Planning My Escape - Issue #12
But Why?
Because Facebook has turned into a tool that takes more than it gives. I worked very hard to build 500 followers on Facebook when I first began my Facebook page to promote my writing. And it was worth it back then because Facebook allowed most of those followers to see what I post. But they have changed the algorithm in such a way as to slant against content creators in order to make money through "boosted posts."
(Which they have every right to do and in combination with other benefits could work just fine for Facebook and users. I just happen to think that as it stands now, it's a dumb idea and they will live to regret it.)
Boosting a post is when I pay Facebook some money to make sure more people see my posts. And I don't mind doing that for big announcements, but I've noticed that even when I do boost a post, not much happens. It's just not working for me. I need my followers to be able to see what I post so that I can give them updates on my books and other creative things I'm doing. Otherwise, what's the point? Which leads to your next question...
Where are you going?!
I am switching to a social media platform called Locals.com. It's a combination of Facebook, YouTube, and Patreon. What I like most about it is that it gives more than it gets, or rather, it gets when you do.
Like Facebook, I can make all the same kinds of posts I normally do. Unlike Facebook, when you join my community, Nifty Thrifty Singer Writer, and then click on the community, you will see my posts because an algorithm doesn't decide which ones to show and which ones to bury in the feed.
Like YouTube, I can upload videos and even livestream. Unlike YouTube, I won't get demonetized if I say something innocuous that YouTube deems offensive.
Like Patreon, my followers can choose to support me financially for as little as 5.00 a month. Unlike Patreon, it's not just a fundraising platform, it's all the things I said in the previous two paragraphs.
Timeline
Like I said before, I won't be leaving Facebook today or tomorrow. I will be gradually heading in the direction of Locals and encouraging my Facebook followers to find me there. I hope I can leave Facebook in about six months. Meanwhile, I will be posting on both Facebook and Locals simultaneously. Once I have enough followers built up on Locals, I will start producing extra and fun content for those who would like to support me financially.
(Which has got me thinking: What kind of content would be worth five dollars a month to you? A weekly livestream question and answer session? Access to recordings of all my blogposts that you could listen to while driving to work? What ideas do you have? I would love to hear back from you on this.)
Below is a link to my Locals account. Click the link, set up your account and follow me there!
The best thing!
Is that I can start using Locals to encompass all the creative things I do. You were probably scratching your head over the name of my community there, "NiftyThriftySingerWriter!" I chose that specifically because I am having a hard time keeping my writing separate from my singing, and both of those separate from my rather unconventional, do-it-yourself, thrifty lifestyle. So, I'm not going to bother keeping them separate anymore. And this, my friends, is going to make Locals way more fun than Facebook...for all of us. Many ideas in the works...
So, go follow me on Locals.
Until next time...