How Do You Use Social Media?

Currently I'm sending out a mix:

personal/news/interest posts
posts promoting specific products and linking to my artist website page for those products
posts simply sharing images and linking to my personal website
posts showing my images in rooms and linking to my personal website
posts sharing content with my followers (free facebook banners, textures, etc.)

I just talk to those who follow me and like the things they post. I usually pass along comments, tweets or conversation that I think those following me would like.

I try to limit my advertising to just a few each day on social medias that I am a part of.

I don't just post pictures of my paintings, I communicate and share.

Whatever I do it doesn't work.

I dislike using social media so I spend little time with it. I have "engaged" some in the past but that can get very time consuming. Now I just post my art, not just stuff for sell but I share sketches that aren't for sale and occasionally photos, (I don't sell photos). I do some liking and favoriting but not a lot since I don't spend much time on SM. I recognize that means my SM efforts will be mostly ineffective but that's simply all I'm willing to do.

i plop things in there. more often than not, any engagement i get are from companies near me and they always sound like a creepy pedophile checking me out. if you send out to many "interesting articles", your main page will look like everyone elses, and it will probably not help you much to sell anything. more so, i think most people on twitter these days are there to sell things. and that's my job... so they may only engage because they think they will get sales from it.

i use twitter and such like people try different bait to catch fish. its a sit and wait. while i see articles about engaging, they don't really say what or how they engage.

i don't use images at all there. while i have had a few retweets from it, there is little point showing all the images there. people glance at an image and move on. it would really have to be great to keep the attention to get people to click on them. i've test it using goo.gl it shortens the url and counts them, and i don't get that many more clicks on an image. if anything it was less.


---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

@robert - you need more people following you, and you should be adding hashtags, otherwise only the people following you might see these. you should have a link to this site as well in your bio.

---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

I use FB in support of Bernie, but we cant go there.

I might try some magazine ads. I need to do some more research on it.

Dave

Mostly just images when I upload a new one or edit one. I have no idea how to "engage" others in a social media about my photographs or my abstracts - they are what they are. In person - I seem to do pretty well - but the internet or telephone - we just don't go there.

My main focus is bird/wildlife photography. So...I belong to bird groups and follow bird groups, research, nature fans, etc On Twitter...I also follow and tweet to bird lovers, research groups and tweet pics to my local town's twitter acct when I take a shot of the local scenery, also tweet to the weather networks,and news organizations, which has resulted in a pick up of retweeted photos, published photos and recognition.

And...as a result of my efforts on FB...picked up two sales recently as a result. The customer had seen one of my pics on FB, noticed the name and tracked down my website and placed two orders. I have also orders from members of the bird groups in the past.

I am thinking about getting rid of it.
conflict between progressives and Christians. Bernie and Ted. Well, I donated money to Bernie but I don't want to loose good friends over this.
I consider myself a progressive christian. I use FB for that purpose. just post a few images to let people know this is what I do that is about it.

Hyoye,

I'd like to get rid of SM as well. I mainly cry on SM. My keyboard is wet. lol

Dave

(Side note: please take your off-topic politics and religion elsewhere. Thank you.)

@RoyD

My dilemma also. "Engage" what? Karen above is involved in an interest that is naturally relegated to engagement - birders chatting about what they saw, where it was, as so forth. It's a natural. But for those who shoot or paint landscapes? You can chat about the location, weather and time, but that's about it. How do you chat back and forth multiple times about the trunk of a tree or a rock?

I asked the question in this thread because in my readings it is stated to never, NEVER just post something on SM for sale. But I think that's what most people do here. They upload, shorten the link, and post it.

Dan...I read the forums a lot...participate very little. But I read what works for others etc. I was guilty of just uploading links from here to FB, and twitter..and sitting back. Someone here (don't remember who..)suggested they had more engagements when they didn't just use the SM for advertising their work.

So this week,I started uploading pics I took just out and about...commenting about the weather,etc.and I seem to have more engaged followers.

So Dan..I just and looked at your page. Wow!! Your work is outstanding.

