Way back on Episode 200 of my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast, my guest was comedian Jim Florentine. To this day, I still listen to his podcast, where he often will talk with great sarcasm about people taking pictures of their food (for social media). His attitude is, just eat it, nobody cares.
In one of the talks that I do when I go out and do speaking engagements, I reference the “Seinfeld” episode when they were trying to write the pilot and the dialogue included, “What did you do today?” “Nothing.” “That’s a show!”
The fact is that there are people out there who do care about what you’re doing – and this is the important part – that you think is routine or mundane. You might even stop to think about, “Is this a social media post” or even “Is this a YouTube video” but you decide on your own that no one would be interested.
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The fact is that they are.
I remember someone I know asking her followers, “What would you like to see?” At the time she was an on-air TV sports anchor. I replied with wanting to see what she sees, meaning, from her side of the desk. She was obviously used to looking out at the lights and the cameras and the camera operators, but we don’t get access to that view.
Last night I posted a video on YouTube, celebrating having hit ten years of the “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast (two months ago). Throughout the video you get glimpses of me actually recording interviews with guests on-location in the likes of Nashville, Miami, Anaheim, Orlando, and more. Since it’s an audio-only podcast, I knew that there would be an interest in me pulling back the curtain and providing some visuals to reveal some of this footage.
Similarly, podcasting has taken me to a number of places and events as a speaker. However, unless you were there in-person hearing one of my talks, you would otherwise only see, say, Instagram posts about those presentations. Or if you subscribe to the (free) weekly e-newsletter, you might read about it in there. So, I made sure to give viewers a glimpse at me speaking in places like Los Angeles, Washington DC, Orlando, and more.
When you get frustrated and go days without posting on social media because you “have nothing to post,” think again.
Two months ago, when I spoke at the 20th San Francisco Writers Conference, I also offered eight-minute consultations. The writers would sit one-on-one with me and some of them would tell me about their struggles with social media content ideas. I right away would tell them, “I hope you’re getting lots of pictures here while you’re at this event and showing your followers everything you’re doing.” I was amazed at how many of them thought I’d just split the atom.
Two days ago I posted a picture on Instagram of me at my laptop, editing the video that ultimately went up on the YouTube channel last night. Those things don’t produce themselves, so show people that it’s you doing the post-production. Remember, just because it’s a regular habit for you and doesn’t seem interesting as a result, your followers don’t get access to songwriting sessions or recording sessions or meetings with a publisher.
Picture the guy or the gal who is going to work at a Monday through Friday 9-5 desk job in an office. You and your posts are their escape. They are living vicariously through you. Do they want to see pictures of your food? Well, Jim Florentine would argue that no, they don’t. But if you’re getting updated pictures, they absolutely want to see you at that photo shoot and not just the finished shots.
Need some ideas specific to what you do? I’m live on the Owwll app as I’m writing this blog. And if you’re reading it at a time when I’m not, just use the Request to Go Live feature and I’ll jump on. Either way, call me and let’s talk. For twenty years now I have been helping indie music artists, authors, actors, entrepreneurs, small business owners, podcasters, and more. Let’s jump on a call so you can benefit from all my years of experience and keep you moving forward.