I have often adapted the expression “You can’t be all things to all people” to instead imply that you can’t be on every single platform – industry-specific or social media. But you do, however, need to be on some, meaning, enough.
The more you’re “seen,” the less likely people are to forget about you and, of course, the better chance you have of doing more business, whatever that looks like for you.
For example, every Monday I publish a blog here on this site. But I also publish it on Medium and on Blogger. I did a consult last week with a massage therapist who was looking for some marketing help and she asked, “A different blog for all those sites?” Exhale. No. This same blog that you’re reading here on the Now Hear This website is the exact same as readers on Medium and Blogger will be seeing.
While there is yet another website that I publish a completely different blog on (totally different subject matter), the bottom line is visibility. Have you heard the expression, “Meet people where they are”? It’s used a lot in Christian communities, but in the world that creators live and work in, you need to have your work available where your audience hangs out.
I always remind people too that lots of us just seem to have a favorite platform. So, in the example above, even though I want traffic to my website, there are people who love reading on Medium. Thus, I’m better off meeting them there rather than agonizing over them not coming to the Now Hear This website. (Besides, a link or two within my blog – or in my boilerplate at the bottom – will get them over to here anyway.)
The other website that I mentioned that I publish to that is for totally different subject matter? I do nothing at all to promote that I have blogs on there. Yet, because they are so well established and have such a huge volume of traffic, the content that I publish on there is getting a good number of eyes on it. (I can see the number of reads, even though I’m not paying to be on their site.)
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There was a time when the future of SoundCloud was in doubt, but they have done a masterful job of reorganizing and all is well there. I have long encouraged people in the music community to have their music on there. Why? For the reason that I alluded to above. That’s an online destination where music people hang out. It’s why I’ve always had the “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast on there. Since the show caters to listeners who are singers, songwriters, musicians, etc. who want to learn more to help them grow in their career in music, SoundCloud is absolutely a place where NHTE should be. And as a result, I’ve gotten listeners from all around the world on SoundCloud. Had I only kept the podcast here on the website and/or “just” on iTunes (Apple Podcasts) and Spotify, I would have missed out on thousands and thousands and thousands of listens from SoundCloud users.
To be sure, there are only so many hours in a day, and no, you can’t be all things to all people (can’t be everywhere and shouldn’t be everywhere). But, social media-wise, if you’re not on what I personally consider “the big three” – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – you’re off to a bad start. Take inventory of not only where you are, but where you aren’t. If you want more exposure, go out and get it.
Remember that I am here to help you. With the weekly podcast, through the blog I publish every Monday, and even through personal one-on-one consultations. It starts with you, though. Don’t wait any longer to kick your career up a notch.
Continue the conversation with me on Twitter via @NHT_tweets. Alternatively, use Facebook, LinkedIn, or even good old reliable email.