I would be tweeting/following Raleigh's page...tweet those fabulous photos of the Old Raleigh capital. Follow the South Carolina tourism page, same with the Blue Ridge mtns work. Tweet to them, I know they will retweet or share.

You have such amazing work...I know that the destinations involved would like to see them. I have many from New Hampshire. I tweeted them to visit New Hampshire and they were all retweeted.

It is about exposure and recognition. Any travel magazines may also be linked to those sites, etc.

I also tweet and share to local tv stations, and newspapers home pages...More Retweets and shares

So on your own FB page, twitter acct...you chat about your great trip to the Outer Banks...weather,people, thoughts, mood...Share a pic, and remember those hash tags

Karen,

First, thank you very much for your kind words.

I didn't comment about it, but in your original post above you mentioned you tweeted your local township and I thought that was genius! Never thought about it, but it's a great idea. I plan on doing similar and more.

I am planning on diving into SM more aggressively, that's why all the questions and comments in various threads. I've never really done much before. As of this writing, my last (art) tweet was Jan 5, 2015 - over a year ago. So it appears I need to accelerate my SM activities just a smudge. LOL.

I am trying to gather as much info and advice as I can before actively attacking it. The recent thread about Buffer was very helpful. I joined and am considering the Awesome upgrade, but still trying to create a game plan.

Reading here and elsewhere has been very helpful. The artists here are knowledgeable and helpful. I've more or less got it all figured out except for G+. I know how to do stuff and all, but I can't really see the benefits of it - the way it is structured. It just doesn't seem to open exposure like Pinterest does, for example. But I'll keep researching. Thanks for your great advice.

My sales actually went way up a couple months after I started using twitter. Coincidence? I don't know, but I'm continuing to do there what I've been doing. I do plop my work for sale on there and don't generally post anything else....but I do also almost always make sure to go and retweet something for the people who have retweeted me. It takes a lot of time and work, as when I post something new I usually get about 100 retweets a day. But when I haven't posted anything new for a few days, that goes down to about 45. If I haven't posted anything new for a week, that number goes down more. But retweeting for others keeps them coming back to help promote (retweet) you! Facebook, which I only joined about 6 months ago, hasn't seemed to do anything for my sales so far. You mention Pinterest in your last reply here. Has that helped you, do you think? I've not gone there yet, but have thought about it! Thanks!! :)

Laurie,

Unfortunately, FAA does not provide the tools to do meaningful analysis on where sales come from. So it's a guess. But my guess is that Pinterest is where I'm getting most of my exposure. As said, I have been dismally inactive on all social media, not just twitter. However, there seem to be a steady amount of repins of stuff on Pinterest so, as said, that's my best guess.

As to the work involved in retweeting. I do not fully understand the capabilities of buffer yet, and I only have the free account. However, they offer a free plugin for the FF browser that as far as I can tell, would make retweeting a simple one-clicker. Perhaps look into it.

Edit: one personal observation about pinterest. I know there are people that don't like it for various reasons and those that call it a haven for theft. That being said, disregarding that and looking at only its design and potential, it seems to be custom-made for visual sharing - art. I can think of no other SM that inherently seems better designed for the sale of art.

A little of this and a little of that, the problem is that I am paid to do so for my works account and my art often becomes like the shoemakers son (neglected)
Thanks for the push.

I do the auto-post thing from my AW (should we call that our PiX now?) To FBand Twitter, and I'll post select images to Pinterest, again via my AW usingtge Pinterest button. I also make sure I add a description for each image sent to Pinterest.

As far as "engaging" people along with posting inages, I'm not up for that, and basically not interested in verbally trying to get people to buy something. I worked retail (home improvement industry) for 4 years, and wasn't the hard-core type to push a sale like some retailers do. I personally dislike pushy salesmen. Just yesterday I slammed the front door to a "salesman" pushing something I didn't want. Last time I had to stand in the driveway and make sure they (same company) left. When they keep trying to over-talk me when I tell them I'm not interested, well that crosses a line with me.

