3 big changes I have noticed with social media Archives

3 Big changes I have noticed with social media

Over the past five years, I have been on this journey navigating life after losing my heart cat Dusty to cancer. And if this is your first time here, “Hello there. My name is Kamira. I created this blog as a place to find joy after pet loss through inspiration and art. This space is for pet parents, past and present who also enjoy inspirational and creative content.” Now that you are in the loop, I’ll continue.

In the past few years, I have learned about the world of blogging and social media marketing for promoting content as a blogger. After trial and error, watching, and learning, I have come to a few conclusions. I have learned with social media marketing that not everything you try will be a success. And at times what used to work 5 years ago, may not work as well today.

I am sure you are asking. “What changes are you noticing on social media? Well, I will tell you the 3 big changes I have noticed with social media as a blogger. Some of these changes may resonate with you too.

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1. The Unknown

One observation I have noticed is unknown. I wrote a recent blog post The best advice I received as a new blogger where I discussed the importance of having your own website in the event a platform goes down or disappears. This is one big change I’ve noticed as of late. From technical issues to outages, I’ve realized that these social platforms are a false sense of stability. Hence, it’s important to have your own platform.

Additionally, I have observed more oversight, censorship, and control of content from others. That’s a bit discouraging as there are many important and relevant people with well-thought-out research and opinions to offer the public, yet they are censored.

Like I mentioned in my other blog post, the fact remains when I promote my blog content, I understand I’m at the mercy of a platform’s rules, regulations, and algorithms. Social platforms you do not own can dictate the rules, censor, ban or restrict you for any reason.

2. Dip in Analytics/ Engagement

Secondly, another big change I have noticed with social media is a big dip in engagement and visibility of content in newsfeeds. Can you relate?

I’ve shared in the past that I have used various ways to share my content. I use Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook. I enjoy the pet social share communities I’m a part of as well. Additionally, I have even tried Facebook ads on and off. Results are hit or miss.

I have a decent following in terms of number count on Facebook. And I have a few hundred on Instagram and Twitter, however, engagement is dipping in some areas recently.

Are people losing interest in the content or are these standard familiar platforms becoming outdated? Maybe it is neither of these issues but rather people have more options on social platforms these days.

Tik-tok, Snapchat, and Twitch are just a few of the new platforms I’ve heard of. I’ve learned that as a blogger the challenge lies in capturing and keeping the reader’s attention especially when there are dozens of other options.

3. Exploring Alternatives

The final big change I’ve discovered or rather remembered is that many bloggers are going back to basics. There are ways to market and drive traffic to my blog outside of social media.

Sometimes the answer you have been looking for has been staring you in the face. Work smarter and not harder. As bloggers and creatives, we have options.

And guess what? For me, social search engines seem to work well. And for me, Pinterest is a winner!

I love creating Pinterest pins in Canva and the time and effort invested has proven to be consistent and makes up about 86% of my social traffic to my blog. So, what have I been doing with my life?!! My modest effort and time pinning has proven results with bringing traffic to my blog, so I am sticking with it.

YouTube

Also, as I’ve mentioned recently, I’m growing my new YouTube channel to create video form content to share and promote my blog. Video content is only continuing to grow and shows no signs of slowing down. I’m finding many people prefer viewing or listening to content over reading. This trend continues to grow.

Podcasts

Along with the growing trend in video. I notice that just as many people are invested in audio content. As a blogger I find it refreshing and a new and different way to share content comparable to the days of radio.

Hmm, maybe that’s an avenue I may try down the road. We’ll see.

Mailing list/Newsletters

Having a mailing list is a big plus. I share my content via my email newsletter weekly with my Impurrfectlife Insiders. Being able to keep my community informed and notified of special events via my mailing list is invaluable. Social media can shut down, but I’ll still be able to stay in touch with my community without skipping a beat.

Word of mouth

Successful brands have been built through word of mouth, newsletters, radio, collaborations, etc. before the age of social media. So never underestimate the power of a good word from a friend to a colleague. Word travels fast.

I know on a personal level, my friends, family, and colleagues have shared information about my blog to others and I’m so grateful.

Conclusion

Those are the 3 big changes I have noticed in social media as a blogger. I understand what works for one person may not work well for another. Social media has proven to have many advantages and disadvantages. To grow, you must learn to adapt to change with the times but realize older methods still work. Don’t be afraid to try something out of the box.

Share your Thoughts

Do you use social media to promote your blog or business? Have you noticed changes recently? Are you a fan of social media? What other ways do you market your business? Which method has proven most beneficial for you? I’d love to hear your input and tips.

Be sure to stay connected with me by following me on Pinterest and subscribe to my YouTube Channel. Most importantly, sign up for my mailing list here.