Social Media – business or pleasure?

As you might remember, I wrote a post on how me joining twitter changed the whole way I hear about news and happenings in the world of dance. Twitter remains my number one source of information, and a great resource both as an audience member, a dancer, and an author.
Lately however, I have become increasingly annoyed by some of those same twitter-feeds that provide me with that sweet information.

See, I never tried to hide the fact that I do promote Tights and Tiaras on the Facebook and Twitter accounts connected to the blog. If I do a new post, if the blog is featured in an interview, anything that has do do with the blog, really – I tweet it. I post it on Facebook. I tell my friends about it. Basically, I promote the shit out of it.
But I do also use the social media accounts assimilated with Tights and Tiaras for other things, and this is where my point comes in. I use the social media constantly to share opinions and updates that might be too short, small or insignificant for a blog post. Thus, the social media accounts connected to Tights and Tiaras gives my readers that wishes to follow them something more than what you can find on the blog – daily updates from me, as the blogger behind TnT, as a professional dancer, or just as another guy with an opinion. I have discussions, I comment on other people and pages updates – I interact.

Social media is cool. Actually, it’s fantastic when used right. But misused, it’s just boring, not to mention annoying.

Lately, I see more and more dance-related twitter- and facebook-feeds, doing nothing but self-promotion. Tweeting only when they have something to sell, updating their facebook-profile only to give their “likers” info on where to buy tickets. Otherwise, they’re just re-tweeting other people’s positive reviews of their shows and happenings. And it’s boring me. And it’s annoying me. Guys, you have misunderstood the point of social media, and it’s killing anyone trying to use it well. When social sharers like @TheBalletBag, @4Dancers or @DanceAdvantage tweets about happenings, video’s, blogposts (their own and others) and performances, they are giving their readers something to look at, enjoy, share and discuss. They are interacting with their readers. But when my twitter-feed is filled with retweets of “Great performance by XYC ballet-company last night in Neverland”, retweeted by that company, it’s not giving me anything. And I lose interest for other tweets by legitimate, sharing individuals that has seen something good. I get bored, and that XYC company has killed my interest for good, shared information for a while. It’s boring at best, terrible for the readers, and, dear XYC ballet company, it’s bad for business. See, your twitter-feed wasn’t giving me nothing but annoyance. So I unfollowed you.

Here is what I think of using social media for thoughtless self-promotion only

So here’s to self promoting – follow me on Twitter. Or “like” my Facebook page. They’re both filled with random thoughts, pictures, meanings, discussions, photos – and promotions for Tights and Tiaras-posts (which, frankly, you all like, right?!)

whew, good to get that one out there. See you all soon. Ta-Ta

H