The Importance of Being Social-
All bloggers know the importance of being social. If you want to grow your blog audience you need to be where your readers are. Social networking has an enduring presence but it can be difficult to know which ones are the best for you. I struggle with social networks, not just for my blog audience but for my online shops too. I did some research gigantic amount on social networks demographics , targets and ages. I’m sharing the findings with you today.Please read all of the way through this post, I have an important announcement about TFT. Now on to the Importance of Being Social.
It’s a challenge for most of us to decide which social network platforms will be best for our blogs and shops. I have spent an incredible amount of time trying to be active on ALL social networks. I am failing miserably and it is taking me away from Katherines Corner comments which IS NOT acceptable (for me). Your beautiful comments are the life preserver to any blog that is floating in a sea called cyber.
After some rather intense, extremely enlightening ,time consuming, research. I have determined that there are a thousand schools of thought on this topic and there are a plethora of social networks that I didn’t even know existed! So if you find yourself asking, where are my readers or where are my customers I hope this post will help a bit. As a proviso to my findings please understand numbers do not always mean readers. There are several ways to add numbers to your social networks but they do not all mean they are “real”. Buying followers is going to do you a disservice, yes it will plump up your subscriber/follower numbers . But, they may not be seeing your blog posts at all, just faceless numbers added to your social network lists. I stick to my personal rule, “readers and subscribers are earned through quality content and engagement.”
Below you will find my breakdown by users and average age to help you with your decision. I believe age and content will all help to determine where to spend your social networking time and I hope you will find my research is beneficial. I have marked my most active social networks in pink. These statistic were all from my February 2017 research. Each social network is growing at its own pace and may not “exactly”match my information. As long as we are learning about social networks I do hope you are following mine ( wink).
Sources for statistics: Facebook, Bus. Insider, Instagram, Snap Chat, Bus. Daily, Re Code, Google +,Search Engine Journal, Pinterest, Zephoria, Bus. Insider, Tumblr, Flickr, Search Engine Journal, Classmates”
I find spending time on social networks works best when I stick to a time schedule. I created a time allotment for each social network I choose to use. I use a kitchen timer, when I hear the ding, just like Pavlov’s dogs, I stop and move on. I recently implemented a one hour limit for social networking it has been incredibly hard to stick to. But, I do think with practice it will help my sanity and will allow me more time to reply to your emails and comments.
In conclusion, the importance of being social is about engaging your audience and knowing where they spend their social network time. Engaging your audience through social sharing, and joining a link party, and social network groups can help grow your blog. Watch for part two of this topic coming soon.
Did you find my age demographic to be a good reference tool for The Importance of Being Social? Did you notice a theme? I’m hoping this topic will stir up some comments. Please watch for part two.
I look forward to seeing you at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop.
An important note!!!
We have changed our TFT link party start time to 7 am (MST) on Thursday and it will remain open until midnight on Saturday.
I’m right there with you, my friend! It’s so hard to be everywhere yet we feel the pressure. I can’t believe Twitter is the only place to find ppl over 50, ha! Thanks for sharing your research! Be well. Hugs!
Oh Katherine. What a moving and informative post! Currently I am taking a class, Social Media Campaigns, through our local Technical College. The things I am learning in this class are mind-blowing. Your statistics, for example. Those types of things I can’t quite wrap my mind around. Being 64 myself, I don’t fit into those demographics either. However, I am very active on most of them. It was good to read your thoughts about blogging and social media. I enjoyed this post completely. Thank you so much for your honesty — and for being YOU! Smiles, Linda at Paper Seedlings
Hi Linda!, thank you yes where are we in the demographics. Where do the Between the Lines bloggers fit into the social media demographics? I do have a follow up post scheduled. thank you as always, for being a bloggy friend. Hugs!
Had no idea there were so many social networks .It’s all I can do to keep up with blog posts and some time on Facebook communicating with grandkids and friends. This is why I haven’t ventured into having my own blog. Have to give all bloggers much credit as the time it takes to keep up a successful blog must be so much of your life. Guess am not willing to commit to that much and am not on any schedule, just want to be able to do what seems right at the moment. Am very spontaneous person, seems “having” to do things now that have raised 4 kids, still raising hubby of over 48 yrs is not on my agenda. Admire people who are willing to devote so much of their time.
Very interesting facts you rounded up. Noticed none of categories included senior citizen age bracket. Are we an oddity in cyber world? Since I discovered blogs maybe 4 yrs. ago or more my life has changed. the level of inspiration is incredible. Have enjoyed being educated. So many generous bloggers share their talents and have made friends with some bloggers, have hearing loss and little money so tend to be bit isolated by those facts and where we live.
Have wonderful rest of week and weekend
Welcome to Katherines Corner! I look forward to your visits and to growing our bloggy friendship. I am a between the lines blogger myself, blogger age 50+ ( 50 is in my rear view mirror, wink). I just shared my findings and I must say I join you in your disappointment. I found it to be very frustrating too, I spent a lot of time researching this topic and I do have a follow up post waiting. Hugs! P.S> don’t forget to enter my current giveaway.
I too, find that many of my bloggy pallies have abandoned their blogs for Twitter and mostly Instagram. I am guessing people are just too lazy to read anything more than 140 characters!!!
You said it my friend!!! Thankfully I live out loud and 140 characters can never be enough for me , Hugs!!
I’m not even on any of the top five. Six and seven, yes. I wonder where blogging fits into all of that? I know a lot of bloggers are on Instagram. What would I post there? Pictures of Mini-Alex traveling about?
It is about being social and making friends.
And we met seven years ago, about the time of the first A to Z Challenge!
Hi Alex, I know we have been bloggy friends for a long time , it’s really wonderful. I started posting on Instagram last year. I posted random photos of whatever is happening at the moment.I have updated it a bit more this year so far. But my instagram consistency is non existent .
I actually think it would be fun to see you sharing mini Alex’s travels, that would be unique and may introduce even more readers to your wonderful and creative story telling. Hugs my friend!, K
P.S>I invite you to take a look at mine and you will see what I mean
This was very helpful, thank you. I agree that sometimes being social can keep you from taking care of business and answering comments. Also, I had to chuckle looking at the demographics, my age group wasn’t represented.
I know my friend neither was mine… xo
I have to say that reading your post today gave me pause, I actually had to go back and read the figures posted. As a reader of your blog and those of the other writers listed on the giveaway I have to tell you I am turning 61 in a few weeks. According to the stats provided I don’t fit into the mold. I am quite active on social media using and following on many formats, Facebook, Blogger, Tumbler, Pinterest, Instagram, WordPress, Flickr, Google and You Tube. I imagine there are a great number of others in my age group and beyond, I dare say a large number of blogs I follow are written by those of us over 60. I am not telling you this because I feel slighted, just to merely point out that those numbers aren’t as important as they would have us believe. Keep writing and sharing, we your audience love it!
I know I don’t fit in there anywhere either. I am a between the lines ( pun intended) blogger, age 50+. Last year I did a blog series featuring bloggers of a certain age. I think we need to break the mold! I’m, looking at 60 myself and I encourage all bloggers of a certain age to participate here at Katherines Corner and help me to give a voice to those of us who don’t seem to fit into any statistics garnered from my research. I look forward to your visits Hugs! P.S. I do have a follow up post planned for this one.
Looking forward to your continued posts!
Great and timely advice about social networks. Can’t thank you enough for sharing and truly appreciate the info. Happy Tuesday, Katie!! xoxo 🙂
hello there sunshine, I’m always happy to see your comments and I hope to see you back here tomorrow for the TFT party, xox