Introduction to Using Social Media as a Digital Writing Platform

Over the last few weeks, I have been making a conscious effort to post more on social media. I can already hear the sigh that is about to reverberate from your lips. However, as an author, being able to post regularly on social media is important in terms of putting yourself out there; connecting and communicating with other readers and writers. I have mentioned in previous posts that social media is an important aspect of being an author, but also how it can be very exhausting. The focus on digital writing has been a way that I can reframe my mindset to make social media more interesting, whilst also using as an opportunity to develop my writing.

Digital writing is essentially writing for entertainment and/or consumption on a digital space. This is different from something physical, like a book for example, that can be bought and read as many times as you like. With digital writing, there is an element of speed and repetition. I've noticed that — particularly on social media — you are trying to catch people's attention much faster than you would need to even with a blog post.

I particularly like digital writing because I have found it hard to sustain my writing routine, through struggling with my health. Digital writing is very different from other types of writing. It is very short and sweet, and it is a matter of getting ideas across very quickly — but effectively. The appeal is very similar to that which had once been with poetry: the idea that you can explore very specific ideas very quickly. So, it is very different to that of a blog post, because in a blog post you have the opportunity to explore an idea in depth. Whereas, with writing on social media, it is the ability to engage the reader, make your point very quickly, and then suggest what you would like a reader to do with that information. In order to convey these ideas — and potentially these narratives — very quickly, you're having to be very precise in your word choice, and suggesting to the reader what you would like them to do with the information. 

As I've just said, writing on social media is about creating emotion, creating that connection, very quickly. Which, of course you can do with all types of writing, but it is very limited by the space and amount of words that you have to play with. It is also very different because it is not a matter of writing what you want to write, and then leaving it to be ‘consumed’. What I mean by this is, I could post twice a day, but also ‘spend the rest of the time’ engaging with other people on a platform. So, I'm actually posting twice a day, but in terms of engaging and replying to other people, I'm actually posting a lot more. That leads me very nicely to my next point of there being instant feedback on my writing. 

If people are engaging very quickly and responding in a positive or negative way, I get an instant idea of whether the writing was effective or whether they are engaged with what I have to say. It could be that what I have to say is interesting, but the way I've written it has led it to be less so. Having said that, by writing on social media there is more opportunity to talk about a wide range of subjects, as one person may only see three out of five posts; you can talk about a wide range of subjects, without it impacting (necessarily) what people associate your account with. For example, people may associate my social media accounts with writing and disability, but if I were to write about studying a couple of times a day, then that wouldn't infringe on how people perceive my account overall. Can you see how posting on social media gives you much more flexibility over, say, writing a blog post or a novel? In the sense that you can post on social media much more than you might publish a blog post or a book.

The increased frequency in visibility also allows other people to see your personality from different angles. If they are only reading a blog post that I publish once a week, then they will get an idea of my personality, but they would have to wait for each blog post in order to come to a conclusion about it. Whereas, the support of the social media posts allows this connection to be developed that little bit more quickly.

(I'm going to talk about a few buzzwords in a minute, so brace yourself. Even ‘buzzword’ has become a buzzword in itself, so again brace yourself.)

It is also interesting to note that there is often this assumption that people only write in a digital space — such as on a blog, or on social media — in order to promote a product. Both sides of the coin can be correct, of course. However, being able to increase the frequency in which you can post on social media gives you more time to establish that connection, and be able to talk about a wide range of topics aside from (in my case) writing and my books and my blog. In talking about a wide range of topics, you are gathering interest in you and what you have to say. This then creates interest in your other work, because people think ‘I liked that, so I might like this’. So, you are gathering interest, without feeling as though you’re throwing it upon people. 

Moreover, if you are actually going to talk about a product on social media by discussing it regularly, linking it with what you're discussing, then people are more likely to be reminded of your product. But also in a way that come across less negatively, because it is not being thrust upon them. They are simply being reminded that it exists, and from there they can decide whether or not they would like to buy or consume the product. Engaging with more people genuinely also naturally leads to more eyeballs being laid upon my work — without having to explicitly say to somebody ‘please buy my book’, so it comes across as much nicer.

Can you see how the circle is beginning to build in terms of engaging with other people, making sure that you are being authentic and interesting, but also maintaining the courage to discuss your works when necessary; in the frequency of posting on social media, you're not having to talk about it too intensely and putting people off? 

I'm conscious of the fact that I have made it seem that writing on social media is somehow manipulative in getting people to buy, or at least be interested in, our products. For me, although I can see why somebody would think that, it is definitely not the case. As I keep saying, for me social media is about building connections. If somebody would like to read my books and my other pieces of writing because of this, then that is great. The reason I write on social media is so I can share my thoughts and express myself. The right people will follow me and interact with my posts. Using social media is surely just an extension of being able to share my ideas with other people, in the hope that they gain something from it, or may feel that they are able to relate to what I have to say. What I'm trying to say is it comes from a positive angle; I'm not just writing on social media so that people buy my books. There is no guarantee, and that would be very vain of me.

I also love statistics. I can see how well each post is doing, and how my reach and the number of eyeballs reading my posts increases over time. Before this mindset shift and new approach, the views of my posts were significantly reduced — but as the frequency of which I've posted has increased, this has naturally led more people to read my posts. As well as the fact that I'm making a conscious effort to engage with other people; they are indirectly more likely to want to read my account and any posts they may have missed. I also pin my most recent blog posts to the top of my page, so that is the first thing they will see, should they decide to check out my account further.

When I mention statistics it can seem as though I'm only posting on social media to see them increase, and it come across as a sense of validation — but it is a very interesting thing to measure in terms of whether or not my posts are interesting for people, and the types of people that are viewing my posts. Also, whether the different types of posts make a difference.

 What do I mean by ‘different types of posts’? I'm talking about two different kinds: so this can be smaller, concise posts, or posts where I write in more depth. In the case of Threads, I have to post a thread of Threads posts to develop an idea more. So far, I have found that the more concise, inspiring posts seem to be the most successful in terms of reach, but the longer posts are an opportunity for those that follow me to get to know me in more depth — which is important in the long run. As I have mentioned so many times before, it is all part of furthering and developing connections.

One of the biggest things that this has taught me is to just stop thinking and start talking. I have found that I am judging myself, even before anybody is judging me, and that is preventing me from doing some things, So the limited space and time of writing on social media has forced me to stop overthinking and just write; start talking and discussing things that interest me. In talking about things that interest me, it will be shown to people who have similar interests, and may or may not be interested in what I have to say. The idea is, again, the building of connections and sharing ideas.