Before I began Joyfully Green in July of 2012, I had a very strong aversion to social media. Actually, I'll go one step further and admit that I openly mocked it. "Friending" and "tweeting" were just not for me, and I told anybody who tried to convince me otherwise my firm stance on it. But very soon after I started this blog, it became abundantly clear that I needed to publicize it (due to the proverbial "tree that falls in a forest"), and social media was the primary way to do it. So, I broke down and joined Facebook for business purposes. For the first week, I felt something that can only be described as "dizzy queasiness."
When you first get sucked into the vortex of social media, it's hard to see the light of day. Literally. You can sit at your computer in a zombified daze, scrolling through updates from friends you haven't seen in decades. Some of this reconnecting is actually quite pleasant, as you (almost miraculously) find people you genuinely liked but lost. However, it can consume your "real" life, so you're spending a disproportionate amount of time on your "virtual" life. Exercise, fresh air, and eating regularly scheduled meals can fall by the wayside, in favor of the never-ending newsfeed of what your long-lost friends are up to. Often, they're not up to very much! My husband and I started to vote on "The Week's Worst Facebook Update." (Sorry if your update is in here, friends reading this, but you brought it on yourselves!) Our top three nominees to date, in no particular order, are the following:
1) "Ate chicken and broccoli for dinner. Yum!" (Really? This qualifies as an "update"?)
2) "Having the best time of my life tonight!" (So why are you typing on Facebook?)
3) "Wish I were sleeping right now." (So get off the computer and go to bed!)
But, lo and behold, Facebook brought my blog a lot of traffic, despite the fact that I went about it all backwards by conducting blog business from my personal page. (I'm non-techy like that.) I've just now gotten around to figuring out a completely separate business page for my blog; in a way, I'm starting from scratch. (You can help me regain some lost ground by "liking" this blog after the post.)
Facebook still brings me more hits than any other medium. However, I wanted to broaden my network to include people I would consider "colleagues" but not necessarily "buddies." So, I broke down and joined LinkedIn. I had my two social media outlets, and that was that. Or so I thought...
At the beginning of the new year, I received the happy news from the BlogHer Publishing Network that they would be syndicating one of my favorite posts. They asked me to cross-publicize it with them on Facebook...and Twitter. So, (insert heavy sigh here), I broke down and joined Twitter, which was the social media site I had mocked the most mercilessly. Considering the gist of this post, I have some news that might surprise you: Twitter is amazing and not at all what I thought it was. Twitter finds like-minded followers for you, so anybody searching "green" will come up with this very blog you are reading right now. Twitter builds your audience, with very little effort required on your part. It's not really about "friends" or "colleagues"; it's about common interests. If I had known it was so easy to find people interested in green topics, I would have joined it ages ago--possibly before Facebook. (Apologies, Twitter, for all of the unfounded mockery.)
The point of all this social media rambling? In a word: Balance. In another word: Restraint. I have a whole category on this blog called "Unplug & Simplify"; social media is the exact opposite of unplugging and simplifying. Despite having a need for social media from a business angle, it's a constant struggle to maintain limits on how much technology I will allow into my life. Because being green for me does NOT mean being tied to my computer for hours on end, ignoring the changing seasons, the books I want to read, my dog who likes long walks and cuddles, the plants I need to water, and last but not least, my children, who are still quite small and need their mother. But, as I've learned in the last eight months, getting the green word "out there" means I must dip my toes into the waters of social media and wiggle them around. The key is to watch out for the undertow.
Now you tell me: What's your personal opinion of Facebook and Twitter? And should I join Pinterest? (I'm only half-kidding.)
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© 2013 by Joy Sussman/JoyfullyGreen.com. All rights reserved. Photos and text digitally fingerprinted and protected by MyFreeCopyright.com. Site licensed by Creative Commons.
All so true. I like FB for knowing what old friends are up to - to a point. Their dinner choices are less interesting to me, and even our nine-year old mocks that side of it. I joined twitter when a friend refused to email me an interesting article, but said he was tweeting it and I could follow him and get the tweet. I've been pleasantly surprised - I had thought twitter was mostly about celebrity's sex lives, but I actually get some interesting news. But now I get email reminders about new FB posts, my twitter feeds, updates from LinkedIn (which I joined purely for professional reasons) - who has the time? And what is Pinterest anyway?
Posted by: Jon | 04/06/2013 at 09:09 AM
I want to ask you a simple question joy. "Why?" What is your long term goal with investing all the time, and effort? What is it that you envision happening? I assume there would be some sort of income for you? I know nothing about blogging as a income, though I have heard it can.
My second question is...did you really read all those dummies books in the photo? I guess, I should read them too, as I am so clueless LOL.
I allowed facebook to become a real bad time suck. It has to stop soon. I took a year to redefine who I am, and where my art was going...in a direction I did not like. I let my etsy expire, and I stopped making the kinds of things that always sold, but I did not like making. I also stopped the 8-10 hours per day of promoting my work online. That left me exhausted and NOT in the mood to create more items in my "spare time" left over.
for several months, my work still circulated around the net...but its come to a dead standstill. I don't have a blog, nor twitter, nor pin interest, and I don't keep my flickr updated. My Facebook is more times then not just a personal waste of time, though its enlightening, fun, and thoroughly inspiring! I do make great friends in the art, design, and craft worlds...and that is important. I also link up with ein the environmental world, as well as the global fashion scene-- 2 of my top interests.
