Think of Social Media as another publication

 

If you grew up in the industry shooting and writing for a printed newspaper, magazine, or even for a website, you need to see Social Media as another publication.

Too many editors, journalists, and photojournalists are too consumed by the story and not enough about the audience. In most traditional places, for news media to contribute the way it worked was somewhat of a mystery for the content providers.

The content was the carrot to get advertisers. But unfortunately, most journalists didn’t understand how their pay was created and concentrated on creating content.

Great content is useless if audiences don’t know that it exists. Today the audience is more accessible to reach than ever before. You don’t need publishers and large conglomerates to help you to get them.

Today when you post onto a social media outlet like Instagram, you show your portfolio. You have gone not to one photo editor but around them to their audience and asking them to respond.

Instead of leaving your business card, you leave them a link to your channel. They can then decide to follow you or not. If they don’t, then your content isn’t relevant to them. You search for an audience interested in your content or write content for your audience.

Now even though you are posting, say, on Instagram or Twitter, you are not really in front of your audience until you start using #hastags. #Sports will put you in front of Twitter #Sports or on Instagram. Think of Instagram as your cable company and the #hastags as a channel.

Twitter even shows you on your page the trending #hastags

I used to work for a Missionary Agency that had its magazine and used state papers to distribute their stories for years. However, their audience stopped looking at their content. Those audiences were, for the most part, local churches.

My church’s Facebook page

Today, those local churches have their own Facebook groups, Twitter accounts, and Instagram accounts. So now, if you know their #hashtags, you can, in essence, produce content and drop it right into their publication.

Take a moment and first Google an organization using hashtags like #firstBaptistHendersonville to see if you can uncover their audience. I found that they are using the acronym #fbchnc. If I want them to see my content, I tweet a sentence with their hashtag and then be sure there is a link to where I put the content. Wa-la, now I have just published on their pages.

If you have Facebook, search for those organizations and audiences you are interested in joining. See if they will let you join their group. If they let you join, you can post your content in the group. Again, just like a publication as a way to reach that audience. Now, as long as your content is valuable, they will continue to allow you to be a part of their group. However, if your content isn’t well received, they will block you and remove you from their group.

Now, if you are creating all that great content like the great journalist or photojournalist that you think you are, then you are on the way to becoming a household name.

Now, after a while, you may not need to go and publish as often on these social media outlets because you have so many “followers” of your own, and people are referring people to your content.

You can quickly get advertisers at this point.

For example, if you create video content and post it on Youtube, their top content creators earn millions. Check out the article on Forbes about the top earners in 2015 here http://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2015/10/14/the-worlds-highest-paid-youtube-stars-2015/#2715e4857a0b16cdcf7f542c

For those who don’t want to do all this and want to create content, you need to hook up with someone who is doing this and get them to let you help them create more content. Doing this ensures you will make less money than if you did it yourself.

Sometimes your competition has an advantage over you.

Some people are easy on the eyes; no matter what I do, many potential clients will never see me as compared to some of my competitors. No amount of plastic surgery will make me Brad Pitt or Adam Levine. 

In 1993, John Gray wrote the trendy book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. One great quote from the book is, “Men are motivated when they feel needed, while women are motivated when they feel cherished.” Sometimes, you are not the right person based on your gender. So yes, some people break this rule for anything you can mention. The point is, if someone is looking for a woman because of their comfort level for this particular job and I try to get it, I will have a difficult road ahead to get them to see me as capable of doing the job. I could go on and on, giving many examples of things that are just out of your control. So, what is a better use of our time? What can you do that you can control? 

If we listened to our doctors and cared for ourselves, we would all look healthy. We may need to lose some weight or gain a few pounds instead. Everyone can also control their grooming. The hairstyle [if you have hair] can significantly affect your appearance. 

How you look

Newell Rubbermaid Analysts Day 2010

Your wardrobe can speak volumes about you. If you are doing business for yourself, you must know that people are watching you. Business attire is expected in many industries; you must fit into those situations if you manage your appearance. 

Ring Weekend for the seniors at the Citadel

Just be aware of the unofficial uniform of the industry you are trying to work with regularly. 

Dave Black speaking at PhotoShop World

Photographer Dave Black has a casual, youthful style when working. 

Social Media footprint 

A couple of my photography friends have done an excellent job maximizing their social media channels. I think of Esther Havens, who has over 50,700 Instagram followers and 4,774 Facebook friends. She has so many followers because Esther has many things going for her. At the core of all those qualities is her excitement. People like to know what she is up to and want to be entertained by Esther. Zack Arias is an Atlanta-based photographer who has over 90,300 Instagram followers.  

Zack has another set of qualities that has people following him. One thing that keeps people listening to Zack is he is authentic.

Zack Arias speaking at Photoshop World

Back in 2009, Zack posted a guest blog on Scott Kelby’s blog, revealing much of why he is such a popular speaker. People can relate to him; he is pretty transparent, as seen in this post.  

Zack and Esther compete against many other great photographers in their disciplines. One thing is for sure: many clients will reach more people by hiring Esther or Zack if they tweet about their photoshoot than if they hire another great shooter who doesn’t see the importance of Twitter or Facebook. In addition to social media, you can connect with people through networking events and being part of your community. 

Personality 

Frankly, one of the biggest turn-offs with some photographers is their attitude; at the same time, it is so attractive to other photographers. They are just excited about life and make everyone enjoy their day by being around them. “Fake it till you make it” is a common catchphrase that suggests that if you do this, you will succeed and, in the process, gain the confidence to do even more. A self-fulfilling prophecy is what you think is what you will become. If you feel you are a failure, then you will become one. If you think you are successful, then you become successful.

Take Control

  1. Take care of your body and health
  2. Practice the best grooming and hygiene
  3. Wardrobe—Be very intentional in the clothes you wear
  4. Maximize your network—know where your audience lives and works. Use social media or attend networking events.
  5. Smile—maintain a positive can-do attitude.

How are you sharing your personal photos?

On Facebook people are tagging their friends and this not only helps those looking at the photos know who everyone is, but when they are tagged they get an email alert letting them know they have a photo of them being shared.