I’ve been doing some traffic building lately and that includes reading experts on how to build traffic.
And I’ve been getting dizzy because so many of them seem to emphasize social media – you know, Twitter, FaceBook, Linkedin, MySpace, Instant Messaging, Stumble… oh, and email of course, where all this started.
I’ve had the feeling that I would not only have to give up my clients but the rest of my life if I were to try even half of what’s suggested.
Carson and Naomi Return Me To Breathing
Thank God for some sanity.
Part of my strategy has been commenting on other blogs. One of them is Carson Brackney. He’s so, well sane. Yesterday he cleared up some search engine stuff for me, today he’s got: Anti-Social Social Networking. Feeling overwhelmed by it all I was delighted with the title. Although I didn’t understand everything he said I sure like the idea of not doing the usual thing. He also admits there that his social media is a mess – like mine! Carson also pointed to Naomi Dunford and her IttyBiz.
Yes! Naomi is one of those wonderful, mad people who refuse to take things too seriously – she’s blogged You Are Not A Bad Person And You’re Not Doing It Wrong. I started breathing again. Carson also pointed to her How We Killed Social Media.
In the first Naomi works the numbers and shows you, and me, we simply can’t pretend to keep up with it all, even if we started all over again. She gives some examples of how others are attempting to handle it all and I don’t want to work or live that way either.
The second? She tells us how it happened if you’re curious.
What Was It I Wanted To Do?
All I wanted to do when I started this blog was share what I know about freelance writing, self-publishing, blogging and the like and make a bit of money doing it.
That and work with some clients and play with my grandkids and walk along the beach.
You know what, I’m going to continue doing 10 or 15 minutes of traffic building a day, delete most of the emails and get on with my life.
How about you?
Write well and often,
Image from http://www.sxc.hu
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{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Wanted to share this link on events. So encouraging.
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/02/no-more-big-events.html
.-= Heidi Fogle´s last blog ..Antacid Alternatives =-.
Seth is just great isn’t he.
I’m headed to a social media conference. All of your comments are making sense. That’s a little scary, but then I just returned from a writers’ conference where I learned what I DON’T want to do and made a lot of great contacts.
Oh–yes, I too, hate networking events but maybe that’s how I’ll have to treat next week!
.-= Heidi Fogle´s last blog ..Antacid Alternatives =-.
Good luck at the conference.
I don’t use Twitter. I’ve got my blog for professional stuff and a Facebook page for social stuff, and that’s enough for now, since I’m still unpublished. I also talk about what I’m doing in my chat room, and paste the blog URL in there and on my Facebook when I have a new post. I figure if my friends read it and like it, they might recommend something I write to someone else.
If an agent should ask me about that, I’m cool with expanding it. I’m not averse to using social media, but I don’t want to spend so much time on it that it cuts into my writing time. Although I have to admit I’m addicted to my chat room.
.-= Elizabeth West´s last blog ..What Title Page?! =-.
Twitters 140 character limit is ideal for me… but it’s always different ways for different folks.
They promise the moon and give you asteroids. Especially if you sit too long at your computer.
.-= jorgekafkazar´s last blog ..Tenirax, Ch V =-.
love your images sometimes Jorge – they always make me think,
I’ve made my peace with Twitter, and I’m active there, don’t do much on the others, besides a few articles. But I see no harm in it, I actually enjoy it. What turned me around was a comment someone tweeted–would I rather spend 30 minutes a day on social media or spend hours going to networking groups? No contest, I cannot stand networking events! I can appreciate the other point of view, however, because I used to feel that way also. I think it is all about balance.
.-= Charlotte Rains Dixon´s last blog ..When to Go Back, When to Let Go? =-.
Well when you put it that way! I don’t like networking groups either.
Social media has taken the world by storm. In fact, some people believe it does more harm than good because it’s so informal. When people network, they forget some of their “in person” social skills.
I use the standard social media sites with a few article marketing sites thrown in for good measure. I’m doing my best to focus on writing. My books, articles, blogs, teen life coaching program, and screenplays will not write themselves
.-= Rebecca´s last blog ..Find Inspiration within Writing Groups =-.