Off my semi-rant now. :)

Hi Dan,
This is just my opinion but I believe social media is a platform for your fans to see the real you. They're not just following great art/photography, they're following you. I post it all, new artwork, artwork that my niece did, works in progress, finished pieces to wishing my wife happy anniversary. I also like to use it as a way to thank someone for purchasing my prints, I'll share the FAA announcement page and thank the buyer.

I used to be against showing works in progress because I only wanted to show a polished piece but I find fans enjoy seeing the process and being able to offer their opinion or advice at times. It's a great way for people to connect with you. Sometimes I get lost in the fact that it's just art, but then I'll receive a private message on Facebook from someone who purchased a print of mine and wanted to share a personal story behind purchasing that print. It's more than just art or photography, it actually means something to your buyers. Sometimes it's a reminder of a happy memory or a symbol of persevering through a troubled time.

Either way, social media isn't necessarily for us, it's for the people who take an interest in our work who want to know more about us. The off chance that someone in the right place at the right time sees your work and wants to make you their art director or put several of your pieces in their Hotel chain is just a perk. :)

I met a film producer recently who also does motivational speaking, during one of his events he said his business was built on a 3 line strategy which are:
1. Do great work 2. Show it to lots of people 3. Be real nice.

What good are our "gifts" if we're not sharing it with others on any platform we can.

Thanks, Dan, I appreciate the info. and your thoughts!!! I will look into that plugin!! Good luck to you!! :)))

The following social medias I use more often, but I really do not know which one works better than the others. All I can see I have got traffic, viewers and buyer/collectors :D!

WEBSITE: http://xueling-zou.pixels.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xueling-zou-810b9752

BLOG: http://originalartstories.blogspot.com/

G+ : https://plus.google.com/u/0/110144037415304926078/posts

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/zxling1

FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/xuelingzou

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/zxling1

Dan, if I may, i would like to expand your topic to include how do you "consume" social media. Your thread on how we "use" it is great..and gives examples of how we all use it to expand our reach, show ourselves and get our name out there, and sell something... But we also may "consume" social media in a way that our viewers are using it

I'll jump right in with my two cents, I "use" social media to promote myself and hopefully make a sale or three but I never "consume" social media. I dont read it or even look at it. I suspect there are a lot of people that "consume" it daily for news and to socialize with family and friends - I do not as I obtain my current events and news directly from the source and I phone, text , email or snail mail (all private methods) when I want to socialize with family and friends.

just my two cents...

Well, somehow I'm glad that I have not sold anything recently, after all, all that I have in terms of SMs marketing (by the way, my marketing as a whole) are hundred-odd followers on twitter, so I can not complain at all.

It is not directly connected to your questions, Dan, but some things I just realized which in a way has helped me to visualize some plans for future:

1. I do not have to worry about hiding from anyone I want to sell my product. Now I am an artist and salesperson, or at least a self-sustaining artist. At first I thought this could affect my socialization there (twitter), but today I see that many understand, support and even admire my initiative. If you can give out your product without exaggerating, it's perfectly okay.

2. Some frantically hit this button (Floyd is an example) and they are right. You need quality but you also need numbers. A consistent and regular production is vital. Have something new to spearhead your marketing flow grants you 50% of all the work necessary to be successful in SM and so on. So now, as a nature photographer my biggest concern has nothing to do with SM. It's about time available to get out and explore!

3. Quality. When you do something different, you're creative and above all, you try to do everything well done, neatly, you decrease the dryness of your advertisement. From this point you begin to conquer your own audience and so it invites others to know you, even they knowing you want to sell your creativity. Nothing wrong with selling creativity. Noble product, I would buy!

(editing ...)
It missed just another observation!

4. Nothing, absolutely nothing can replace the need of a particular customer for a particular product that exists only in your shelf. Nothing, no social media, no marketing plan or anything. When it comes to selling something to someone, this is the only accurate and infallible option that I've identified so far. Nevertheless, despite possible it is the most difficult to control. I truly believe that my first sale has to do with it.

Anyway, right now my main question is: is it worth investing in other media now or would I rather specialize in what I already participate? After all, each one of them is a science apart.

It's only 4 observations for now but I think I'll find other more soon.

