Am I Over-Networked?
Posted by Sarah at July 3, 2009 3:27 AM 
Categories: General
Tags: facebook blogging life internet forums
Categories: General
Tags: facebook blogging life internet forums
Let's say I'm doing something. Like, ummm... what would I typically be doing... making a bead? Okay, let's say I'm making a bead.
I post something on Twitter. Sarah Hornik is making a bead!
My Twitter automatically updates my Facebook status. Sarah Hornik is making a bead!
My Twitter and my Facebook both update the widget-thingies on my blog, over there on the left. Does anyone actually look at the widget-thingies? If they do, they are now informed - twice - that I am making a bead. Woohoo!
A day goes by. I take the bead out of the kiln. I photograph it, edit the photo and post it on Flickr. Everything always goes to Flickr first. I don't know why, but that's the way it's always been. Flickr automatically updates its own blog widget and (eventually) my Facebook page. Sarah Hornik uploaded a photo to Flickr!
But still, I wouldn't want anyone to miss the new photo, so I post on Twitter as well. Take a look at my new bead on Flickr!
Twitter updates Facebook again. Twitter and Facebook update my blog again.
Later on, let's say, I post the bead on eBay. eBay updates Facebook. Sarah listed a new auction on eBay. eBay and Facebook both update their blog widgets.
Maybe there's a particularly interesting story behind the bead, so I write a little blog post about it. In the post, I use the photo from Flickr and link to the eBay auction. My blog updates Facebook. Sarah just published a new blog post. I post on Twitter. Read my new blog post and check out my new auction! It's linked to my blog and to eBay. Twitter updates Facebook. Twitter and Facebook update their widgets. And we haven't even gone to the forums yet.
Does your head hurt yet?
Mine does.
With all this supposed marketing, do I actually sell the damn bead? These days, who knows. Sometimes I wonder if I am really getting tons of exposure here, or if it's just the same 3 or 4 people following everything, ripping their hair out and banging their heads against their computer screens.
All right. ALL RIGHT. YOU MADE A DAMN BEAD. We get the idea. Don't you have some actual torching to do?
My actual website, on the other hand - with all of this mind-blowing connectivity - hasn't been updated since 1963. I want a new website (I know, everyone likes it, but I want a new one). I've been trying to design one for what seems like a million years.
I don't know what's up with that. Once upon a time, before all this networking and stuff, I used to be a pretty good web designer. A few years back, this would have been the dream project - a clear structure and lots of fun and colorful imagery to work with. Nice, clean logo, high-res photos, creative freedom... what more could a designer want? But I just can't get it done. I can't do it. I don't like anything I come up with. Nothing seems "right" for more than a few hours. I am the worst web design client in the entire world.
It just isn't working for me. I am desperately sick and tired of my old site and I really want - and need - a new one. At this point, I've even considered hiring someone else to do it, even though that does seem incredibly stupid. But then again, the only people I'd trust to do it are way out of my budget. I really need to figure this out somehow.
I guess I'll go rant about it on Twitter or something.
*sigh*
1963!!!
v funny : )
I feel the same about my website, but that's ok, because it's very average - can I have yours when you're done with it?
It's all a process...we're not boy bands, manufactured to the nth degree.
I enjoyed your blog : )
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Oh me too! I need a new one! Mine looks like it has been written in the early 90s as basic html is all that I know how to use! LOL! I think I may just have to pay someone to make me something pretty....
As for the networking, it's nice to know what you are up to... wherever I hear it from!
I know networking works for me and sales, and I love finding new artists via it. Though I don't use forums anymore (all the text makes my brain hurt!).
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I know what you mean about changing your website Sarah. I always feel I have to re-do mine at least every year which is one heck of a headache and every time I say it my husband goes 'not again'!
I think redesigning it is like any sort of creativity - if it's just not 'working' don't beat yourself up, and wait until another day when everything is back to normal and the creative juices are flowing again. In the meantime, rest assured, it looks great and no-one is unhappy about it but you. (Must tell myself that too sometimes!) ;o)
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Sarah, your website is perfect as it is. It shows your beads off to perfection and they don't get lost in fussiness. Just change the date of your copyright at the bottom of your page and voila....a perfect, updated website is born and people will know that your site is still alive!
I tried to create a website with Luna Pages...I spent hundreds of dollars and got nowhere, I gave up after a year on and off trying to figure out where to start! I knew what I wanted but couldn't get it to work.
So now I have my blog, and I am setting up an Etsy shop and an Artfire shop. As to networking....it makes my head spin too....and all the SEO stuff....arrrrgh!
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