I have always had a huge interest in tech and software. Growing up, new tech was super exciting and I vividly remember a week spent in the art department at my school when I was introduced to an iBook; I was amazed! I’ve used Apple ever since. (Apple really does just work…sorry Microsoft). But even before this, broadband was in its infancy and I was very lucky that my parents had it installed at home and I wanted to know how it worked.
Social media was at the beginning of its journey as merely something of a novelty and an experimental form of communication. Facebook or ‘The Facebook’ as it was back then, was only for those with a .edu email address in the States. It wasn’t the big contender at this point, however MySpace was. After school was taken up with time on MySpace; uploading photos and adding friends whilst chatting to people on MSN messenger (I don’t remember why it was the thing to have your favourite song lyrics as your scree name, but it was. Yes, screen name). There is something incredibly nostalgic about only having access to these services on your only computer in your house and not with you 24/7.
A little later down the line Facebook was made available to masse. everyone I knew signed up for an account as soon as possible and added hundreds of friends. Back then, if someone added you as a friend you just accepted which is a scary thought compared to the world we live in today. As tech became more advanced and the internet was more accessible than ever, I was constantly checking and updating social media. But not only Facebook, but Twitter too (MySpace didn’t keep up and I hadn’t even thought about it for years until writing this blog post).
Then there was Instagram, which I remember reluctantly signing up to as it was yet another platform essentially providing the same experience as other platforms but just with photos; you could do that with Facebook, no? I got to the point where I was checking my social media accounts constantly and being a slave to them all. Even now, people only post their best moments of life and we can all be guilty of this; but it’s not real life.
So on one January morning in 2017 I did a soft exit from social media and deleted all of the apps from my phone to resist the constant checking of updates, liking posts and most of all, doom scrolling. My morning routine then shifted from checking Facebook to checking emails and then the news. I remember feeling a sense of liberation that I had taken control of social media; that I would (reluctantly) use it for work where needed such as posting details of my concert schedule or photos from an opera etc. I didn’t feel the need to delete my accounts for this very reason and I’m very pleased I didn’t as I haven’t had to start from scratch with followers.
Fast forward to the present day in 2024 where I am now back on board with social media: on my phone, iPad, Apple Watch and MacBook.
Oh the irony.
But this time it’s primarily for work and my relationship with social media is completely different and much more healthy. However from a personal perspective, it’s nice to occasionally look at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (X) to see what my recent and old friends are up to as we’ve all grown up and have adult lives now (which school didn’t prepare us for, may I add).
It is impossible to build any business or self-promote without utilising social media to the full. Advertising would be so much easier if advertising in the local paper was enough and hashtags weren’t a thing (a sharp sign is not a hashtag!), but i’ve been surprised at the results from marketing on social media. From following relevant, likeminded accounts and those who may be interested in what my businesses provide has not only converted into new clients but also friends.
I have to mention Sherwood Phoenix pianos as not only did I purchase AberMusic’s Steinway Model K from them (which I found on social media: Facebook Marketplace) and think they’re a fantastic company, but their social media presence is excellent and I regularly like or comment on their posts. As if by magic, they do the same to my posts too. Similarly, I take a lot of inspiration from my friend Huw who has an incredible presence on social media and had built a community of followers to his content which not only looks superb and so very professional, but is informative and meaningful.
Being a creator, building a brand or promoting a business needs a digital online presence which I have now accepted. I have used the phrase ‘I hate social media’ for many years and but now I will stop. If used for the right reasons (I’m not delving into the abyss of the negatives of social media in this blog post), social media can be a genuinely inspirational and organic route to reaching so many people that just would not be possible without utilising all platforms. In theory I knew this anyway, but in practice, seeing is believing.
I am enjoying creating content and have many more ideas to continue to build a community of followers that find my posts helpful and meaningful: from a blog post such as this to helpful reels on technique or videos of my performances as a musician. If I can inspire and inform from what I am confident in, then I think I must be getting something right.
Sherwood Phoenix @sherwoodphoenixpianos
Huw Richard @Huwsgarden
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