Is Facebook and Twitter your Friend? Is social media really anyone’s friend? I have posted on Facebook and I have tweeted. I am guilty! I was content and had made friends with the social media concept. I have done research and learned all that I could. I explored many of the different ideas, philosophies, expectations and approaches. I was comfortable with all of this and applied it to my art, my work and my life. It seemed to have purpose even if my followers on Twitter were my imaginary friends… they were mine!
I have used Facebook and Twitter as a means to share my art, my published articles and to try and expand the number of people that see my artwork and to try and build a following of friends and people that can share in my creative process. I have been doing this for over a year and at best I have an average of three/four people who will “Like” or comment on my posted or a piece of artwork that I have just finish… but as a general rule I have not received much feedback. I understand everyone is busy. But then it got werid when I posted that my phone had gotten wet and had stopped working. An hour later I had over 15 likes and posts concerning my phone.
I appreciate all the concerns that people shared. But I am really confused why a wet phone would get more attention than a painting that I have worked on for over a year.
So I post this as not to discredit the individuals that are my loyal fans and were genuinely concerned that my phone was dead. But I would like to pose these questions to everyone.
- Where does an artist post things to get exposure?
- What sites do you use?
- What formats have you found to be useful?
- How do you become more visible?
I only have so many hours in a day and just so much energy. I want to make sure that my time is used to the best of my ability.
Was just speaking about this subject with a performance collaborator tonight.
She sends emails monthly with updates of her latest work or work-in-progress.
Of the myriad of contacts she mails to on average 240 are opened. Of those less than 100 will click on the link to her website. This is considered to be a successful campaign.
I mentioned that recently I started observing a kind of social-media malaise. Even in myself. A groaning inbox with between 150-200 emails daily of which many require attention.
Her wisdom to me was to remember that social-media was indeed designed to be just that…‘social’.
Apparently (unbeknownst to me) social-media etiquette states 70-80% of the postings on FB or Twitter (among others) are to be ‘social’ interactions and the other 20-30% self-promotion. I do see the logic. I had no idea!
So this strikes me as a possibility as to why your cellphone dilemma post was responded to by more people. It was more social than strictly promotional. And being without phone service is something that most people have experienced.
I’m thinking about some of my friends on FB that will post just a small comment about their day teaching or train ride home, etc…and how they often receive tons of ‘likes’ and often a slew of comments.
So, anyway, that’s my 2¢ on the subject 🙂
Hope this helps.
Pablo