Social Media – Why should you bother?

I personally only use a few sites, but when added together I am connected with close to 500 people. That’s not a huge number to some people, but I think it’s a decent one and a great start. Using these sites will help you connect with people from all around the world. You can use them to build great relationships with people you would may have never met otherwise, and If nothing else, it’s a great learning experience.

MySpace

I have been using MySpace since 2006. It was the very first social networking site I signed up for. I was an addict for a while but I don’t use it as much as I used to, actually I rarely use it at all anymore, but there are 242 people on my friends list. A lot of people are family and friends I know personally, but there are probably just as many “new” friends as there are old.

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Facebook

My Facebook list is exactly at 400 people. The majority of that list is again friends and family and some are the same that are on MySpace, but I have also made quite a few new connections. I am  very active on this site and I always add new posts on this site.

I don’t really like to push my “business” on people, but at the same time, if I don’t let people know what I do then I am only hurting myself. Many of my friends and family were shocked when I added my very first post . I was never one to really share my writing so they never knew it was something I did.

Ashford University 

I go to college online and I start a new class every five weeks. Each new class typically has anywhere between 25 and 30 people I have never met. At the beginning of class we post introductions and in mine I add links to The Blue Inkwell.

Not everyone has access to Ashford, but this example goes to show just another place you can use to connect with people. There are a lot of aspiring writers in some of my classes and by directing them to The Blue Inkwell, they may find a lot of information they find helpful and keep coming back.

I am a new Twitter user but I love how it’s easy to find people you share common interests with. I am currently following a little over 60 people and have a little over 50 following me. I am still getting the hang of how things work with Twitter but I really do enjoy finding connections within the same industry. I do a lot of blog hopping and read some great blogs thanks to Twitter.

Adding the numbers

When the numbers are added up between the four different sites it comes to about 700 people. Some are the same people so even if I take 200 off to compensate for the doubling that still leaves 500 people who may potentially read my posts.

It’s all about making those connections whether you are connecting simply to learn from other freelancers or whether you want to grow your own freelance business. As I mentioned, my number isn’t a huge one but it’s a good start and goes to show how using social media marketing can be used to your benefit. When it all boils down, if you want to make yourself known, you have to utilize  the social media sites that are available.

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Crystal Case

Crystal Case, Managing Editor of The Blue Inkwell, is a reformed chickenshit, rockin’ a freelance writing career while juggling five boys and continuing her postsecondary education. Her work has appeared in Sashay Magazine, as well as her weekly posts here at The Blue Inkwell. Currently enrolled in Ashford University’s online bachelor’s degree program, Crystal makes smokin’ the Dean’s List look easy as she works towards not one, but two degrees – in Psychology and Communication Studies.

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