I must be getting old. This year I will turn 32 and as each day of my life passes I care about social media sites less and less. I can remember when a Facebook "like" used to excite me. Those days are long gone, I simply do not care anymore, and my business is struggling because of it.
I always liked Facebook. It was an easy way to stay connected and see what my friends and family were up to. Now my news feed is filled with viral content from sites like buzzfeed or Huffington post. It used to be thrilling to see how many people commented or "liked" a post of mine, but that has worn off. I haven't completely stopped posting but I usually have to force myself to do it.
All my photography buddies have been hassling me for years to get on Instagram. I forced myself to Instagram for the first time a few months ago and I really don't get it. I hate being forced into a square crop. I hate the fact that the images are ultra low res. I hate that I can't upload from a computer. And I have no interested in seeing anyone else's square, low-res, cell phone pictures. I especially don't want to see square images of what you are eating or drinking.
Twitter has never interested me and so I never set up an account. I don't understand why I would want to read a sentence from anyone, and I especially don't understand why anyone would want to read a sentence from me. I have noticed that Twitter can be an excellent source of up-to-the-second news but that hasn't been enough to get me to sign up.
Vine is interesting and I do find many of the Vine compilation videos to be entertaining, but I don't understand why we need a dedicated website just for short videos. You can upload short videos to YouTube or Facebook or even Instagram already. I've never once considered signing up for Vine.
Snapchat's success is totally shocking to me. I would have never guessed that people would want to share content that would then be deleted. The main reason why I still use Facebook at all is because it's the best digital photo album of my life. If my stuff got deleted I would never use Facebook again. Obviously I never signed up for Snapchat either.
Then there are even more websites like Google Plus, LinkedIn, and Ello. Who has time to be a part of all of these sites? Do you simple choose a few to focus on or do you literally post the content on all of them?
Why social media is so important
So I'm getting older, and I don't like sharing every detail about my life online anymore. Who cares? Well, my clients do. Sadly it's an important part of business today. I'm a photographer, I also own this Fstoppers photography website. As a photographer I get paid by clients who find me and hire me. I've never been hired for a job because of social media because I rarely share my work. Some of my income comes from readers like you who visit Fstoppers, support our site by buying the premium tutorials we have produced, or attend our live workshops. My photography clients and the readers of Fstoppers.com hang out on these social media sites. Even if you enjoy reading Fstoppers, you might forget to visit our site, but chances are, you won't forget to visit Facebook. Having a giant following on any of these platforms will get you a steady stream of eyes, clicks, and customers.
I've met so many people recently who have literally built a career because of the followers they have on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Vine, and Snapchat. They may not be particularly good at what they do but because they have a lot of followers they are able to book jobs and charge a premium for their work. In just the last month I met a girl who has been given over $2000 in free snow skiing gear just because of her social media following (she isn't a pro skier), and another friend who is being paid to travel the world just to post images on a travel company's Instagram feed. I know over 20 close friends who have been offered incredible opportunities simply because they have an impressive social media audience. I'm missing out on all of this.
One of my close friends who has an incredible social media following was giving me a hard time the other day for not being a major player in these sites. I told him that I understand the value in it; I see the potential. It's just not fun anymore. I don't want to pull out my phone every time I'm doing something relatively interesting. I don't want to brag about my latest trip or purchase. I don't want to let the world know what I'm doing at any given moment. Perhaps I simply do not want to become that guy who appears to be so infatuated with his life that he feels he has to share every second of it with the world.
Does anyone else feel the same way?
Have I become the old cynical guy? Does anyone else feel the same way or are each of you on 10 social media sites at once every single day? If so, do you actually enjoy it or are you simply doing it for your business? I understand that gaining followers, likes, and comments can be fun for a while but it has to wear off. What keeps you going when it's no longer fun?
In the comments below I'd love to hear your options of social media sites AND the benefits of them. With a little inspiration I might be able to jump back on the social media bandwagon and simply think of it as another annoying but integral part of my business.