That's an interesting question Newwwman. I suspect you probably shouldn't spend much time trying to work an SM channel that you don't also consume. I suspect also that the channels you consume expose who your audience really is. If you are trying to sell to a group of people who don't interest you I don't think you'll be effective. I don't consume Pinterest at all, so I just "pin it and forget it", I don't pin other people's stuff and I don't follow other accounts, Pinterest just doesn't interest me that much. I consume on Twitter a little so I do engage more there, but in spite of all my efforts to mute and unfollow accounts I don't like, I still get a lot of trash in my feed so I don't spend much time consuming there. I do consume a lot on Tumblr, from day one I've been very picky about who I follow there because I actually enjoy looking through my feed there and I don't want it to get trashed up, maybe that's a sign I should work that channel harder, maybe that is my audience, at least for some things. I do consume some on FB, but I don't try to sell there, I have relatively few "friends" but I follow quite a few artist business pages and enjoy seeing that stuff in my feed, FB has worked well for that, maybe that means I should get a business page, unfortunately my "brand" has already been taken there though.

Xlnt comments, info and observations.

@Newwwman
"but I never "consume" social media. I dont read it or even look at it. I suspect there are a lot of people that "consume" it daily for news and to socialize with family and friends"

Exactly. I, too, suspect many do not. So the big question is, is it a generational thing? That is, is it more the millennials who spend time "engaging" (interacting) on social media which begs an even more important question: is it the millennials who should be the priority-targeted sales prospects or is it, perhaps, non-millennials who spend less time engaging on SM who are truly those who spend the bucks?

@Leonardo
" I want to sell my product. Now I am an artist and salesperson,...but today I see that many understand, support and even admire my initiative. If you can give out your product without exaggerating, it's perfectly okay. "

Exactly. Another valid thought and point of consideration.

If "engagement" is expected, is it not assumed honest and straightforward engagement works best? And if people understand you are trying to sell and profit from a product, would it not be more appreciated if you were honest and upfront about it? Does transparent, feigned, artificial babbling really increase sales?

Off of online sales, I can say that definitely, it does not. I have done a lot of work with agencies, institutions, companies and the like with decorating budgets; i.e., multiple items. When, for example, the person at a government agency is given a budget to decorate the new building I can tell you with great experience they really don't give a crap about me, my life, or want to sit down, have coffee, and chat about the weather. They are tasked with hanging pictures to decorate walls. Period. They are expected to get the best they can for the least money and stay within the budget. Period. Then they move on.

There is probably much debate that can center around generational social behaviors and buyer demographics. And there will always be successful arguments that can be presented for all views. And there will always be a different opinion on which demographic should be targeted.

"Does transparent, feigned, artificial babbling really increase sales? "

I don't believe it does, people will figure out your are being fake eventually. That's why I think if you are not a consumer you probably should just post your art and forget it, either that or teach yourself to get genuinely interested in consuming SM.

I think it is a generational thing - its what millenials do...the communicate with one and other in abbreiviated sentences because the have a very low attention spans... Milenials have also been studied as a "class" that shops for things quite differently thant I and my fellow 40 pussers do. My kids are all in that milenial class. I try to know what they are doing and i try to studdy them...and their peers..on SM they are a strange bunch for sure (in my opininion)....they are very casual and informal and not very substantive....most are not as interested in home ownership as my "class" and their purchasing habbits of most all products are very different than mine. Heck, I hear they buy cars on-line....thats really odd to me...any who....my understanding of it all is a work in progress.

Update on social media - Our area has a local newspaper..nothing spectacular...but local news, ads for local businesses etc...It is delivered to every home in the area with the store flyers.

I submitted a photo taken shortly after a winter storm...and today the paper was published and my photo was on the front page! Distribution is 35.000. Free advertising for the amt of time it took to submit a photo of a local scene to a newspaper.

Good for you, Karen. Good marketing! Assuming there was some sort of attribution for the photo, that's great advertising for free!

Be genuinely interested in Social Media, or don't bother.

Michel
✈ http://pics.travelnotes.org/.

There was...my name was on the byline!

