100. The art of social media promotion, with Brian Hollingsworth
Nov 13, 2023
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Brand consultant and graphic designer Brian Hollingsworth shares his expertise in navigating the ever-changing social media landscape. Topics discussed include overcoming the fear of self-promotion, the impact of social media on careers and opportunities, using social media for freelance graphic designers and small studios, challenges of social media promotion, Twitter's character limit and paying for professional users, navigating social media content, and the impact of excessive social media use on mental health.
Consistently posting on social media can lead to opportunities, so keep posting despite low engagement.
Tailor your content to each social media platform to better connect with your audience.
Prioritize rest and set boundaries to avoid social media burnout and maintain mental well-being.
Deep dives
The Importance of Consistent Posting and Building Connections
Consistently posting on social media is essential for building connections and opportunities. Don't worry about vanity metrics or engagement, just keep posting and someone will see your content and engage with you. The right person will eventually come along and give you an opportunity. It's important to overcome self-doubt and fear of not being liked. Even if you think nobody cares, someone, somewhere will see your posts.
Understanding the Cultural Nuances of Different Social Media Platforms
Each social media platform has its own cultural nuances, so it's important to tailor your content to each platform. Copy-pasting the same content across all platforms may not be effective. For example, Twitter allows for witty and rude content, while Instagram is more friendly and Instagram Stories are more suitable for personal branding. Understanding these differences and adapting your content accordingly will help you connect better with your audience.
Dealing with Burnout and Prioritizing Rest
Burnout is a real issue, especially in the world of social media. It's crucial to prioritize rest and avoid overworking yourself. This means understanding the different types of rest, such as physical, spiritual, mental, and creative rest, and making sure to take breaks and recharge. Setting boundaries, like implementing social media cutoff times, can help prevent burnout and maintain mental well-being. It's also important to focus on what you know and not get dragged into unnecessary conversations or topics that can drain your energy.
The Importance of Creating Deep Content
The podcast episode emphasizes the significance of creating deep and rich content that allows people to engage and connect on a deeper level. It highlights the value of platforms such as YouTube, podcasts, blogs, and emails, which provide ample time and space for in-depth discussions and conversations. The episode discusses the advantages of these platforms in terms of fostering loyalty, building a community, and establishing a stronger reputation. It encourages creatives to focus on producing rich and meaningful content rather than being caught in the cycle of short-form videos and fleeting social media engagement.
The Power of Consistent Posting
Another key point explored in the podcast is the importance of consistent posting and staying dedicated to sharing content regularly. It advises creatives to keep creating and posting, even when they may not see immediate results in terms of followers or engagement. The episode emphasizes that every post has the potential to reach the right person and make an impact. By staying committed to their craft and consistently sharing their work, creatives increase their chances of connecting with their ideal audience and receiving opportunities. The episode encourages creatives to focus on their own goals and aspirations rather than being driven solely by vanity metrics.
If you've been trying to keep up with social media lately, you're not alone. Twitter becomes X, and no one likes or sees our updates anymore. Instagram's engagement plummets. And then comes Threads – is that even worth the effort these days, as the excitement seems to have died down? Not to mention BlueSky, Discord, Mastodon, and what else? It's all proving to be a little overwhelming.
Here to help us make sense of it all is Brian Hollingsworth, a brand consultant and graphic designer based in London who has become passionate about social media ever since he worked for The Conservative Party in 2018 and, later, a leading urban streetwear brand. Alongside running his own design studio, DAM, he's also behind The BKH – where he helps other creatives make the most of their online brand and reputation.
We wanted to know whether social media is still worthwhile – whether we're tweeting, X'ing or threading – how we can stand out amongst the noise without burning ourselves out, and where we are best focusing our time and attention to get the best possible return.
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