Now let me push this on Facebook so this post actually gets some views.
Facebook is enough for me. I can chat with my friends, I can upload pictures, I can connect with people,I can share my thoughts in public. I never understood the point of instagram, twitter or linkedin. Especially not linkedin.
LinkedIn is actually a really good way to get the names of creatives at ad agencies or magazines.
Tihmor,
I'm like you. I use my business facebook page to post my content, but I don't share my personal info there (that's what my personal facebook page is for). That being said, I think it is extremely beneficial to get as many genuine (i.e. not paid) likes as possible because it will spread your work to a greater audience than if you just had a few likes. Look at Sam Hurd. The guy has something like 30,000 likes or something insane like that. Each time he posts something 30,000 see it and their friends see it too. That's tremendous reach and can only help when it comes to booking new clients.
I'd assume you're on their paid account services in order to contact those individuals?
I got my job (engineering) through LinkedIn. My friends too.
It's as good as you are carefull of who you add to it. People with 2389546238 connections... come on....
I hate Facebook because of reaching only fraction of my followers if I don't pay for sponsored posts. On Tumblr, Twitter or Instagram I can buy more reach seperately from my followers but Facebook is locked the door and hide the key next to my credit card.
I have 8000 followers on Facebook and avarge organic reach is only 1500 user within 24 hours.
I use social media just to post content related to my business. I don't brag about the food I eat or the places I go. It's just a hub people can see the new content. I don't have many likes, I don't urge people to like my content. I don't want to get clients because they like what I eat or the places I go. The clients pay me because of the content I produce so I don't post anything else.
I use only social networks that matter to my business and that can get me clients ONLY if they like the content I post. I don't want to pretend to be "so social and cool that they like me".
It's just business.
I find the best way to share my work on my blog as it feels private. No other news, no other "walls", nothing else but my private space.
I mainly invest in my website and my blog so even if tomorrow social networks get obsolete I will have meaningful content available, structured and hopefully interesting to the clients.
I'm old school and think people should come to professionals because of their works and what they can do for the client, not how often they update their status on Facebook.
I like Instagram because there's lots of bums on there.
Hah. I've never actually followed anyone on it. Perhaps I need to follow some bums.
I was thinking he meant backsides!
Yes. I was referring to a woman's posterior - do bums (see homeless) even have cell phones?
I find instagram's limitations a great way to level the playingfield and an outlet for photogs to show their skills outside their professional work--without putting a lot of time into it. Iwan Baan, currently one of the most successful arch photogs, has a pretty amazing and active account (http://instagram.com/iwanbaan/). It doesn't come off as showy and only proves that even with a bunch of limitations, you can still make a solid composition.
Not a fan of anything that introduces limitations meant to benefit the less skilled.
Again, these limitations are a blessing for busy full-time photographers. No need to spend 30 minutes cloning out little details or local D&B that nobody will notice--especially useful for unpaid work. I would guess your disapproval stems from the large demographic of instagram users. As a comparison, I don't find it particularly useful that the majority of popular photos on fstoppers are half naked women, yet I'm not wanting to throw the baby out with the bath water. Instagram is an incredibly easy way to promote yourself. It's the only place I've gotten thousands of likes on a photo, and I don't see that happening on other social networks. If your promoting efforts are more effective elsewhere, then more power to you brother ;)
Baan is a very successful photographer. Having Rem Koolhass as your mentor and first client certainly helped.
I saw this article first on twitter, then clicked through to read. Even if we hate it social media is here to stay and as long as it remains free and easy to post links back to original content through we should all use it.
Social media is like eating your veggies? LOL. How's that?
(Comment removed for editorial reasons.)
Snapchat is successful because it's personal. I love following Casey Neistat on snapchat because he makes stories of his days where he is showing what he's up to. People love behind the scenes because they're made for fans to see.
You're creating snapchats for the fans, its something that you aren't going to sell. It's free content.
