Social Media

[Paul Glendell]

Someone has to start the first discussion so here we go.  I would really like to know peoples opinions about the worth of joining the likes of Twitter ( very aptly named from my experience - I'm thinking of the twit part ) and Facebook etc.

 

I have  joined both in the last couple of weeks and find it all really stupid. Even from invited 'friends' there is so much rubbish that I don't want to spend time on such things. But I am told by many people that it is good from a business point of view to 'join in'. What experience do others in the group have of social media and which ones are worth spending time on?  Has anyone made any useful contacts using social media ?

 

I look forwards to peoples opinions

 

All the best to you all Paul Glendell

[Carl-Johan Westergren]

Hello Paul

I am not an advocate of social media but it can come in handy as as additional way of promoting or raising awareness about your work or/and yourself. I think its relevance also depends on the kind of photography you do or that you want to display. But once you have things set up, and maintained (updated) once in a while it should serve to support you. And also, I guess you would like your profile visited by professionals and not only your friends, and to get the right people to see it is perhaps the hardest part.
Photoshelter edited a 45 page social media guide as a free downloadable PDF for all members and non-members alike. I find it very useful. Here is the link:
http://www.photoshelter.com/mkt/research/social-media-for-photograp...

Kindly,
Carl

Carl Westergren
[e-mail]
http://www.photoshelter.com/c/carl_westergren

[Carl-Johan Westergren]

I checked the link just now - it works!

Carl

[Paul Glendell]

Thanks Carl - I'll take a look - but has anyone actually had anything back from social media. I am sure if I keep doing things I will eventually work out how to navigate around all this stuff but I find it hard to decide where to spend my time. I got in to photogarphy because I like taking pictures but to make enough money to survive now that almost seems secondary.

[David McLoughlin]

Hello Paul,

I was interested to see your initial experiences of social media as my first reaction to it was exactly the same. I have read Carls reply to you and completely agree with him.It is a way of promoting and raising awareness and the key as Carl mentions is how you make it relevant to yourself . I feel like you do Paul as how do you make the best use of your time. Have you started to contact people who may be interested in looking at your area of Photography ?

Thanks Carl for the link to Photoshelter - I will have a look at this.

Best wishes
David