Social Media Engagement

The comments in my last post seemed to focus around the time it takes to use social media and also whether it's really important. It is hard to determine currently what the real return on investment is. Is it better to spend your time using a social network, or devote the time to creating? I think the answer to this is to go back to what YOUR goals are. If you create as an outlet, but are not really looking to take over the world, then perhaps you don't need to use Social Media. If you are trying to grow your business then people need to know you exist. Especially if you can't find ways locally to promote your creations.

You don't have to spend hours and hours using Social Media, but you do have to be careful not to get sucked into it and not be able to tear yourself away. Make a plan. Maybe you start with twitter and just spend 20 minutes a day, three days a week making connections. This doesn't mean posting links to your shop, it means just talk about what you are doing. What you are creating. At first, since you won't have many followers it will seem you are talking just to hear yourself type. This can be cathartic. Really. Eventually people will begin following you and will respond. It's a delightful feeling when that happens. Once you begin engaging this way and establishing who you are, then you can tweet a link here or there about one of your creations. Or, you can retweet someone else's link. Try starting here if you are working to grow your business. No more no less.

Etsy has a Storque article that is very appropriate to this topic written by Sister Diane from Portland, Or. There is even a podcast if you prefer listening to these kinds of topics rather then reading.

After you sign up for Twitter come back and post your twitter name so that we can all follow you. Perhaps we can even schedule a time and day that we all tweet...so that you have support and don't feel all alone. Plus, those of us who tweet can help you get followers.