Small Business and Social Media

A dichotomy.

Good ol' wreck this journal.

Painting a mural at my friends parents house.
One of them just had a baby, the other lives in London and the other is getting married soon.

In 2013 I ran ZDAAP from Facebook ^ these were my first few profile pictures.

I made my first Instagram post when my friend interviewed me about making art in 2015.

I made art for people - word of mouth mostly and I didn't think much more about it.

I'm struggling to get my head around the fact that was 12 years ago.

Social media always had the insipid ability to warp what we really need.
As a creative on the internet it is really hard not to equate views or likes with quality or reason.
It's hard to separate effort and pride with reception.
And it's super hard to keep leaning into gratitude on days where it does indeed feel like shouting into the void.
​
I would love to be a post it and leave it person.
It's something I'm aiming towards.
I know that my adhd brain craves connection and my phone feels the easiest way to do this.
​So finding the balance is something I'm working on a lot.

My current schedule is more than enough for posting.
I don't claim to know enough about insights and SEO and analytics - but I'm trying!
I really didn't think about it at all 12 years ago.

But the landscape was completely different.
It wasn't a sea of adverts tailored to exactly what your subconscious thinks it wants.
It was just you and friends and the people who liked your page.
A 'doom scroll' ended.
​
It ended.

It said 'done for the day - all caught up" - and it meant it.
There was no reels or stories or threads or million different buttons to understand on Facebook.
I would say this isn't a rant (unless you want to read it as such) - it's a musing.

It's been in my drafts a while because I'm still sorting out my thoughts on it.
But I figure someone might appreciate the unpolished state of things.

It feels like a packed tube station and an empty tube all at once.

That's my best analogy for it.
Hustling and bustling through the reams of content.
Trying to find space on the platform.
Yet when you step on board there's this eerie feeling.
Lonely on the empty tube.
So you better be happy in your own company.

Sometimes someone is on board with you for a stop or two.
That's feel nice.
Keeps you going.

Can you tell I really don't enjoy London haha.

Stop giving it the power.

Most of my sales and opportunities still come from face to face interactions.
Socials in between - sure - it's all part of the picture.
But you'll never beat the OG connections.

Stop giving social media the power it wants.
Doesn't own you.
Never did.

You could create a perfectly good life without it.
You hold the power.
Keep reminding yourself.
Get it a little scared you'll delete it and never look back.
It's a tool to use.
That's all.​

It's me constantly reaffirming my 'why'.

To share.
To sell.
​To support.
To help people feel seen.
To educate.
To support myself financially using a skill I adore.
I would do this whether people were watching or not.

Why are you even on social media if you hate it so much?

Because I don't hate it.
I think in it's essence it's amazing.
Used right it keeps us connected and supported and entertained.

It's just a really interesting platform for selling art services on.
Because art services are feeling based services.
​Everyone who pours part of themselves into something and wants to share it deserves to be rewarded.

Visibility Grief

Why are you sad that no one liked your post little one?
Does it feel like no one wants to play your game?
Why are you mad that no one felt brave enough to comment older one?
Does it feel like no one is listening?

They are.
Sometimes they're silent.
Sometimes they're busy.
Sometimes you're not for them.

Keep turning to the ride or dies.
​That's who you're talking to.

Thanks for being here - I see you and you're the best.

I'll be on my mailing list even if I decide I've had enough with Social Media