Scrolling through my day: Social Media & Writing

“Don’t use social media to impress people; use it to impact people.” – Dave Willis, Author and Speaker

It’s no secret that social media has become an integral part of our lives by influencing how we communicate, get our information, and even impacts our moods and opinions. It has allowed us to connect from all corners of the world, becoming multicultural, and creating a worldwide experience to share with one another. From personal to business, social media has changed the landscape, soaring us to new heights in our digital evolution.

Most of my days are spent scrolling away on Facebook and Instagram, looking for the latest trends in marketing, influencing, and trending topics to write about through posts, reels, and shared articles. I have been on a long journey to find a social media identity as a content creator and aspiring novelist, and having the information right at my fingertips has been beyond beneficial.

Personal branding has become essential in my life and for my future career as a creative writer. I follow the “bookstagram” communities and groups, on both platforms, looking for people similar to myself, examining how they present themselves in the social media world, and absorbing as much information about the platforms and content as possible. From book reviews to author announcements, WIP projects, important publishing updates, and current news topics such as the book ban and other industry trends, there is no limit on the amount of information provided for my independent studies.

Most of the information is positive, but my favorite content is raw and authentic. Influencers and authors who provide a realistic view of what the writing world/process looks like can prepare us for our own writing journeys. Very rarely do I witness negativity in the social media communities that I am involved with. Authors are always supporting other authors. Readers love giving reviews and recommendations to fellow readers. And freelance writers are always willing to provide advice on maintaining your business. It is a world I am grateful to be a part of and encourage others to get involved whenever I can.

However, Facebook and Instagram are not the only platforms I use to gain my information and knowledge. I find myself listening to podcasts on Spotify about topics such as content creation, freelance writing, and professional writing. These are not only informative but inspirational and motivating. They provide up-to-date advice and lessons on how to get started as a writer, what to look out for, what to avoid doing, and how you can manage your freelancing business. In an ever-changing digital world, it is important to stay current on the best business tactics and techniques in marketing and business development. Spotify is a great tool to get you started, check out FilthyRichWriter’s podcast, you won’t be disappointed!

Another alternative to social media that I have found helpful is reading and evaluating company newsletters sent to my email. Although most people find these to be “spammy” and throw them into the black hole of deletion, they can be a great resource for your professional writing career. As a copywriter or content writer, you will be creating content campaigns and writing your own email marketing content. The best examples, and free examples, that you can learn from are the ones being sent directly to your email. What better way to learn than to see firsthand what other companies are doing and what is working for them? My advice is to utilize what you have right in front of you. They are providing you with the key elements of successful marketing content; use them and learn from them.

Social media has opened the doors to so many different opportunities for writers, content creators, social media marketers, and the like. The information, lessons, advice, and examples are all presented right in front of you. Taking the time to independently study and soak in the information provided by simple daily scrolling could be the difference that launches you into a successful personal/professional life in this digital world. Pay attention, and it could teach you how to create content that impacts your audience rather than just impressing them. In the words of Dave Willis, “Don’t use social media to impress people; use it to impact people.”

Resources:

Royse, M. 10 memorable quotes about social media that will make you think. 2022. https://knowledgeenthusiast.com/2022/03/03/10-memorable-quotes-about-social-media-that-make-you-think/

Filthy Rich Writer. Welcome to the Build Your Copywriting Business Podcast. 2024. https://filthyrichwriter.com/podcast/