Creating Better Content: It's Called Show and TELL, not Show and RUN!
Over the past couple of "Internetting," I have belonged to a large number of different hobby and interest type member web sites, groups and forums-- gardening, stamp collecting, writing, artists and more.
The Idea of Sharing What We Like is a GOOD Thing...
Dandelions are everywhere, even in our THICK groundcover...
It's a pretty natural part of such memberships that we share photos of items in our various collections, or from projects we're in the middle of. Some sites are about photography so we share our images as part of our "work," as well.
So far, I'm not telling you anything you don't know!
I'm sure many of you remember "Show and Tell" from school-- you'd bring something to school, show it to the class and talk briefly about it... maybe offer some kind of description, where it came from, how you got to own it, why you like it, why you brought it to school.
I always thought it was pretty cool, because not only did I get to see other things, I would get little insights into the lives of other people.
Online groups are a bit like a "virtual show and tell," in many ways.
Apple blossoms in our garden, this spring
What surprises me is the large number of people-- actually a majority-- who just post photos of their items or experiences with absolutely not one word about what they are sharing.
Boom. There's a photo of "something." Not a word as to what it is, nor where it came from, nor why you like it. What... are we just supposed to guess? Or is your relationship with the content you're sharing really so thin that you could as well have picked a random piece of paper out of the nearest trashcan?
What's more, so many of these folks will just post 20, 30, 50, 100 photos in a row, in such a manner, with no descriptions whatsoever.
To me, it seems like very strange behavior. And yet? Within these groups, it seems almost like "the norm."
Oh... So You DO Care... After All?
Ladybug climbing our fence, yesterday...
Every now and then one of the posters pokes his or her nose back into the group to wonder out loud "Why aren't people 'liking/upvoting/sharing' my stuff?"
Color me stupid, but perhaps if you took a few moments to make the images/shares you post a little more interesting and actually about something, maybe people would stop and interact with them!
I've noticed that people on many social media platforms (not just in interest groups) do this same thing-- post dozens of photos of something or clever memes, and we have no idea who the folks or places in the photos are, nor where they came from.
Making it Personal = Making it More Engaging
Why do we interact with content? Typically because it touches or reaches us, in some fashion.
Buddha statue with a dusting of snow
One of the easiest ways to reach people is to personalize your content. When you share your own spin and your own interactions with a subject matter, your potential audience senses that you care about what you're sharing; you're already engaging with the content and showing that it's worthy... and, by extension, they become more likely to care, as well.
Conversely, posting "naked" images or content suggests to the world "I don't really care..." and when you send that message consider the possibility nobody else would "care," either. Why should they, if YOU don't?
Although we may not consciously think about it, we tend to be drawn to personal stories. Given the choice between looking closer at a meme that has already been shared 1000 times, and that same meme with someone's personal story attached... we tend to choose the latter. And even though it may be very subtle... that type of personal sharing shows a passion for the subject matter which we tend to be drawn to.
Keep that in mind, next time you're tempted to post or share something without adding your own spin on what makes it shareworthy! You might be surprised by how the level of engagement on your posts will increase.
What do YOU think? Do you belong to any hobby groups or web sites where people endlessly post photos or memes with no personal descriptions or explanation? Do you find such content interesting, even without any explanation? Alternately, if you feel this is OK-- or you do so, yourself-- please share what you are hoping to accomplish by "removing yourself" from the share? Or do you simply not care-- the share is just to "fill space?" Leave a comment-- share your experiences-- start the conversation!
(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
I strongly agree with your post. I am guilty of re-posting stuff on social media that I find interesting or important, only posting with the assumption that others will check it out and 'get it' as well.
"Conversely, posting "naked" images or content suggests to the world "I don't really care..." and when you send that message consider the possibility nobody else would "care," either. Why should they, if YOU don't?"
Exactly!
Thanks for this kick in the ass @denmarkguy, because in fact, I DO care. But as the saying goes "love is work made visible" - Yes, it takes work to show we care, otherwise it is hollow, empty, words un-lived.
Additionally, when I do a little write up about why the content engaged me, I am also defining it and looking more deeply at it myself, thus deepening my relationship with the media, and thus my relationship with myself. If I am simply re-posting 'naked' content, then it's like I don't even have my own unique identity, I am copying and pasting someone else that cared enough to create it.
Thanks again for this post - this is the kind of content I love, the kind that kicks me in the ass and makes me realized how to become a better version of myself.
@kimzilla, thanks for the thoughtful comment!
Different social platforms have their own "personalities." Steemit is probably the closest to a true community you can find online, today. There really hasn't been anything like this since Xanga was pushed out of the way by MySpace and Facebook... and they were not an "improvement" because they largely encouraged taking the "content" out of social... thumbs-up and smileys were suddenly "enough." The "old ways" that were replaced had started out of blogging sites that added social features.