I think you have to delve into all this with caution...and understand on a daily basis to make assessments on how your time is being used, and how far off the goal s you get. Because it WILL happen LOL.
I think of unplugging ALL the time! But then, where would I be? I would be non existent! I do think my personal Facebook has to go. I need a professional page. I probably need to finally get that professional web site too. Good lord....I don't twitter, and I don't have a blog (that didn't last long) , and I don't really know how to do link'in because I keep forgetting passwords.
My last question to you Joy...did you find all those books really all that helpful? I mean...by the time I read them all there will be some new thing out we all havve to embrace. ~~~;-) its exhausting.
Posted by: Urban Woodswalker | 04/06/2013 at 11:18 AM
I knew I could count on you for a good response to this post! My long-term goal is to publish a book, do freelance writing at large blogs or publications, or possibly do some consulting, although I seem to be constantly re-evaluating that whole big picture. The books in the photos that I read cover to cover are the Typepad for Dummies book (EXCELLENT, and really one of the best how-to guides Ive ever read--since I have a Typepad blog, it was absolutely essential reading for me) and Professional Blogging for Dummies (also very helpful, although not nearly as much as the first). I skimmed the Facebook and HTML books for what I needed to know and I occasionally consult them when I dont know what Im doing (often, actually!). The Twitter one and the Pinterest one are on loan from the library, and I only used the Twitter one to get started, as I had no real idea how to do it. I havent even really started the Pinterest one because Im still on the fence about it. Its just as you say--these things can be helpful, but they can also be an ENORMOUS time-suck. I dont want to spend all of my daylight hours at the computer, and yet with a blog, you do need to devote a good chunk of tech time to it. If you do decide to pursue creating a blog, let me know if you want any further advice on it.
Posted by: Joy @ JoyfullyGreen.com | 04/06/2013 at 11:53 AM
Thanks for all the clarification Joy. :-)
You sound like you are doing your homework. certainly sound organized! There is probably a place to explore time management skills ...like an VIP executive would--- or a lawyer (charges by the minute...very aware of time).
I have thought to get one of those cute kitchen timers, and set it. Once it goes off...in an hour, or whatever (sometimes only 15 minutes-- say on Pinterest) might work well for you.
Watch out for Pininterest...I get sucked into to all the wonderful organizing ideas, and all the recycled arts and crafts! before I know it, 45 minutes (or more!) have gone by and absolutely nothing gets done. Or I forgot what i am supposed to get done.
Twitter...I still don't want to get it. I don't want to live life in short little tweets. I think you CAN choose what to have in your life...and edit, edit, edit...what works, and what doesn't? Keep track, keep a notebook journal (yeah...like you need more things to keep track of...I KNOW!)...maybe even where you most lose time on.
Keep us posted!
Posted by: Urban Woodswalker | 04/06/2013 at 03:01 PM
I honestly HATE social media, but for us bloggers it's a must. So I must find a way to maintain balance. Thank you for these wonderful posts because they have helped me take little steps toward doing just that. (BTW, Pinterest is my leading social media source of traffic, always in the top 5 sources of my traffic. And much less effort on my part ...)
Posted by: Debi | 04/06/2013 at 03:48 PM
Thats interesting about Pinterest, Debi. I know the bare minimum about it, so I guess I actually should read the Pinterest for Dummies book that I borrowed from the library! Im just dreading the addition of yet ANOTHER social network. You wouldnt believe the number of passwords I already have--actually, as a blogger, you would believe it!
Posted by: Joy @ JoyfullyGreen.com | 04/06/2013 at 04:07 PM
I wondered if you were on Pinterest--it seems like it would be right up your alley as a creative person. Another blogger just told me its her biggest traffic driver to her site, so I guess I really should look into it...ugh...
Posted by: Joy @ JoyfullyGreen.com | 04/06/2013 at 04:09 PM
Joy, I'm reading this one a little late...
LinkedIn? Finally? It's about time! And really, who's using all of those books in the pics, you or your pooch! On Pinterest, a definite YES because you are a visual person who uses pics on your blog and all pics can track back (link) to your blog which will help you grow your readership. Keep up the great work.
Posted by: Barrad | 05/31/2013 at 10:16 AM
Thanks, Jory! I did break down and join Pinterest a couple of weeks ago. (I got a lot of "YES" feedback to that one, so you're right in line.) It's pretty interesting, I must say! Stop by again here, please!
P.S. My dog is now on Twitter.
Posted by: Joy @ JoyfullyGreen.com | 05/31/2013 at 05:24 PM
Thanks, Jory! I did break down and join Pinterest a couple of weeks ago. (I got a lot of "YES" feedback to that one, so you're right in line.) It's pretty interesting, I must say! Stop by again here, please!
P.S. My dog is now on Twitter.
Posted by: Joy @ JoyfullyGreen.com | 05/31/2013 at 05:26 PM