Rejean, thanks for sharing your experience. I've been trying to accomplish the same thing through Facebook but I guess I am using it wrong. Can you offer any tips on how to use it to generate new clients? Thanks
Great article Lee, and I completely understand where you're coming from in terms of bragging (posting) on social media.
For me, I rely on social media, and it's because of Facebook that I have gained my largest clients... Club Monaco, Banana Republic, Lululemon to name a few, so I think it's very important to post current work as well as personal stories on social media. I used to never post any personal stuff on my Facebook page, but decided to give it a try, and business has increased because of it. Clients love to see the personal side of us photographers, it makes us seem more human I guess.
Thanks for posting this thought-provoking article.
I'm happy to say that I have never had a social media account of any kind, or posted to one. I have never been tempted to have a social media account and to engage in the superficial relationships and contacts that are a result of them. In fact, I find it all rather creepy, as if everyone is trying to be a shallow and phony celebrity, and in other people's business.
Heck, I don't even have a smart phone, although I do have an iPad and a Mac. For me, if you want to contact me the best thing to do is to call and actually talk to me. After that, an email will suffice. Often times, my phone is even turned off, especially when I am out and about. I don't understand this weird modern day need to be constantly in touch with others.
Those feelings have only become stronger as I've gotten older. So, yes, I think it is a part of you getting older. As you get older you start appreciating what is really important, you want to simply your life, and your BS and phoniness meter becomes much stronger.
By the way, it's not old guy cynicism. That kind of view towards old guys, is cynicism. :)
The problem, in your case, as you have described, is that it is affecting your livelihood. I can understand that, considering the times we live in. I don't know exactly how you earn your income, but have you considered putting more effort into your site, instead of maybe feeling like social media is a necessity? You have the foundation for something so much better. Perhaps a much greater FStoppers.com will take care of what you think you need through social media? After all, there are so few good photography sites, and none that I have found that truly appreciate what free discussions and debates are all about.
I mostly use Instagram but I do believe Facebook is better in the long run. I use twitter to a lesser extent
Nailed it...
I couldn't agree with you more.
Ha, that last comment is pretty solid.
I have to admit Facebook has grown to something I never want to use again, if it wasn't for the messenger feature (which is now an incredibly separate app) and the Fstoppers Writers Group I would not be using the thing. Its something I use to connect and talk with other friends, family and creatives. It is what has brought me to friend and talk with some of the best in the business on the professional end and link up with them later for collaborations. When it comes to Twitter, its an incredible tool for the fact it pushes news faster than, well the fucking news. Though I don't use it for that. I used to follow things and people that inspired me, like most social networks that is essentially what I use them for. Though over time it got polluted with retweets of people I follow of things I could care less of along with showing me conversations I also dont care about. Then you bring up vine and snapchat. Two social platforms I HAVE NO CLUE why they are popular and are blowing billion dollar IPO's and such. Seriously both of these networks make no sense to me at all. They just dont feed me any useful information that I would care to watch. Sure I have found some links to some funny vines or snaps but outside of that, don't care.
Then you bring me to Instagram. The single most engaging and most inspirational piece of social I have ever used and one that I continue to keep coming back to daily to find incredible useful information and people to follow and engage with to grow myself personally and creatively along with professionally. I'll fight you tooth and nail on the negative points for IG that you have had and questions you might come across so feel free to reach out man. I have literally built my entire photography career on the fact I have made a majority, if not all, my connections through the app and built a following of engaging people from around the world to keep me pushing for better work to share with the masses. Yes the photos are square crop, but you can use apps that will bring the photos to a ratio of any you want with a white background like Frametastic. Yes the photos are low res but in reality what do you expect for a social plastform that is pushing to an audience specically on mobile with a screen size of maybe 800px wide. Just FYI the photos are 615x615 and work perfectly fine on an iPhone for viewing purposes. I have rarely had an issue with that though for DSLR and higher res files outside from my phone I will import/export from VSCO as it seems to downsize perfectly for loading to IG. You have pointed out many of times the fact you don't care to see peoples crappy lunch photos or selfies but with any social network the best part is you follow who you want to follow and if their work is great, you will continue to follow it and like it. Its a simple app and has VERY little spam or sponsored posts compared to its big brother FB and its twisted sister Twitter.
