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| Photo credit: HealthGauge on Flickr |
What I mean isn’t so much that what I post is extreme in any way (it’s not, at least, I don’t think so), but that now, in 2015, I am everywhere. Maybe not literally, but as far as the internet is concerned, I am in all the places.
Twitter, tumblr, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, this blog, if it’s been moderately popular, I’ve at least looked at it. The only two I haven’t really connected with are Pinterest and Google + (though Google + seems to have made an account for me, in a creepy, mandatory I see you have gmail way, but that’s another matter entirely…).
I’ve been running this blog and Twitter the longest, so naturally my biggest followings come from those two sources. But over the course of a few years, my tumblr and Facebook have grown, and while my YouTube and Instagram accounts are both new (especially the latter), things seem to be chugging along pretty nicely there, too.
The thing is, every social media platform requires different ways of interacting with people. Every strategy that’ll get you Twitter followers, for example, won’t really work on YouTube, or the strategies you use to get more hits on your blog won’t really apply to Instagram.
There is, however, one thing you need across all platforms if you’re trying to build a following: consistency.
Whenever I start a new social media venture, I try to set out right at the beginning how often I intend to post and when. To give you an example, this is what I generally aim for:
- Blog: post on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, check comments daily (when possible).
- Twitter: check daily (mostly because I’m addicted…)
- Tumblr: check daily (usually only a few minutes at a time), re-post blog posts and vlogs here, reblog anything interesting I see.
- Facebook: re-post blog posts and vlogs, and browse through FB feed for a few minutes afterward
- YouTube: upload on Tuesdays, answer comments as they come in (when possible).
- Instagram: still working out a schedule. Try to check daily and post at least once a week.
I don’t spend equal amounts of time on each platform every day (or even overall). But what I do try to aim for is some sort of consistent presence.
For YouTube, that consistency means a vlog a week and checking comments. For Twitter, it means something entirely different—somewhat unending retweeting, tweeting and feedstalking (but again, that’s mostly because Twitter is my favorite, so…). So on and so forth.
Consistency doesn’t mean that you can’t ever take a break, or that if you fall behind one day it’s the end of the world. What it does mean, however, is that you give your viewers/followers/whatever a sense of when they should expect to see content from you. Because, after all, the more you show up, the more they will.
What tips do you have for building a social media presence?
Twitter-sized bites:
Trying to build your social media platform? @Ava_Jae shares one key tip to growing your online presence. (Click to tweet)
"One thing you need across all platforms if you're trying to build a following: consistency." (Click to tweet)
10 comments:
I've recently got into Pinterest. I saw it as useless before but what I've actually started doing is making a private board of images that remind me of characters and influence my stories. That way if I want some inspiration for description or personality, or just a quick reminder, I can have a flick through. It works well for me as I am a very visual person. As for Google+ it's actually my favorite... Though I have one big problem with it, namely Google being evil. It's like tumblr but it has actually social interaction and conversations, it's like Facebook but it's full of interest people rather than family and time wasters, it can be short and concise like Twitter or it can allow for long blog posts and both feel as natural there as the other. I just don't like the company that runs it.
I do have a Pinterest account, I just don't really use it much for writing-related things. I have a few private boards with inspiration, but my public boards are more random tattoo and hair things than anything else, so not something I consider really...platform-building lol. But it's fun to scroll through.
That's interesting about Google+! I don't have any bad feelings toward Google (besides, I suppose, that they made me a G+ account I didn't want), but your description sounds interesting.
It's the most versatile platform for sure, but I guess that is also a bad thing as people don't know what to do with it! I tend to just link blog posts and comment on other things. Yeah, I ant really see using Pinterest as a platform for writing. It's structly a writer's tool
The key to building community and seeing results from social media is most definitely consistency. If you want something to work, you need to stick with it. Fantastic post!
I do like this post, mostly because I like seeing how other people promote their stuff. I am a Pinterest person, mostly because I like posting funny pictures to share with my dad later. BUT I also like it because it's a lot easier for me to pin links to useful posts (how to write this, how to fix a doorbell, things you should know about psychopaths, etc.) so that I don't have to save them to my own computer, and I can sort them in a manageable way. I LOVE SORTING THINGS. Pinterest is like a big sorter. It is the best. Also, I've used it to share blog posts and things; which isn't necessarily as useful in the short term, but it works.
Also, I just find it interesting when people talk about Twitter because I like it, but it's hard to use and I don't understand how people find it so useful when it kind of overwhelms me. So I keep searching. XD
Absolutely! I have a strict schedule and I follow it daily. Not only does this keep me consistent, but also my viewers. I personally really like google+ and it is apart of my daily social blitz. And I'm always on the lookout for new ways to promote my book and blog.
Thanks, Briana! I definitely agree that you need to stick with something if you want to see it succeed. That applies to quite a bit, actually. :)
I think different social media outlets work for different people. I know lots of writers who LOVE Pinterest, and while I kind of get it, it's just never sucked me in (at least, not from a writing perspective) besides occasional inspiration. Sometimes I use it, sometimes I don't, but I definitely don't consider it part of my platform (at least, not right now).
And Twitter is a fun one. I'm obviously obsessed with it, but I know it doesn't work for everything. :)
Yes! That's a good point—consistency is good for you and for a steady traffic stream. :)
Yeah, I definitely understand using it as a tool for inspiration and what not more than I understand how to use it for promotional purposes. (But that's just me.)
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