It’s frustrating when an artwork is shared on social media and it gets no likes or interactions.  

Especially when the picture of your dog gets much more attention (thanks to Simone for that reference).

There are so many hoops to jump through when it comes to ‘working the social media system’. Times are changing and the way people use social media is changing.

The shift

Since the pandemic, things online have shifted. There has been a massive surge in people using social media personally and as a way to support their business. In one sense it is amazing how these platforms offer people the opportunity to connect with people all over the world and to create business opportunities.

However, it can have the reverse effect as the market can become saturated and it becomes hard to get in front of your own people. 

People also get tired. There is a real fatigue in people at the moment. They are tired of using social media and seeing the same things time and time again. There is so much noise and people are constantly scrolling through the noise on their social media platforms. 

Effecting business 

We are really noticing it within our business too. The things that really stand out are the ones that are gaining the most traction. Posting an image of your artwork may have once worked, whereas now you may post a picture of your studio pet and that will excel any post about your art. Something obscure. Something that people will stop and connect with are the things that are working on social media. It has become a lot harder due the saturation. 

This makes for thirsty work. People within our membership are asking if they should feel like a slave to their social media. It’s a lot of work to grow your platforms, maintain them and still enjoy them. Now, add in the testing task of making content that will attract people and beating the algorithms, the question is when do we stop? 

Stepping back

When lockdown began I came off social media personally. I found myself endlessly scrolling and becoming overwhelmed with the world. It was only meant to be for a short while but I actually didn’t miss it, so I’ve never gone back. Many people will say this is crazy when I tell them I run an online business, but I have found ways around it and it is more than doable. 

I am really glad I closed my personal accounts and my relationships have benefited from it. Having a connection with people is so important. We are now living in a world with a saturated online environment. The best way to stand out is to talk to people.

It’s a two way thing

Social media is a two-way thing, especially right now. If you keep churning content out and don’t take the time to sit and reply to your messages or comments, you won’t get anywhere. You need to be checking in with your posts, comments and messages and getting back to people to make it personal.

But this raises the whole question of, do I have to become a slave to social media? The answer for me is, no. Taking a step back isn’t always a bad thing. It has allowed me to become more excited about using social media again and to really think about how is best to use it. 

So here are some tips to help you with this:
  1. If you’ve got to the point where you feel social media is too much, it is time to step back. The world won’t end if you do this. Pop a message out there to your followers and say… ‘I’m taking a break for a while, but I will be back soon.’
  2. Try to reduce the number of times you are posting each week. Maybe just post once a week and schedule it in advance so you don’t have to be there to physically post it. You can do this in the Business Suite in Facebook. You could do this in bulk so you can step back slightly.
  3. Remember what you are using social media for. Remember it is a tool to help you to market your work and for you to be able to reach new people to share something you are really passionate about. 
  4. Try and remember how valuable social media actually is. Years and years ago you would have to go on prime tv and pay a fortune to be on there just to get in front of a load of people. With social media, you can do this on a daily basis for free. 

These are just a few things I have done over the last couple of years to really help me fall back in love with social media and the purpose it has for me and my business. Being disciplined when using it is perfectly acceptable and can allow you to sustain yourself to use it consistently for your work. 

If it all becomes too much, step back. I really hope this helps you feel like you are not alone in the ever-changing world of social media. 

Much love, 

Michelle x.

P.S. Have you seen our free guide? 31 ideas for your next social media post? If not, you can grab a copy today. Get the guide here!