So, in a sense, Steemit marks a return to something we used to do.
yes and no...stories can be told with ONLY pictures and no text. It just takes a little bit of imagination..
Yes they can. And you're one of the better examples of executing that.
But you don't just post a "blank" photo of a tree. Then another of a taco. Then one of an assault rifle. Then a coffee cup. In four separate posts... with not the slightest hint of what you're trying to say.
The Spanish American war.
Recess
I never realized...
sorry...
I don't know what came over me.
I just woke up..
I need coffee...
Even if it is abstract art, I prefer to hear the artists ideas a bout what they are trying to convey etc.
In general, I try to just accept that people see "what they are here to do" from very different perspectives... and that goes for most social media.
In some cases, though, it becomes really close to spam. In several Farcebook groups I have been admin of, someone would post dozens-- even hundreds-- of "untitled" images... and I'm just seeing this one person totally hogging the group feed, and NOBODY interacts with his stuff; and many people are simply PUT OFF because they know their own well-done content will be drowned out.
If I have no stories to tell about a photo, I don't feel to post it, it's like this is not our time now to post it here, there is Instagram for that..lol...but it is very personal....everybody should be free to do how he/she feels it, but should not be surprised by a lack of engagement on their posts if they are not more committed in them, indeed...
For me, I like when I have something to tell, if I have nothing to say, I stay quiet, I'm like that in my life so I wouldn't be otherwise here..LoL....then if I want to show a picture but don't feel to tell a story, yes I tend to not post... It's just the way I do but I really don't mind if people act not the same... ;-)
I like your 6-legged elephant-unicorn... that's pretty cool!
You touch on something that's perhaps meaningful, here... the "empty" posts suggest a lack of creativity... and that's one of the things I most appreciate about Steemit... the fact that there is a LOT of creative expression here.
and there is also a lot of different creative expression ...^_^
Why my 6 legged uniphant is thankyouing very much @denmarkguy ! =D
Can't agree more...I just joined last week and the amount of new posts without any description or the objective behind capturing a moment is only growing...we don't want steemit to be used as another photo sharing sites...also, I guess people should understand and make more intelligent decision regarding what kind of content they want to see in their feed...in the long run I think quality content gonna filter winners and losers.
steemit is diverse. If you can thinkit you can steemit...and everyone can go their own way...
if you like it...vote...if you don't..then mute..
Agreed
I love this! Permission to use it?
It fits so well with the current state of burnout I am in.
be my guest...
I guess some of it is the normal evolution of social sites. In the beginning, people see that there is "a reward" and they do their best to be participants in a meaningful way. But then it gets know that there's a reward... and all the "rat flatters" move in... the ones who see there's a reward, and then put all their effort into finding ways to get the reward without doing the work.
I'm with @everittdmickey on the idea that if you don't like it, don't interact with it. If it annoys you, mute it. And I'll add my own: it's outright theft or plagiarism, downvote it... or better yet, tag steemcleaners in it. I don't like rewarding theft or cheating by looking the other way.
My primary concern is for the community's health, *as a whole." There isn't going to be much of a Steemit if potential newcomers (who DON'T have filters in place) take a look at the site and see "a cesspool of garbage" and decide not to join.
Very good post and I like your analogy of 'show and tell" from school days. I am new here but I haven't really seen examples of pictures posted without any descriptions or information. That is what I like so much about this site is the quality of content on most posts.
@suzique, welcome to the community! It's not that prevalent here, as of yet... but this is a very young site. What I was describing mostly happens elsewhere, Facebook groups in particular... but also Google+ and LinkedIn.
Thanks for the nice welcome. Yes I see what you are saying and I am in complete agreement. That is why I find it so refreshing here.
Sometimes I think people just get bored with my descriptions. Like, it's not what they are looking for. Especiallly, that accordind to social media research, unfortunately, we have less time to get users interested. Couple of years ago it was 20 seconds, now it's something between 6 and 2! Isn't it sad?
But thank you for sharing it, makes me wanna continue writing!
Content is also changing due to the devices we use to access the web... reading much of anything (at least for me) on a smartphone is a pain in the ass. And writing anything on a phone or tablet is a massive hassle.
Good post, I think you are right a short description of a photo, would make it much more interesting and helpful, a long story is not needed, but just some detail.
I certainly don't expect "War & Peace" from anyone... just enough to personalize the content to where I get a basic understanding of how the person posting related to the image.
Agreed
A very good post, I think it will help many Steemians to correct mistakes they make and as a result we will get very interesting articles, I will resteem!)