Everyone wants authority and respect - bloggers doubly so - and they don’t want it to take a long time to build. Consquently, many of us will flock to this “how to” post or that “how to” post that will guarantee an increase in readership, social media attention, and maybe even some riches. I’ve certainly been doing that. I’ve even been trying to either follow this industry leader advice or, much to my horror, I’ve been copying the styles of some of the more successful meta-bloggers out there. Copying is a way to learn, but it feels fake when you realize that’s what you’re doing.
I’ve also been waving the social media banner, marching like a good soldier and spreading the word of social. I’ve been active on a couple of social news and social bookmarking sites to try to build up my reputation. I’ve been trying to walk the walk. I even hit one of my Digg goals far, far earlier than I anticipated - I’m in the top 1000 Digg users list. I think I’m 710 or something like that now. I started thinking about next steps to see if I should get into the top 500 (this list is based on the number of popular, or front page, submissions.) In addition to being an authority-building exercise, it’s kind of fun. It’s a game in many ways.
Then, of course, my brilliant new acquaintance Naomi really helped put the nail in the coffin by talking about the apparently declining juice of social media. It seems that we bloggers are exploiting social media loopholes in our quest for recognition and income, so now the social news and bookmarking sites appear to be closing those loopholes.
I’ve been witnessing a decline in StumbleUpon visitors, my primary source of traffic. You could certainly argue that some of my more recent material isn’t quite as social media friendly as previous submissions, or even the same quality, but so be it.
The problem is that the world doesn’t need another god-damned article about how to go from 0 to 10,000 subscribers in 30 days, especially from someone who’s never done it before. Quite frankly, it’s probably a combination of luck, talent, and timing that makes these growth anomalies happen. And they are anomalies, because so many many other bloggers struggle to stay afloat, let alone grow.
So I find myself starting, then scrapping a number of new posts these days, mainly because I can’t bear the thought of apeing someone who’s more experienced and more talented at blogging and social media than I am. A lot of my posts have been starting off in that stereotypically appealing “how to do important stuff” tone, but then I find myself screeching to a halt because I have a growing sense of my limitations.
Aside: I note that Skellie hasn’t posted in over a week. I hope everything’s OK there.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve become increasingly aware of knowing that I don’t know as much as I thought I did about social media and blogging. I feel like I’ve got to keep raising my game. I get embarassed at some of the dumber things I’ve written at this blog. I start to feel like nothing that I write will be good enough or that it’s been written already.
And so on.
I’m no different than most people - I do want the quick hit and the literal torrent of visitors. Everyone likes some fame and recognition. Nobody wants to wait for success from long, hard work - life feels too short.
But at the same time I do think that the phrase “paying your dues” is valid. I just don’t feel that I’ve earned it yet, compared to plenty of other hard-working bloggers out there.
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Most of all, I’m feeling less and less comfortable about blogging in the social media realm because, in all honesty, I’m not very social these days. Or socialable. Or whatever the term is.
Fact is, I’m an introvert, although I can do well in social situations when I want or need to. I’m not a social butterfly, by any stretch, although I seem to have over 1000 “friends” throughout the various social media platforms that I belong to. This just seems weird. It’s nice, in a way, but it doesn’t seem to match reality. Plus, I also know one of the fundamental reasons why people follow other people: because they think there’s value in being noticed by this person.
The social media term “friend” is somewhat deceiving. “Friends”, unless you really have prior history with them, are more properly called contacts, colleagues, or acquaintances.
You know, I think that’s my biggest problem about social media. It’s not really about building lasting emotional bonds with deep trust and sharing with the people that you communicate with online. Social media is more about building lecture halls or classrooms or clubs or parties where a bunch of people can share and discuss ideas and experiences. The “social” part is really describing two way, one to many, or many to many communications. “Interactive” or “feedback” media might be better descriptions. Or “farmer’s market”, if you’re feeling a bit cynical.
Sometimes being a social media enthusiast feels like loving typing so much that you obsess over your typewriter and who hasn’t. Social media are tools. It’s what we do with them that matters. Besides, there are plenty of communications professionals who can claim more authority within social media than I can while I don’t expect to shift my career focus to that skill set. Writing without authority catches up with you after awhile.
I’m not different than you: I want it all and I want it now. However, I’m starting to realise that my current methods and content might not be leading me to the Promised Land. I’m a good writer and I have a mind built for analysis, but this growing overlap between mass media, PR, marketing, and social media make me believe that, while social media is a good skill set for me to learn, I don’t think I’ll ever master it and I’m not sure that I want to. I don’t mean any disrespect to anyone who makes a living using the media (I’d like to, in some ways.)
The upshot, dear reader, is that the subject matter of this blog may change over time as I find a more fitting direction. Hopefully, if you’re reading now, I can make it as rewarding as possible for you to stick around. I owe you that.
