Social Networking Karma - Twitter

In my on-going series on Social Networking Karma I want to look at some specific techniques that you can use to promote others, build your business, and effectively promote your own shop. Today - Twitter!

Turquoise and White Recycled Headband

We hear all the time that Twitter is a powerful tool. I have to admit that I've gone back and forth on how I feel about this. There have been times where I've used twitter religiously, and times where I said "whatever" and ignored it. It's been a long, hard, road for me. Along the way I've learned some approaches that don't work, and quite a few things that do work! Here's my advice:

1. Don't feel like you have to read every tweet that every person you follow sends out.

While in an idea world you might see everything, the reality is that we are all balancing a variety of important things, and if you have a lot people you follow, seeing every tweet just isn't manageable. So what do you do? Well...

2. If you have unlimited texts - subscribe to mobile texts if you want to see every tweet a person sends out. Just remember that you will be overwhelmed if you do this for more than a few people! Another option is...

The Bracelet of Araxia

3. Make a list of your top 20 people. These are the people that you want to check in on every day! When you log into twitter, use that list to dictate what you read first.

4. Use those lists for other things! Honestly, I don't utilize the power of lists the way I should, but I can see the potential! Feel free to use these lists to organize the people you follow however you want :)

5. Tweet and Retweet other people's work! This is the big one that I do. I may not be on twitter all the time, but when I am on there I try to retweet at least one person's tweet that I like. Ideally - two or three. This has lead to some great conversations and new friends! Also - when I see an item I really like, from a team mate or in a treasury, or just from browsing - I take a minute or so to tweet it! If you have that persons twitter address than include them in the tweet by doing "@their name." If not - send them a short message with a link to the tweet!

Lampwork Beads Color Explosion Discs

There is a lot more that I could say about twitter - but I don't want this to get too long. So I'll just add one more thing. Do you know about hashtags? That's when you end your tweet with things like: #etsy, #artfire, and many, many more! These help people to find your tweets and can be really important. Trends occur when lots of people are using and searching these tags, and I'm trying to start a new trend! 

I'm using the hashtag #ArtistsTogether whenever I promote other artists. Why? It comes back to the whole concept of Social Networking Karma. Independent Artists find the best success when they work together. Hence - #ArtistsTogether! I have to admit one of my friends helped me come up with the tag and I can't for the life of me remember which one >_> 

My challenge to you is to promote other artists, as well as yourself, on your twitter! I'd love it if you'd join with me and use the #ArtistsTogether tag as well - thanks guys! 

One last thing - leave your twitter account in the comments! Mine is: www.twitter.com/rosewksjewelry

Social Networking Karma!

Check out this week's Giveaway featuring Mama's Little Monkeys!

Celtic Camo Bead Woven Bracelet

What is Social Networking Karma? Why am I talking about it? First let's back up and examine the idea of Karma...

Karma, the Golden Rule, "What goes around comes around," - whatever you call it, it's a concept that has been around for for a long time. When you do nice things for other's, it often comes back to you in wonderful and unexpected ways. Right? 

Now let me ask you a question. Do you ever get tired of promoting yourself? I know I do! There have definitely been times when I get tired of tooting my own horn and where I feel like I'm just blabbing to the universe with no feedback. The various social networking sites were starting to feel pointless. That's when I started thinking about Social Networking Karma. 

Green Kabbalah Jasper Pendant

Now, I don't want you to think I came upon this idea on my own, this has been a long process and I know that there have been a lot of different artists who've given me individual ideas that I eventually pulled together into a whole!

How it works: 

Social Networking Karma happens when you promote artists (authors, bloggers, etc), other than yourself. You can do this in a lot of ways! See something you like? Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Plurk, or your blog! Then, and this is key, tell that person where you've shared it and send them a link. You'll be amazed at the results! 

Since I've started practicing this habit the results have blown me away. I've had people e-mail me and tell me that I've made their day because they had a horrible day and having someone do something nice just totally floored them. I've had people tell me that they were considering shutting down their shop, then I promoted them, and it made them think that maybe there is some value to their work. I've also had a lot of people return the favor and promote me in one way or another.

There's no feeling like it! When they return the promotion, it's great, but it's the people who's day's I make, or who I end up building a relationship with them as a result, that I love :) 

Damask Pin Cushion by Destash City

One of our featured giveaway artist's shops!

I'm going to be talking about some different approaches to practice Social Networking Karma over the next few weeks. Specifically we'll be talking about Twitter, Facebook, and Blogging. I may add to that list as I continue to explore the topic! 

Decision Made

I mentioned recently that I was trying to decide what to do with my Artfire account, should I stay pro or go basic? I may have only mentioned this only recently, but it's honestly been something that I've been struggling to decide for awhile now. I don't have stellar sales in either my etsy or artfire shops, but etsy is costing me less, and it only costs me if I make a sale or I chose to list. I like that.

I've also discovered that splitting my focus really doesn't work. I mean, I'd like to be able to equally promote both shops, but it usually ends up I'm focusing on one or the other. Which sometimes works, and other times just drives me nuts as I wish for more hours in the day where I can promote, create, and take care of the rest of life!

There are many things I dislike about Etsy, many things I like about Artfire, but it comes down to money in the end. And, to be honest, connections. I've made a lot more friends on Etsy, and if I'm going to focus on one shop, I'd rather focus on the one where I've made those friendships.

So I'm taking my Artfire account basic. I am going to keep it, and I'll work on it occasionally when I'm happy with where I'm on Etsy, but I honestly have a LOT of things I want to work on with my Etsy shop and the decision to just focus on that is a major relief! Especially when you consider I also have one consignment shop, would still like to find more of those, and I'm going to be doing the Saturday Markets this summer...