I couldn't agree more. Yesterday I reached 100 subscribers here I was so happy I celebrated it on my ig. One person commented that it's not much but to me I felt so happy to know that beyond all the algorithms and etc, you have people who actually care enough about your journey to give you access to their email. I value those subscribers so much and I always try to think of ways to bring them some value or inspiration into their life. Like you said we have to care and value people who are already here 😊 instead of always pursuing growth . I love ig though as well because it allows me to share bits of my life that don't fit in other formats through stories. And when I have brain space I try to make a reel per week. But I never force it, just like you, some week I feel I don't have much to say and then I prefer to just interact with what other people are doing rather than just post for posting 😊
I’m trying to think through a lot of this at the moment too … it all feels complicated and I guess I need to start with what am I trying to do on these platforms to get some clarity and focus.. really helpful reading thank you Claire. There’s so many places now to be posting things I think I just get stuck and don’t ! I counted and I think it’s about 7 for me … at least I managed to delete twitter !
Oh that’s a win isn’t it Sarah! Bye bye Twitter 😂. I hear you and I think it really starts with the work we want to do and coupled with the place/s are audiences are. It can feel easy to be busy online but I’m not sure if busy is productive… it’s like a low buzz of noise isn’t it and then we loose our essence of what we’re here to do.
I simply don’t have the energy to be on multiple platforms I have realised. What it takes to be present for others and respect and honour the energy they have put in to showing up whilst juggling my actual life has led to a point where I am now analysing and choosing where I want to be. Where am I most inspired? Where do I feel belonging? These are the questions and over the next few days of this New Moon I will be using them to set intentions that feel good to me. There is always that moment of panic when releasing but I have learned it rarely manifests into the apocalyptic result I imagined 😂💖
I love this Claire, i've had a couple of notes go a bit mad. I asked myself why and I think its because I am finally letting my true voice shine through. I love the challenge of trying to write new notes to post using my new found voice and seeing what happens.
I think Substack and Instagram are my two main platforms, with Threads for chat (and a tiny bit of business). I would dearly love to be able to delete Facebook but my business Instagram account is tethered to it.
I don't use Facebook for personal stuff any more. I run a 30k-strong FB group there for knitters so I don't feel I can leave, but at the same time I am conscious that it is nowhere as busy as it used to be.
I have three communities there now - if you're curious one of my clients is running a 5 day money challenge there - it's free - starts Monday - https://soul.jodyshield.co.uk/5k5dfb
LOVE! I've become so burnt out on Instagram for business. It feels like there is SO much noise on the platform, and it's hard to stand out. Substack and Pinterest have become my go-to's.
The majority of my Substack traffic comes from sharing posts on Pinterest. It took some time to get going, but with consistent posting, the platform brings 2K+ visitors per month!
This is so so interesting Olivia. I will check out how you do it over there. I pay a VA to do an hour a month on Pinterest and it does drive leads here and to my website.
Lovely post ❤️ I myself have deleted both Facebook and Instagram and have chosen to post monthly on Youtube and weekly here on Substack. I can greatly recommend these two social medias for anyone who is beginning to build an online presence, especially with the longtime goal of publishing. I’m able to attract viewers from Youtube to my Substack if they want to read more, and to include a video once a month in my Substack newsletter. Both platforms are for longer and more storytelling-focused creations, which is why I have chosen them. They garner deeper connections to an audience while also helps pushing out content to those who may not have seen it yet. Highly recommend it, and am very excited to hear you are planning for a Youtube channel in the future! ❤️ Much love from me
Love this Claire, I too find navigating so many options for social media hard - it is endless and overwhelming! And I have two small businesses so it's double! 🙈
I stay here for my writing, using notes to reach out, and just Insta for my jewellery business but it is a skeleton presence due to time and energy (I have a separate newsletter for my biggest fans!). My 'Therapy Toolbox' Insta is dead. Just no time/energy!
I'm still figuring it all out, and growth here has slowed but I'm hoping the algorithm will return to me so keep going! Notes is my one and only.
Though I am thinking of paid ads for my therapy workbooks - what do you think of ads, eg Facebook? 🧡
Aww totally I hear you and your jewellery is so lovely.
So I can’t really comment on ads other than the theory of them as I don’t do them. It’s all economics so people are pushing for leads that covert into sales so they do a/ b testing to see which images/ text works best.
What I do is optimise my online spaces and pour energy and effort in eg I pay a VA for Pinterest an hour a month and that drives traffic here and to my website which results in sales after some nurturing which more than pays for her time. Pinterest and YouTube are more evergreen so it’s just a different approach…
Russell has written about ads and there are lots of agencies out there. I got funding to do ads once and they put £500 behind an ad and said it wasn’t worth doing much less but then theatre’s I’ve worked for will pay to boost posts and that drives ticket sales so there’s a lot of contradictory advice…
What you do here is beautiful and I see great things for you. Maybe outreach (podcasts/ blog hops) is a nice fit? All food for thought.
I couldn't agree more. Yesterday I reached 100 subscribers here I was so happy I celebrated it on my ig. One person commented that it's not much but to me I felt so happy to know that beyond all the algorithms and etc, you have people who actually care enough about your journey to give you access to their email. I value those subscribers so much and I always try to think of ways to bring them some value or inspiration into their life. Like you said we have to care and value people who are already here 😊 instead of always pursuing growth . I love ig though as well because it allows me to share bits of my life that don't fit in other formats through stories. And when I have brain space I try to make a reel per week. But I never force it, just like you, some week I feel I don't have much to say and then I prefer to just interact with what other people are doing rather than just post for posting 😊
Ahh yes Meo! This is it. 100 people is a lot of people especially on email when folks have more energy!
