The realities of creating a presence on social media are not exactly confidence building. For most people, it takes a while to build a "following." Is it worth it to create content for 10 people? For 30? For 100? What makes it "worth it?" Do people care? What am I doing this for? What's the point?
Creative social media - blogging and vlogging included - provide a direct connection with the public at large - for aspiring creative people, that means putting yourself out there as never before. Unless you already have a presence in traditional media - and few do - creating online seems like the first test of your hopes, dreams and ambitions.
So: how does a person get past the confidence challenge?
1 - There's an audience for everyone - you've just got to find each other. Most people don't follow social media creators directly; a majority of those who watch YouTube, for example, likely are unaware of the subscription option. As a blogger, if you're not affiliated with any of the major aggregators of blog content, you'll need to find other methods to bring potential readers to your site. While most blogs have a subscription option of some sort, most readers likely don't know that option exists.
It's important to understand that part of your job as a creative person on social media is finding your audience, and understanding the continuously developing methods to make that happen.
2 - You're the best at what you do. You are an unmatched expert at what you do best - which is, naturally, being yourself. You're not a great writer - you're the greatest writer reflecting your own personal talents, interests and experiences. Likewise, countless talented YouTubers lose themselves in emulating their favorite YT stars.
With social media - every imperfect creative person the ability to find their audience. Are you the greatest performer of all time? The greatest writer ever born? Probably not. Whatever your perception of your own abilities - good or bad - you are the best at what YOU do. You don't need to apologize, disrespect yourself, or give up. You don't need to fear discovering you're not who you think you are, either.
I remember, back in film school, there were always the students who emulated their favorite directors - they dressed like them, they created like them, and they designed their entire creative ambitions around the pathways taken by their idols. Learn from others, but don't try to be them.
Every legit social media pundit will tell you, above all, to be patient. As a creative individual, you're creating a relationship with your audience that will develop over a lifetime. Social media isn't so much a numbers game as an interactive game. If you build it, they will come...eventually.
Remember - this is all new. The rules aren't in place. There are no set guidelines. While there are both less and more effective ways to build an audience, your strategy - like yourself - will be entirely unique. With persistence, you'll reach your goal.
And who am I to give advice, anyway? I don't have a huge YouTube or blog audience - yet I keep this up. What do you think - why are you reading this?
