Get ok with being uncomfortable
Sometimes taking a risk isn't as risky as we imagine
TL/DR: Fed up with Instagram, I’m switching up my content strategy to focus more on you (no, for real). That also means keep an eye on my Substack updates because I’m doubling down for the benefit of all. Check out my About Page for all the updates.
A few days ago I sat in front of my computer looking for creative and inspiring things to share with you. My first mistake was starting with Instagram.
Not only is the app built to keep my attention on random crap that has nothing to do with my original intent, but it’s very difficult to find quality content anymore.
Much of what is shared with me is more of the same that’s been shared with me before because the algorithm believes it knows my tastes perfectly.
Or I’m fed a bunch of fabricated, meme-based reels of young people staring into the camera, totally clueless about the joke they’re supposed to make with the audio they appropriated.
One example is my IG acquaintance, Laura Jane, who wrote and performed the now famous, It cost that much because it takes me f—cking hours.
Countless numbers of people have used her audio in the Reels and TikTok posts and so many of them completely misrepresent the idea behind it.
But I digress — I think Instagram is kinda dead.
In my opinion, Instagram is no longer a viable promotional tool, and truthfully a waste of my time because the average interaction with any post is 1% or less.
However, when I come on here to write a post to you about what I’m working on, 30% or more of you are reading the emails, which is the highest open rate I’ve had in years.
Epiphanies usually occur in tight situations
Instagram is dead, and Pinterest isn’t much better for inspiration. There are plenty of posts, but that platform is even more notorious for showing more of the same.
Also, I’m cautious to click through on Pinterest posts because the outbound links can often be broken, misdirected to the wrong content, or worse, taking you to malicious websites.
Instead, I decided to go back through all my bookmarks of blogs I used to read daily, but I was shocked to find that most of them have either moved their content strictly to Instagram and Facebook, or they’ve stopped posting completely.
And it was at this moment I was hit with an idea that will change my entire content strategy going forward.
The idea was so powerful, that I sat down and made an impromptu video about it.
(The video is short, but if you can’t watch it right now, the gist is that I’ll be spending less time on Instagram and TikTok, and more time on Substack.)
The uncomfortable part
I’ve been experimenting with different content on YouTube lately, and a lot of it has fallen flat. I legitimately thought the video above wasn’t going to do very well either.
On the contrary, it’s now the most popular video I’ve made in months, and I suspect it’s because you’re just as fed up with Instagram and social media as I am.
If that’s true, then you’re probably also looking to change things up and find better ways to get your work in front of the people who want to see it.
I’ll be going deeper into my new content strategy in future posts, so if aren’t currently a subscriber, you may want to hit that subscribe button below so you don’t miss out on that.
I’ll be going deeper into my new content strategy in future posts, so if aren’t currently a subscriber, you may want to hit that subscribe button below so you don’t miss out on that.
See you next time.
Dave
<3