Thank you for this Claire. I’m slowly learning Substack and your updates are great.
Awww I deeply appreciate that! Hope you are finding everything ok? It’s easier on desktop.
I’m trying to think through a lot of this at the moment too … it all feels complicated and I guess I need to start with what am I trying to do on these platforms to get some clarity and focus.. really helpful reading thank you Claire. There’s so many places now to be posting things I think I just get stuck and don’t ! I counted and I think it’s about 7 for me … at least I managed to delete twitter !
Oh that’s a win isn’t it Sarah! Bye bye Twitter 😂. I hear you and I think it really starts with the work we want to do and coupled with the place/s are audiences are. It can feel easy to be busy online but I’m not sure if busy is productive… it’s like a low buzz of noise isn’t it and then we loose our essence of what we’re here to do.
I simply don’t have the energy to be on multiple platforms I have realised. What it takes to be present for others and respect and honour the energy they have put in to showing up whilst juggling my actual life has led to a point where I am now analysing and choosing where I want to be. Where am I most inspired? Where do I feel belonging? These are the questions and over the next few days of this New Moon I will be using them to set intentions that feel good to me. There is always that moment of panic when releasing but I have learned it rarely manifests into the apocalyptic result I imagined 😂💖
Beautiful and I'm the same - unless it feels easy, fun and it works (for my business) I opt out. xx
I love this approach. Honouring my own needs and rhythm has been a long journey but a very worthwhile one 💖
I love this Claire, i've had a couple of notes go a bit mad. I asked myself why and I think its because I am finally letting my true voice shine through. I love the challenge of trying to write new notes to post using my new found voice and seeing what happens.
Let’s celebrate that beautiful voice - yes!!!! Love this for you. Feel so proud of it all and look spring is here too - all good things!!!
I think Substack and Instagram are my two main platforms, with Threads for chat (and a tiny bit of business). I would dearly love to be able to delete Facebook but my business Instagram account is tethered to it.
I don't use Facebook for personal stuff any more. I run a 30k-strong FB group there for knitters so I don't feel I can leave, but at the same time I am conscious that it is nowhere as busy as it used to be.
Aw it’s hard isn’t it! I’ve been enjoying “skool” for community have you used that?
Oh no, I’ll take a look. Thank you.
I have three communities there now - if you're curious one of my clients is running a 5 day money challenge there - it's free - starts Monday - https://soul.jodyshield.co.uk/5k5dfb
Funny you should say that. I saw Jody's advert on Instagram yesterday and signed up for the challenge
Yay! She’s so lush!
LOVE! I've become so burnt out on Instagram for business. It feels like there is SO much noise on the platform, and it's hard to stand out. Substack and Pinterest have become my go-to's.
The majority of my Substack traffic comes from sharing posts on Pinterest. It took some time to get going, but with consistent posting, the platform brings 2K+ visitors per month!
This is so so interesting Olivia. I will check out how you do it over there. I pay a VA to do an hour a month on Pinterest and it does drive leads here and to my website.
Lovely post ❤️ I myself have deleted both Facebook and Instagram and have chosen to post monthly on Youtube and weekly here on Substack. I can greatly recommend these two social medias for anyone who is beginning to build an online presence, especially with the longtime goal of publishing. I’m able to attract viewers from Youtube to my Substack if they want to read more, and to include a video once a month in my Substack newsletter. Both platforms are for longer and more storytelling-focused creations, which is why I have chosen them. They garner deeper connections to an audience while also helps pushing out content to those who may not have seen it yet. Highly recommend it, and am very excited to hear you are planning for a Youtube channel in the future! ❤️ Much love from me
Thankyou! You are so right Anne! I don’t do much storytelling on YouTube - more tutorials but it’s fun! Love your approach - thanks for sharing!!
Love this Claire, I too find navigating so many options for social media hard - it is endless and overwhelming! And I have two small businesses so it's double! 🙈
I stay here for my writing, using notes to reach out, and just Insta for my jewellery business but it is a skeleton presence due to time and energy (I have a separate newsletter for my biggest fans!). My 'Therapy Toolbox' Insta is dead. Just no time/energy!
I'm still figuring it all out, and growth here has slowed but I'm hoping the algorithm will return to me so keep going! Notes is my one and only.
Though I am thinking of paid ads for my therapy workbooks - what do you think of ads, eg Facebook? 🧡
Aww totally I hear you and your jewellery is so lovely.
So I can’t really comment on ads other than the theory of them as I don’t do them. It’s all economics so people are pushing for leads that covert into sales so they do a/ b testing to see which images/ text works best.
What I do is optimise my online spaces and pour energy and effort in eg I pay a VA for Pinterest an hour a month and that drives traffic here and to my website which results in sales after some nurturing which more than pays for her time. Pinterest and YouTube are more evergreen so it’s just a different approach…
Russell has written about ads and there are lots of agencies out there. I got funding to do ads once and they put £500 behind an ad and said it wasn’t worth doing much less but then theatre’s I’ve worked for will pay to boost posts and that drives ticket sales so there’s a lot of contradictory advice…
What you do here is beautiful and I see great things for you. Maybe outreach (podcasts/ blog hops) is a nice fit? All food for thought.