That said I have been able to build a following, work with friends and collaborate in a way I would have never have been able to do without the app. I have worked with companies like GE and many hotels from around the country along with tech and apparel brands that have sent me anything I ask simply to use and share their products, with a great photos or so, IF I LIKE IT. That is the stip I have and I have also been linked with companies for paid campaigns along with agencies that link me with brands to work with.
So with that I again challenge you to check out Instagram. Ha! Of course hit me up for questions or ways I continue to use the app to link with my own community and clients along with share photos. Essentially the connection for me happend about two years ago to start shooting one a days and finding creative shots in the mundane Indiana landscape I had to work with. Always up for chats about IG, got a lot to appreciate with that app and whats its done for my career.
Lee,
Stop being an old man. Hop back on the Facebook wagon. The rest of us narcissists are waiting for you.
:)
I have a personal Facebook page and find it a great way to stay in touch with friends, especially those I live great distances from, but I like it less and less every day, for most of the reasons you mentioned. I am annoyed that sponsored content takes precedence over posts of friends and it gets worse every day. I do have a business Facebook account, and it may be because I am not very good at using it, but I have found it to make no difference for me at all.
I do like instagram. I find the fact that you can't upload (or search, or do a lot of other things) from a desktop annoying, but otherwise I like it. Again, I do not find it has helped my business at all (and it may also be because I do not use it properly for that purpose), but I enjoy having a place to quickly show a mix of my professional and personal images. I think it allows me to display my portfolio worthy work while allowing potential clients a bit of a window into who I am. Also, I grew up shooting 6x6, so I am actually rather fond of the square format. The constant food/selfie pics are annoying, but I end up just unfollowing people whose streams are made up content I no longer enjoy.
I also have google+, linked in, and twitter, but find those useless for business. I use twitter because I follow a lot of news and alert accounts related to my main job as a firefighter, but almost never tweet anything. google+ and linked in Im just too lazy to delete.
I feel like I wrote this article. That's just me.
I use facebook, twitter and Instagram. But all of them are passive use except for Instagram. I actually enjoy posting to Instagram because it becomes a sort of on going life story and inspiration board. I have one handle I post personal experiences, iPhone shots, and another I post new work too. I don't post stuff when I don't have stuff. And I never post right then and there after taking the shot. It makes it less of a burden and more like casual upkeep.
Nice to know it's not just me...
Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't instagram built purely for people to use to take mobile pictures, edit them and show them off in a picture only feed? Someone to show more day to day images of their lives or be hind the scenes work? So what if it's a square crop and lo res, if you want to show off large panoramas or high res files you use Flickr! It does what it has always set out to do and personally I think it's great.
I've never taken my social media too seriously, and I have decided that this is the year I will try to amp it up. I've been trying really hard and I can see the impact it is already having. It's quite incredible really the power within it. So to go in reverse would be just as profound.
It seems we are not alone, thank you for posting this. It is a shame facebook has become what it is today, a constant barrage of click bait articles, misleading and uninformed opinions passing itself off as news, "look-a- me-and-my-amazing-edited-life" and worst of all the the ugly vitriol on any forum. There is very little social on social media, but i know you already know that.
I find myself checking FB less and less as I feel a creeping sensation that it is making us more and more removed from each other on a personal level.
This year I will be switching to LifeBook, where if you want to like something, you have to tell the person in person, if you want to follow someone, you have to walk around following them, until they get a restraining order :)
I dont feel that it is you getting old and cynical, i for one am turning 40 this year, i think its the nature of the social media beast that has made us jaded.
rant out
Facebook is working really great for me so far but not in terms of building up a following. I use it mainly to connect with other photographers. In the past few months ive actueally been trying to really become active on instagram. I think personally thats it the best social platform out there right now. I have a twitter but never use it. I just really dont like it haha. Vine is just to watch funny videos and snapchat is just to talk to friends and stuff.
