only imagine what their current clients feel. Last weeks Quill Shift Literary Agency social media report was bleak in comparison to competitors (for a refresher: 3 Seas Literary Agency). I stayed away from Quill's social media accounts for the duration of this period, but upon returning today, I cannot say I am surprised by the results. Across all platforms - Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ - Quill has not posted once. Additionally, tomorrow marks an entire month since any social media activity. Again, I must note that any writer would have difficulty trusting their hard work with this company when one of their offered services is social media assistance. If they struggle to promote themselves, successfully or consistently, how could a client expect Quill to do so for them? When comparing Quill's lack of activity (or lacktivity) to 3 Seas' Twitter feed, I noticed Quill's negligence even more. 3 Seas, within the last week and on their Twitter alone, posted five times. Two of those posts are directly related to one of their clients' success. Michelle Grajkowski - the founder of 3 Seas Literary Agency - has put her best foot forward when it comes to her company. Moreover, consistency exists between her social media platforms where Quill experienced posting discrepancies. Even the congratulatory tweet we viewed on their Twitter made an appearance on their Facebook, with an additional image, to boot. This consistency - and obvious display of support - promotes trust within their audience, whether current or prospective clients.
As I continue to examine Quill in preparation for my campaign proposal, I will keep a close eye of 3 Seas' social media activity and success. Thus far, they appear to be a prime example of what Quill Shift Literary Agency should strive to be. |
AuthorAutumn Lala is an internationally published writer currently earning her dual-English degree at the University of Cincinnati. When she is not doing homework or writing, she is spending time with her loved ones or buying another cute mug she (supposedly) does not need. Archives
March 2017
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