I think the jury is still out on the harm v. good results of social media… and yes, writing never happens by itself, darn it.
One last thought before I jump back to work…do you remember the Stop the Insanity infomercial? How I feel sometimes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p063wg78Yss
.-= Cathy Miller´s last blog ..Health Care Tuesday – Sick Over Health Care =-.
I do remember!
My Dad had a saying, “Everything’s relative.” If you keep it in perspective and not let it take you over, it has many benefits. We all just need to figure out how it works best for us – like y’all said-there is no right or wrong way.
.-= Cathy Miller´s last blog ..Health Care Tuesday – Sick Over Health Care =-.
I can’t say I blame you for giving up on all that. It seems like you should have to keep with everything that goes on. I just don’t worry about it that much. If I miss something oh well, there are other ways to get a hold of me. I will still stick with social media though as I have some great people there.
I keep seeing more and more of these kind of posts lately. Interesting.
Yeah, Christopher, I’ve jumped on a band wagon, not started one… some sort of shakeout coming I’m sure.
As I mentioned on Carson’s blog, I love social media and all its individual tools. It has helped to grow my business and I met many new friends, clients, collaborators and more. I don’t believe there is a single proper way to use the various social media tools such as Twitter. It’s what you make of it, nothing more and nothing less.
.-= Deb Ng´s last blog ..b5Media Layoffs Are a Good Reminder to Spread Those Freelance Writing Eggs Around =-.
lol, I wont’ give up social media entirely… but I will pay more attention to myself and stop for awhile when I start to feel that omg feeling about it.
Anne:
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I finally added Hootsuite to try to organize all the various social media, which has helped. But I could spend all day reading & clicking & more reading & clicking & RT and on and on and on…
Funny, I just wrote a post called, Remember the Point of Your Business – Your Customer, that also dealt with how social media can overwhelm you. http://tinyurl.com/yjjmurf
It can be a great tool. especially for relative “newbies” like me to build a client base but that tool can become the weapon that kills our business if we get sucked into the noise.
I love Carson’s, Naomi’s and your dose of reality! I think I’ll go brew a cup of green tea.
.-= Cathy Miller´s last blog ..Health Care Tuesday – Sick Over Health Care =-.
I’m messing with hootsuite and a couple of others… you’re article makes a lot of sense. And where do you get the cartoons… much fun.
Hi Anne:
I just stumbled upon the “create your own cartoon” at http://bitstrips.com
It’s fun and I’m sure I’ll create more-especially since you can create one of yourself. I figure that’s about the only way I’ll get my own feature! LOL!! But beward–it’s another of those fun, time-sucking endeavors.
The more I use Hootsuite, the better I like it. I created tabs so I can control what I look at and don’t get that sense of being overwhelmed. Would love to hear what you end up with and how it’s working.
.-= Cathy Miller´s last blog ..Health Care Tuesday – Sick Over Health Care =-.
beware–beward…whatever
.-= Cathy Miller´s last blog ..Health Care Tuesday – Sick Over Health Care =-.
Will certainly use that one for Friday Fun… meanwhile, I’ve got a few minutes….
“…it always looks naked to me without the e, which isn’t always a bad thing.” I like your moxie, woman.
You know, it’s true that social media has been hammered to death by those who overuse it. I’m more of a hit-and-run poster, tweeter, Linker, etc. What gets me is some of the folks who equate social networking with electronic begging. If you haven’t interacted with someone beyond asking them for work, you’re not doing it right. Just say hello. Retweet. Comment. Relax.
)
.-= Lori´s last blog ..Flipping Off Our Favorite Excuses =-.
Oh I dunno, Lori, if you can flip off excuses….
I’m wondering if we aren’t seeing the beginning of a backlash and shakeout on social medial… no clue what that might actually mean.
Hey Carson, it always looks naked to me without the e, which isn’t always a bad thing.
And once again, I left the “e” off the end of your name. One of these days…
.-= Carson Brackney´s last blog ..Anti-Social Social Networking =-.
Glad you like the post, Ann! Thanks for pointing it out to your readers!
.-= Carson Brackney´s last blog ..Anti-Social Social Networking =-.