I’m not sure where I’m going with this post- or with my so-called social networking life. I love doing our podcast Push My Follow and want to focus on making it bigger and better, so we need ears. We have some fantastic and high profile listeners to be sure, who been amazingly supportive and helpful. But we can go further. And I love writing/talking/speaking about social media, social networking, and its various forms. I have some ideas on where I can go with all this, but it would help to get more face time with folks who can help point me in the right direction! I’m not necessarily talking about a career strategy, although I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t love to get some money out of all this! But sometimes I think I’d get more joy out of it if I separated out the money, get a job completely unrelated, then use my free time and see where it takes me, pressure free. While I love the web design work I do, it’ll never make me rich, and to be honest I don’t know that I love it enough to fight the hordes who are competing in the same space.
Do I sound confused? At least I know I’m not alone, I hear similar rumblings in the so-called back channels now and then. It’s a confusing place to be, so much is in flux, we’re seeing what works, what doesn’t, especially as the mainstream comes marching in (as evidenced by my sister joining Twitter the other day!)
If you do not absolutely NEED to go get that full time job, don't! It's really hard to work on a blog in addition to having a career. Sometimes, it feels like just more work and all the passion has been sapped out of it. I'm damned tired at the end of my work day, and the last thing I want to do some days is sit in front of the computer some more! Because I don't have a full 8 hour day to devote to it, it takes me longer to do things (yeah, that's MY fault, don't you worry, I own it and I know it! :D ). The To Do list of stuff I want to do, explore, read about, is just too long to get done on nights and weekends. So, I'll repeat my nickel's worth - if you don't have to get that unrelated job during the day, then don't!
Tink *~*~* PS - I thought that might have been your sister, but I was pretty sure she would not know me online, and might not remember me if I explained who I was.
Not at a conference this weekend…
This weekend a number of my social media compatriots are in Las Vegas at Blog World Expo, the largest US based social media/blogging convention there is. Others have headed to Québec to participate in PodCamp Montréal, a much smaller but still important “unconference.” Me? I’m at home cleaning out my son’s bedroom.
Tracy Apps presents at Pod Camp Montréal -photo by Rob Blatt
I decided to skip Montréal as well. It would have been a purely social trip for me, unlike local podcamps where I run a better chance of making new connections that might be beneficial. And also, I don’t have a passport (yet!)
Of the two, I think I’m regretting not going to BWE the most, even if PC Montréal might have been more fun. Why, when I can probably learn as much or more by web surfing or just keeping up with all the tweeting and live blogging coming back from Vegas? Well, one thing I’ve learned about this social networking stuff, it doesn’t matter how ubiquitous you are online, if you don’t connect with people face to face at least once in awhile you’ll fall off the radar. And to succeed (and I don’t mean just financial success) you need to stay visible.
I’m not sure where I’m going with this post- or with my so-called social networking life. I love doing our podcast Push My Follow and want to focus on making it bigger and better, so we need ears. We have some fantastic and high profile listeners to be sure, who been amazingly supportive and helpful. But we can go further. And I love writing/talking/speaking about social media, social networking, and its various forms. I have some ideas on where I can go with all this, but it would help to get more face time with folks who can help point me in the right direction! I’m not necessarily talking about a career strategy, although I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t love to get some money out of all this! But sometimes I think I’d get more joy out of it if I separated out the money, get a job completely unrelated, then use my free time and see where it takes me, pressure free. While I love the web design work I do, it’ll never make me rich, and to be honest I don’t know that I love it enough to fight the hordes who are competing in the same space.
Do I sound confused? At least I know I’m not alone, I hear similar rumblings in the so-called back channels now and then. It’s a confusing place to be, so much is in flux, we’re seeing what works, what doesn’t, especially as the mainstream comes marching in (as evidenced by my sister joining Twitter the other day!)
So it’s a bumpy ride, but I’m staying on it.