A Day with Digital Media
Hey, Friends! You are in luck - I’m in a social media marketing class at SNHU. My first assignment is to explore how I consume social media and share it in a blog post. So, once again, you get to read my homework.
My Digital Media Day
I start most days with a bleary-eyed scroll through Facebook to see if anything is happening. I move on to Instagram for pretty pictures. Then I move on to checking my calendar and the New York Times.
I am not allowed to type while I’m in bed. It took me a while to realize it, but before I’m fully awake I write odd things. Typos are the least of my issues while I’m sleepy - sometimes it is fully incoherent.
After getting myself ready for the day, I go downstairs to help Jeremy get off to work, then I drink my coffee and actually engage with Instagram. I will respond to comments, then find a few posts to comment on, to keep the community spirit going. Then it is time to tackle my email.
I open emails from Sue Spargo as soon as I notice them. I find her content to be light and enjoyable. Other accounts that get my instant attention are Fish Museum and Circus and Carolyn Friedlander. Mostly what I am looking for is inspiration from other artists, but not too much. I want to make sure I keep my creative voice my own, not just imitating people I enjoy.
When I go to my office to start my workday, I log into my blog to address any comments on my posts.
During the workday I try to avoid logging into any social media. Otherwise it feels like a constant drain on my attention. It is impossible to respond to a comment and not scroll through, just a little.
After dinner we have TV time. I usually do hand stitching, but sometimes I engage with social media during that time.
The Platforms
Facebook is a platform I don’t love. I enjoy some of the groups I participate in, and I enjoy helping struggling quilters, but otherwise it is a time-suck. I am a member of a lot of groups, and so many of the participants just complain endlessly. I wish people would make an effort to be positive. I think I could happily give up Facebook entirely, but as a business owner I feel like I need to keep engaged there. I am in an industry (quilting) where the majority of consumers are middle-aged or older, and Facebook is by far the most popular platform with that demographic.
Instagram is my favorite social media platform. I feel like I understand what is happening, I have moderate control over what I see, and I enjoy the community. It also feels more positive. I enjoy the imagery-first approach of Instagram. Most of the accounts I follow put some effort into their photos, too, which means it is a stream of loveliness, along with some dumpling ads and kitten videos.
My email inbox is constantly overflowing. My Gmail account separates things for me into categories, which is a huge help. I must get hundreds of emails from companies every day. I rarely read any of them. There are a few designers who get about a 50% open rate from me. Otherwise they just sit until I decide to empty the Promotions folder.
How do you engage with digital media? Do you have a favorite platform?