Facebook - Quality Vs. Quantity

As some of you may already know – I changed my business name a few weeks ago. I was previously know as donnas | creations.

 I have had a few people ask me why I didn’t request a name change via Facebook and keep the almost 3,000 likes that I had! Well, I decided to start all over, new page, zero likes! I had a feeling over the last few months (of being donnas | creations) that I wasn’t getting the “reach” I should be getting considering all the likers that I had. And interestingly enough I was right!!

 My reach is now much higher even though my likes are much lower! I often tell people that I would rather have 100 likes from people that are genuinely interested in my work than 3000 that really don’t care!

So next time you look and compare yourself to your competitor - that has three times as many likers, just remember it’s quality over quantity!! How many of those likers are actually engaging in your page?

Better to look at how many are “talking about” the page. 

Networking

I’m not really a fan of face-to-face networking, I find myself saying the wrong thing and ending up feeling silly and unprofessional. I guess that’s because I’m one of these "wear your heart on your sleeve" kinds of people. My business coach says it’s ok for me to come across as a bit of a loony, people expect if from a creative!!

I am however a fan of networking online, especially Facebook. Facebook has been not only great for my business but also great for me socially. I’m an active member of a few online Facebook groups of fellow graphic designers, and I can whole-heartedly say I have found some great friends. Working for myself in a home based studio can get a little lonely especially when I only have the cat to bounce ideas off, and he doesn’t really say much.

I have only recently been trying to get into LinkedIn. To me it feels a little like Facebook, but for grown-ups!! I have to be on my best behavior and try not to sound like a loony.

Occasionally I get to do “within client networking”, I have a few clients that I have bought together that I thought would be of mutual benefit for both. For example my very lovely client Rachel (whom I have been working with for about 4 years now) moved from Canberra to Tasmania, to open up a café and gift shop in beautiful Mt Field National Park. And another of my very lovely clients – Helen from Pilli Pala hand makes jewelry and homeware – made from Tasmanian oak that I thought would be perfect for the gift shop at Rachel’s Café, they are now working on an exclusive range together.

So anyway, if you ever meet me at a networking event, please be gentle with me, I’m not a loony, I’m…. an artist!!!