Trav, does it count if I am genuinely interested in USING social media and the people that partake in the folly?

Indeed.

Talking to others is being social, just dropping marketing links is not.

;)

@Karen I had a national weather group ask to use my New England groups images on their broadcasts. Photo by Jeff Folger. Etc... I've been doing this for years and not once can I attribute a call, email or sale to placement in an newspaper or online story. Do I still do it? Sure, when they are interviewing me, like the weather channel did last fall. 20 images with www.jeff-foliage.com. my website might have gone up a little on numbers but not anything to show engagement.
Anyway, I asked this editor if they would share from our FB guild page. If they shared our images to their FB page with 100k viewers then that would be worth something. All of a sudden he came back and said we wouldn't be a good fit...
What had changed? They would have to give value to our images by sharing from our page to theirs and we would benefit. They didn't have to give us any money but we weren't worth giving us a share on Facebook... why? Because someone will do it for the honor of of having their name up there...
Everybody has to determine what their pain level is, as far as giving their work away. Everytime you enter a contest and submitting your images. They keep all the images and can now use them in advertising because you gave the images to them.
Nuff said...

So true....but in the last month I had two small sales...from someone seeing my images on social media.

Would I love to make a fortune? Sure...but I am in the beginning stages of this journey...and at this point..people seeing my work, recognizing my name and my style...is the first step. I have had my work featured on regional television and had people say"I knew it was yours even before I saw the name"..

This was not a contest...This was a newspaper using my image on their front page.

Willing to take a chance at this point...thanks Jeff...you have given me lots to think about!

Just to reiterate, I have been using Buffer to retweet and pretty good. I can attribute 3-4 sales to that. I actually have been retweeting the same images for 6 weeks and those were the ones purchased. Coincidence? I think not.

@Jon

Interesting. When posting the same image repeatedly, do you mix up / change the text part of the tweets?

At the heart of all discussions about SM is the question about repeating posts.

Have you received any negative feedback about posting the same images more than once?

Dan, i bet nobody notices the same image posted..its social media afterall...the dumb and dumber acting social in the most un social way.

Jon, good job..but it sounds like spamming to me..not that I care...if it it works..all the power to you...I never buffer the same image twice (at least I havent yet)...and even if i did, i am sure no one would notice...I know i wouldnt notice as I never look at any of the posts of any of my followers..if i did notice it, it would be no biggy, i would just ignore it or unfollow the person.

@karen
Social media is way different than folks asking for one of our images for the honor of being in print.
If the sales came from someone seeing your name in the paper, then it was worth it. But few people will take the time to type in your name and Google it to find more of your work.
Social media provides a link direct to your website or art. That is fine.

Basically if you give it away for free you are valuing yourself as "cheap". You may be just starting out but I've seen your work and it's just as good as anyone elses! Beginners get preyed upon because they will give their art away for the "honor" of being in print.
This is why you see the weather folks telling you and me to send in your weather reports AND images, or the news desk says send in your videos of incidents, why? Because they don't have to send a paid crew out and they get you to do it for free...

Getting discovered is fine, I submitted hundreds of fall foliage pictures to Yankee Magazine. My images started showing up in their newsletters, (with photo credit) and then I was an (unpaid) forum moderator and then a paid foliage blogger for them 2007-2010. I had a tie to them before I even began so I just continued. But over the years I've had hundreds of "give us an image and we'll give you credit". Not once with my images being printed in Yankee can I once attribute one sale to being in print. what does work? My blog... but that is another subject.

Thank you Jeff....you have given me lots to think about and re-evaluate things.

There is no easy answer in this....You want to be known so people will purchase your work...but at what cost? mmmm...

Thank you for the compliment on my work - coming from you it means a lot.

I am thinking this blog thing over...

In summary...people who think that selling art online is easy are delusional!

I always tell people it is like running a business from your home. You have to budget time for production, time for the business end and time for PR.

Going to read your blog now.

"the dumb and dumber acting social in the most un social way"

Disagree with posting on social media but let's leave of the opinions such as dumb and dumber when referring to those of us that use SM.