So if there is one platform i suggest you work on it would instagram. People love seeing other peoples lives and in my opinion its the fastest, easiest and most "real" way to build up a following.
I've found it all very overwhelming now and it takes from my time of actually getting clients, 90% of which I do through email campaigns. The other 10% is word of mouth referrals. I've gotten only one client from social media and was the worst gig ever. I cringe just at the notion of having to login to 12 plus sites to "post something". For what? 'Likes' mean nothing to me. I pay my bills with dollars. People are so fickle. I put my heart and soul into an image and it gets ignored. I post something meaningless and it's a hit. It's sad, I used to enjoy Facebook, now I can barely hang on for 45 seconds. It seems it's been invaded with trendy posts and a slew of misinformation. Drama book. Ugh. Someone help me. I need an intern to do this sh*t.
I believe that when you develop a solid base of clients, mostly for product and high end photographers, social networking becomes somewhat of a pain in the but.
It's when you mix personal life with your company that you will f*ck things up badly! You are selling a business not your sushi food, neither your cat. Social networking is awesome for publicity, and that's a way to get things noticed.
You're not alone on this one Lee. I was an avid user of the wastebook until they changed the news feed algorithm. Now, like many others have stated it has taken a turn for the worse and feel that it's user base has become complacent (myself included). I have a feeling it will meet the same demise that myspace did. Di-activating my account was an extremely freeing feeling. Real life relationships are more important to me these days; not "likes" on wastebook.
I can appreciate your article, Lee. On a personal level, I had posted a ton of stuff up until February 2014. Mostly drunken rants, but as I look back on it now, very much too much. I deleted FB in February feeling very overwhelmed (with school work at the time mostly) and addicted. And I was sick of reading the same posts, day in and day out. I got back on in May because the majority of the friends I want to keep in touch with are there. My posts have been somewhat decreased; somehow those drunken rants remain. I can see, easily, in one place, updates from my favorite websites, like Fstoppers. ;)
Following people on FB is simpler than calling every family member. The rest of the networks, I just don't understand the benefits from a personal perspective. But ask a younger person and they will tell you about Instagram or Snapchat what I said about Facebook.
From the business side... I am accepting that I have to be on most of the major networks. Positive interruptions where audiences spend THEIR time. It also helps for SEO. The more public content I have out there, links back and forth, the better. Like Marco said in a post here, I also do not appreciate having to login to all the different sites to make it happen.
If you're seeing it affect your business negatively and you don't like to do it, hire someone! ;)
Cheers!
Barb
Pretty refreshing to hear, Lee and pretty candid too especially from someone who has a lot going on. From a business standpoint I think there is a lot to be gained from a social networking platform even if it is somewhat of a chore. There has to be something out there that can post to all these sites simultaneously to make it easier.
The only platform I'm on is FB at the moment and that is not for business it's personal only at this point. I use that to keep in touch with folks I can't see in person that often because of distance, time constraints, etc. For my personal life I see zero value in SC, IG, or Twitter. They are probably time-sucks I don't need at this point.
I'd actually love to see an update on this article with some other perspectives, although, I'm inclined somewhat to agree with yours if I was in your position.
I don't think there is any way to bring the "fun" back into social media because the thrill has worn off but maybe there is a way to "manage" it for the benefit of your business.
On a sidenote, FStoppers is the only "community" I follow and invest time in because the content interests me and the folks have been very open, kind, and candid - and while I read the articles here I follow some of the same folks on FB.
Lee-
The obvious answer is that it is time to hire a social media consultant and plan an effective marketing campaign. You do the key steps of creating an effective strategy and content, and let others do the routine and daily posts that is no longer exciting. Many tasks can be scheduled for automatic posting on multiple media and accounts with software like Hootsuite and Edgar.
