Navigating the Uncertainty of Social Media: Preparing for the Unexpected
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Chapter 1: Understanding the Risks of Social Media
When it comes to platforms like Instagram, it's vital to remember that they are not ours to control, even though we continually contribute to their ecosystem. Why do we do this? The answer lies in the mutual advantages we gain. Instagram offers a "free" platform to promote your brand, reaching millions globally. In return, you invest your time—your most precious resource.
You commit to consistently engaging on the platform, but what can you carry with you if you decide to leave? Essentially, what skills can you utilize beyond Instagram? For instance, knowledge of effective hashtags does not translate to other contexts.
Reflecting on a past experience, on September 7, 2021, I shared a post titled "What If Instagram Disappeared Tomorrow?" Shortly thereafter, Facebook's systems, including Instagram and WhatsApp, experienced a significant outage. While I’m not claiming to predict the future, I suspect we will encounter more disruptions. It might not be Instagram next; it could be TikTok or Medium. Regardless, these outages are beyond our control, and all we can do is wait for their return.
So, how can we mitigate this unpredictability? The key lies in utilizing different platforms and skills to build connections. Extract valuable experiences and insights from your time spent on Instagram, rather than merely focusing on how to use specific features effectively.
If Instagram is your sole platform for sharing your brand and message, you risk being sidelined. Relying solely on the ability to create 7-second videos can severely limit your reach and impact.
Explore various avenues where your content can flourish, and acquire new skills to present your brand in diverse formats. Here are some essential skills I have gained over nearly ten years of content creation:
- Copywriting
- Business Strategy
- Personal Branding
- Creative Thinking
- Relationship Building
- Video Editing
Pro Tip: Consider repurposing your content. Share TikTok videos on Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, and enhance your carousel posts with additional details for a Medium article.
These are the channels through which I disseminate my content, business, and ideas:
- Business Website — all business operations
- Newsletter/Blog — direct engagement with my audience
- Medium — written articles
- Instagram — daily updates and posts
- TikTok — short video content
- Twitter — sharing quick thoughts
- YouTube — long-form video content
- Pinterest — sharing articles and content to boost website traffic
This serves as a crucial reminder. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments: What skills are you honing through your time on Instagram? Are they applicable outside the platform? In what other spaces do you share your content and brand?
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