Over the last two years, I've become a natural at using social media marketing to position myself as an authority in natural living and to promote my emerging health coaching service. I faithfully posted to Facebook and Twitter at least a dozen times a day. I entered a new blog post every weekday. I shared images and articles via Instagram and Pinterest several times a week.
I have over 700 likes on my Facebook fan page and over 700 Twitter followers. I've got a few hundred followers on other social media platforms and my mailing list too. To the outside online observer, it looks like I really have my shiitake together.
Unfortunately, social media success does not equal career success. I'm not in the business of acquiring social media followers. I'm in the business of helping people discover the freedom to live guided by their passion and purpose.
When I slowed down long enough to let this sink in, I realized I was abusing social media. I was busying myself with tasks that were comfortable and without risk to trick myself into believing I was making progress. Meanwhile, I was avoiding scary new territory that was full of risk of possible rejection. Of course, there was plenty to gain by putting myself out there. In fact, success as a health coach, and as a human being who takes responsibility for her freedom, requires taking risks.
I've decided to take a chill pill on social media. I'll be posting a few times a week on each platform, including a blog post on healthy, green living here each Monday, but hopefully in a more authentic way that doesn't make me feel like I'm a hamster in a wheel. I'll continue to share with you via my weekly e-newsletter, which will contain even more dynamic, valuable, and exclusive info as I tone down my social media blasts. Be sure to sign up, and get your thank you gift.
I'll be using my offline time to deepen my connection with old friends and meet new friends in real life. I'm thinking more tea dates, walks in the park, lunch, JourneyDance classes, conferences-- all that good stuff. If you're reading this, I'm sure I'd love to hang out with you in real life- contact me.
One exciting event I have coming up-- I'm actually hosting it-- is the first Holistic Health Hangout in Prospect Park (Brooklyn) on Saturday, June 28. Details and tickets are available here.
What role does social media play in your life these days? Are you ever concerned about abusing it? How?
Olivia Lane is a Blogger, Green Living Educator, and Health Coach trained at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She's also author of Baking Soda & Bliss: The Healthy & Happy Guide to Green Cleaning.
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