There is no question that people expect you to be highly connected in social media to appear legit, but it doesn't always have to be you on your smart phone.
Totally with you, facebook is the only one I use, I HATE Instagram (for reasons you mentioned) and the rest are just a waste of space i've never bothered with, I also find it funny that you didn't even mention the vast wasteland that is Google plus.
You may feel old but I am 58 and I still haven't grown up according to my wife (and kids to their eternal mortification). Social media marketing is successful for some as they are natural chatterboxes that feel everything they say cannot be anything but fascinating to others.
Not a criticism, but an observation on the lack of filters some natural PR people have.
Like you my work is by referral. Clients call me because they had good work in the past and want some more.
If my business were weddings and portraits exclusively I would be all over social media.
But I am not wired up that way and I am fine with that.
It is not magical but social media can be useful if you are selling stuff to "friends" not clients.
For me a client gets my full attention during business hours (and often after) but I will never subject them to my private life in social media.
100% of my jobs come via FB..
But I think I should rephrase that.
100% of my work comes via word and mouth. FB is todays virtual word and mouth.
While many dont like how FB penalize your pages I believe they work on the same social norms of people in real life.
If you post a shitty pic, that no one likes and or a great shot while everyone is sleeping... no one will see or "like" it.
I also believe if you hold up a sign in the middle of a bathroom, train or restaurant that says "you have a open slot" or that you are giving 10% off the next booked gig.. no one will like, or want to see that either.
How ever if your followers see a great photo from you every time they are on the train, eating and yup.. while on the... can.. chances are they will "like" it and remember you when they need to get a job done.
I think the idea of "living your life" on social media can be a distraction, but being yourself and doing and saying the right things to the right people at the right time of day will build relationships (just like in real life) and get you jobs.
I feel the same way. I have very limited resources, and choosing to prioritize them does not have my social media on #1. Do I check mine every day and multiple times a day? Yup! But do I post every day and every hour? Nope! Just cause I'd prefer to concentrate more in my personal projects with the already lack of time I got since I have a full time "day job" and doing photography professionally part-time (or any free time I got after my day job) which is little time. Most of my time I spend is obviously client editing, editing, organizing and coordinating personal projects to then share in social media and use for other advertising avenues, as well researching into educational materials and equipment. At most I get 5 hours of sleep at night and thats editing every night (after day job). Trying and organizing a marketing strategies right now is at the bottom since I am still early stages of development in my skills in certain areas of portraiture, so that will change hopefully down the road.
I've always thought it would be cool for a couple (or two+ friends) to run pages for one-another. It's hard to talk about yourself, but not your friends. Maintain just one blog or Instagram plus a fb page devoted to a friend that is doing that same stuff for you. Comment, post, share things about their photos and things while they share about yours. This might be fun, especially if they are into a completely different type of photography than you. You see their stuff in a fresh way, they see yours. Also, it might be like having a workout partner to keep you on track and goal oriented.
Couldn't agree with you more Lee,
Three months now since i pulled the plug on Facebook and Twitter. And life does go on, in fact it goes on at a faster past as you have so much more free time. People i find hide behind the "I'm only there for my business" If your content is good people will share your work regardless. I found many of my images on Pintrest and i have never had an account. It is the same with Facebook. You do not have to be there for you work to be passed around.
Content is key as always, I can't see the likes of Jay Maisel struggling to find work due to not having a Facebook account accumulating "likes" :)
Amen sista. I'm the same age as you and I have zero interest in social media, but I carry on with it reluctently. Just started last year actually. Problem is that I don't post regularly enough to be relevant and I'm hard pressed to care. I'm conditioning myself to care more this year... It just occurred to me that my target clients are professionals; now I have to get onto Linkedin. Damit.
Facebook owns Instagram, so they have the resources to grow it into a more feature rich social media platform, yet they probably won't. This is what's frustrating. Tumblr is loads better feature wise, yet it's not populated by my friends and clients. Social media is a necessary evil, so despite my frustrations it's another opportunity to share my work.