Week 11 Part A: Marketing with Twitter, LinkedIn, and more

 Twitter

 Today I changed my Twitter handle from @1l0nely.goatherd to @lucid_nap

It seems silly, but its only because of this assignment that I bothered to do that. I just assumed that the handle you had was forever, and if you didn't like it, you just had to open a new account. 

It was only after researching Twitter a bit that I came to the realization I could initiate this magical change.

It was long overdue, not just because it now matches my business name either.

You see, I started my Twitter account around 2009, because a job in media production had opened up and they were only accepting applicants via twitter. It was the most idiotic thing I'd ever heard of, and yet, I really wanted that job, do I do what I do best- fell to my knees and submit to the all mighty dollar!

I didn't get the job.

At the time I set up my first Twitter account, I was running a website called "Walking With Lepers" under the pseudonym Marco A. Shatter, @marco_a_shatter a character in my failed (as in unpublished) novel series.

Marco A. Shatter (Who I'm told is upsetting to behold)

 

I decided create accounts for several characters from my novel, the main one being Napoleon Dûheme, later Napoleon Doom. He's an aristocratic youth, born with certain unfortunate supernatural abilities, that force him to live on the run. He survives in Quebec as a hermit, making his living as a goat herd and cheese maker.

Thus @1l0nely_goatherd

A few years ago, I suddenly got a massive amount of followers (around 6000) over the span of a single week. I was pretty excited, but couldn't understand why. 

When I looked at a few of the new followers accounts, I realized that they mostly from the middle east. 

I didn't really understand why there was this sudden interest in my work from that location.

As it turns out, there was a blogger at the time who went by the name The Lonely Goatherd. He was a Muslim scholar and had a very strong fan base.

People were confusing me with him.

When I announced that I was not the blogger in question, just an aspiring author, I lost most of my new following. 

Yet only today did I think to actually make a change to my handle.

Why Tempt The Beast?

There was a time when I retweeted excerpts from my novel on my @marco_a_shatter account. Unfortunately, Marco is gleefully inhuman and tends to write about the human species in less than glowing terms.

With Twitter I always felt like it had more potential to ruin your life than uplift it. One false step and a Twitter mob would be upon you.

I'm an absolute imbecile when it comes to social graces and what not, so why invite that into my life? I really only ever used Twitter to repost media from my other accounts and make stupid banter with my buddy Robert. 

I've started using it again, and will endevour to reconnect it to my Instagram and Facebook. I used to have them all together-then I became disgusted with how visible I was to people and retreated into glorious solitude- such is my business acumen.

Linked-In

Tonight, I applied to about 19 jobs on Linked In, all of which are in on air broadcasting through I Heart Radio. I figure I may as well apply for a job that will help me develop the skills I need to promote my silly little audiodrama.

I've had a Linked-In account for a while, but hardly ever used it. I felt like I mostly heard from recruiters, offering me jobs I was wildly underqualified for (like dental hygienist) or that were in no way related to my experience (like Tesla Associate, basically a car sales person.)

That, and the fact that my car was vandalized last week, the second time this year. I'm desperate increase my salary and move to better neighborhood.  

The Price of Creative Freedom

Right now, I work as a freelance artist and designer. It provides me with ample creative freedom, but the income is unpredictable. 

I'm at a point in my life where I'd really rather sacrifice creative freedom for security.

 I'm pretty burned out on the art scene but I think that might be because the shows and events I'm relegated to are the lowest stratification of what constitutes an art show- and attract the sort of social miscreants you'd expect.

These aren't the wine and cheese type crowd. No, these are more the "Hey, I have a stale gummy bear, half an Oreo and an airplane bottle of Wild Turkey in my purse" kind of folk.

I'm trying to make better connections. I'll let you know how it goes.

I've never found a job through Linked In before, so I can't really attest to it's strengths or weaknesses myself.

I've been trying to connect with people, and join groups related to my industry. I've even had a couple of exchanges. Then I get terrified I'll unintentionally say something horrible and disgusting that ruins my reputation forever and don't log on for a month.

Google For Business

I haven't used Google for Business myself, as it seems like something more for brick and mortar stores. I suppose I could set up something that just went back to my website, but I'm not sure that's where an audience looking for audiodramas and podcasts goes.

Normally, I feel like people searching for audio entertainment go through their favourite podcatcher, apple podcasts or spotify. I am hosted with soundcloud, which isn't compatable with spotify and have been considering opening up a secondary RSS feed (RSS is how your podcast is distributed to podcatchers) just to get that sweet, sweet spotify exposure.

I don't want to mess with my current RSS because I was approved for I Heart Radio, which you actually have to apply and be approved for. I don't want to mess with the feeds I'm already playing on.

I used to have a Google Plus page...but that's defunct now. I didn't really think it was anything too magnificent from what I remember of it.

Social Media Influencers

When I first started social media, I was really excited by how many clothing sites wanted me to be a brand ambassador. All I had to do was buy some of their cheap, wish.com level clothing or jewelry at severely marked up prices (for which I'd be reimbursed 25%) and post myself wearing it online.

See how subtly I display this enormous watch?

 After I took a couple of these jobs, I realized it was a scam. Not only that, but I could possibly draw others into purchasing overpriced knick-knacks using my discount code. I didn't want to be party to that.

I've seen products such as Fit Tea make the rounds online, and listened to influencers give glowing reviews. I think everyone knows they're being paid, and that to maintain a creative career online, you have to plug products. 

There are products that I am interested in because I've heard them advertised by influencers. I'm definitely intrigued by Magellan TV, a Netflix for documentaries that creators like Bailey Sarian, Stephanie Harlow, Mister Ballen and Bedtime Stories have plugged (all true crime, history and paranormal creators).

I can't afford it right now, even with their discount codes, but because I'm interested in their material, Magellan TV seems like something I'd enjoy.

It's obviously geared towards people who watch more documentary style content, rather than gossip or shopping hauls. However, that's just good marketing. You want to reach out to people in a similar audience for your product.

For my own podcast and audiodrama, I regularly bring on local celebrities. I get a small bump in viewership and download, but rarely get repeat views on these episodes. Still, its the same idea, you rely on the draw of a bigger name to give you a boost.

I feel like the best thing I could do would be to get a bigger creator to come on as a reoccurring character. That way, they would promote the show to their audience and there would be a certain amount of cross-pollination.

Sadly, my shows are not pollen rich properties as of yet. I'm still trying to bulk up my audience.