If your personal and business social media accounts tend to intersect, then you may want to cut out time to analyze, organize, and plan your expectations for each account. The same applies to those who sign up for accounts at random - or at the insistence of a past client - and are unsure of why you joined in the first place. Don't worry it's happened to a majority of freelancers but you can be a real badass when you first 1) admit your mistake, 2) make time to correct it (even if it means retrieving lost usernames and/or passwords from tech support, and 3) create a realistic plan that is sure to bring a return of some kind.
Seeing the Possibilities
The above image is not just an ample listing of social media companies but a template of methods that freelancers should use for business. Some experts will tell you to use all six methods but some people may be able to get by on 2-3 methods. Also, realize the power of each one before dismissing or misusing.
Facebook is a good example of this. While some people stay away because of past security issues involving user data, you can still use this as a lead generation tool, research new prospects, or make direct sales through their e-commerce feature. At the same time, many don't realize that Pinterest and Instagram can serve the same purpose.
Moving Beyond the Negativity
According to this Forbes article, the pandemic has had no negative effect on social media and commerce. Not only are companies seeing a return but more social media apps are on the rise and adapting to a growing demographic. Yes, freelancers and other remote workers are seeing the benefits of Yammer over Slack or other direct messaging tools as a way to communicate with clients.
There's also a good chance that the big trifecta (Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter) may be a waste of your time. Most people who rely on visuals find that sharing sites like Pinterest and YouTube are better suited to their needs. Some of these people cannot even explain why they have the standard, outside of personal interest.
Revisiting the Past Can Be Inspiring
Many of us bloggers have had hosting issues...everything from last-minute format changes to unfair billing practices. However, moving on can be easier said than done. Before realizing that domain transfer could be done with a few mouse clicks, I created new URLs at the snap of a finger with a new host. Over time, I forgot what was where and why.
Yet, when I did the recommended cleanup, there was a nice surprise. On my last blogging platform were some pretty impressive viewing stats. This particular blog was connected to my first, which I started nearly 15 years ago and build using white hat methods for gaining traffic. This blog was also the first to generate income through sponsor posts and click-thru ads.
Since I made a few bad moves, I eventually moved everything to a temporary host home where I loved making blog theme changes. I still blogged from time to time but there was no social media support or even hard copy (I used to sell zines as well) media to cross-promote my posts or related events. So I was happy to see that I still had a few loyal viewers and those willing to share because I literally did nada to garner traffic.
So before you get a new idea, take a look at your current intellectual property and see what's good about it before abandoning it. One thing that hurts is having someone else see the potential and making money off of your concepts. Yes, you probably can sue for damages but it takes less time and money to just get some creative juices going instead.
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