An Update from Me and My Journey into the Depths of Social Media

What’s going on at the Storyteller?

The Storyteller, aka me, is getting cracked out on the social media.  It’s just that simple.

In the never ending quest to dial in my work- by dial in I mean, make a “predictable” income as a freelancer photographer, writer, blogger and establish a stream of passive income to support my artwork- I’ve decided that I’m missing something.

Something big.

I’ve loved writing on this blog- the journey into becoming a blogger fills me with both a sense of accomplishment and the hope that I’m building something that is useful and valuable to someone else.  Granted, I’ve picked a topic that’s a little tough to maintain when I’m not traveling- as this summer has proven- but I’m working on fixing that little dilemma with a new, sister blog.  More about that later.

I’ve gathered a small audience and am grateful for that, but I’d like to keep building the community and expand my reach.  And this summer I hit the stagnation!  Big time. Part of the problem is I’m not traveling at the moment- poses a minor dilemma when the title of your blog has the words “Independent Traveler” in it.  But that’s just logistics.

I’ve dropped the ball in two arenas- BRANDING AND SOCIAL MEDIA. Branding has been a bur in my ass since the first moment I decided to launch my own freelance career over 10 years ago. My interests are many and my photography covers a wide swath of potential buyers. For years, I’ve been under the belief that each photographic market I target should be a separate business, or at least a separate identity.  This thinking was developed pre-Web 2.0, when I was still shooting on film, processing in a darkroom and a website was rarity.

Fast forward to the present. I now have a huge skill set that I market separately- documentary and commercial photography, multimedia production and branding, web development and now writing.  I’ve been pulling each hair follicle out over the past few years trying to figure out how the hell I tie all of this together so a major commercial client needing multimedia branding can still engage with my marketing material along side the president of an NGO who needs a documentary photographer and a real estate agent who needs a blog.  And I’ve planned, and built separate websites for each one.  And it’s exhausting.

And trying to promote all this on social media without coming across as a schizophrenic nut job?  Good luck with that.

I understood that social media was the missing link, and I know the nuts and bolts of each individual platform and how to implement a strategy for other people.  Hell, I know how to launch a photography business for other people- but turn that lens on myself- forget it.  So, last week, while taking a “stay-cation” after my poor truck engine blew and was recovering in the driveway, I stumbled onto my missing link.

I found the golden ticket!  And that little bastard was right under my nose the whole damn time.

I devoured The Zen of Social Media Marketing in a couple days.  Loved it!!  While I’ve read several books that talk about social media strategies and implementation, I’ve never found one that took the overall concepts and created a philosophy of action that made sense to me.  Sweet relief!  Its all in the Twitter.

Then, I stumbled onto Gary Vayderchuk’s book, Crush It! And read it in one sitting!  If you’ve ever thought of starting your own business or just leaving your cubicle life in the dust and jumping off the hamster wheel, set everything down- right now, run- don’t walk (now’s not the time for laziness) and go buy this book.  Seriously.  Its not a “How To” or a “You’ll get rich overnight book” but it’s an awesome, simple read that truly resonates with the entrepreneurial mind.  (check out some of his keynote speeches too- great energy!)

Yep, social media.  That’s my missing link. That’s where I’ve dropped the ball.  I’ve been following people on Twitter in my industries and watching how they engage with the platform for almost 2 years now.  And I never truly engaged with it or could see its relevance in my world.  Seriously- that’s a pretty damning thing to admit for someone who helps teach other people how to use social media.  I am a dumb ass sometimes, what can I say.

And last night, while reading this fabulous blog, SmartPassiveIncome.com, the light bulb finally brightened and it all clicked.  One of the reasons I always got hung up with social media is I wasn’t sure what part of myself to promote.  And why, you ask?

Because I never dialed in my branding properly.  My branding, like my business and my social media approach, is fractured.  All of it.  Each time I would try to Tweet or post on my News Feed, I didn’t know who my audience was or why I was speaking to them.  Would my portrait client who reads my stories want to see the news story about dead pelicans that I posted on Facebook?  Would my former executive client gain any value from my Thoreau quote I tweeted last week or think I’m a tree-hugging flake and not hire me again?  Would anyone even read my crap and give a shit?

I had it all wrong.  Stupid.  Stupid.  Stupid.

I just needed to brand me.  Just me.  Me, with all my shiny, eclectic, artistic endeavors.  Me, with all my hitches, warts and insecurities.  Me, with all my insight, brilliance and potty mouth.  Just me.  And it’s just that simple.

So, this past week, I dove into the deep end of social media- and, look- I CAN SWIM!!  Woo-Hoo!!

I’m building a community around the information I have to share. Not just about me, but about the things I’m passionate about, photography, travel, lifestyle design, artistic entrepreneurship and more.  I’m reaching out, I’m placing my preconceived notions and insecurities on the shelf and I’m going there.

I’m also writing my first book with all the content to date on this blog.  I realize my writing is lengthy and not everyone wants to engage with this type of content online.  So, I’m self-publishing the first volume of the Walkabout on LuLu and you’ll be able to buy a copy soon for yourself or someone you know who will relate to my ramblings and insights.

I’m launching another blog under my name, which will focus more on the business, freelancing and minimalism.  Combining these topics with Storytelling just doesn’t seem to mesh properly, so the new blog will be more How To’s and technical topics about lifestyle design, artistic entrepreneurship, long term, independent travel and minimalism.  The Storyteller will still be rolling along as well.  What does that mean for you?  More content!

Yep- there’s a new walkabout on the way.  I’m going to Italy!!  Woo-hoo!!  I just can’t take it anymore- I must go wander amongst all that art and food.  My departure is tentative now, but I’m hoping to finish up my two major multimedia projects by September and then jump the pond.  I’ll keep you posted!

There’s more that’s taking up my time, but its just details!  I am spending as much time as possible on the beach, just in-case that BP oil fuck up ends up on my favorite beaches.  Bastards.

So, to bring it back around, I’m still here!  I’m still writing!  And I’m building my Empire, starting my Movement and getting the ball rolling so I can continue to share my experiences and stories with you!!  And hopefully, you’ll come join me in world domination.