Why sharing content isnโt as easy as it seems.
![graphic of man with a red like count above his head in distress](https://i0.wp.com/hellohomegirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pexels-oladimeji-ajegbile-3314294-1.jpg?resize=1000%2C1500&ssl=1)
For the last couple of weeks, Iโve decided to hop off the hamster wheel for a moment. Not because of intense sadness, nor for the glee of the holidays.
I just grew tired of pretending.
Usually, Iโm not one to complain about algorithms or new social media platforms. Thatโs because I donโt want to transform into a get-off-my-lawn kinda person when the world around me changes. But, admittedly, I started to indulge in liking some Negative Nancy-type threads about how posting to Instagram feels like screaming into the abyss lately.
In reality, all the social media platforms feel like screaming into the abyss. Even the gratification I usually feel posting on my favorite platform, Miss Pinterest, feels futile.
But why does it feel this way?
For non-content creators, thereโs this powerful strategy that helps get your content to the right audience. Itโs a strategy called SEO: Search Engine Optimization.
![a person browses a website in a bright, plant-filled room on a laptop](https://i0.wp.com/hellohomegirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pexels-ravi-kant-4533596.jpg?resize=1000%2C1500&ssl=1)
There are experts that can explain this much better than me, but in essence, itโs all about crafting and optimizing content thatโs helpful, entertaining, and inspiring. SEO encourages purposeful writing โ writing answers to questions someoneโs seeking, implementing keywords that folks are searching, etc.
However, in this style of writing, it really eliminates the writerโs narrative voice (with exception to food writers, in my opinion. We all know to scroll past the writerโs life story to get to the actual recipe).
Now, why would SEO strategies discourage a writerโs narrative voice?
Whatโs implied is a harsh reality:
Readers donโt care.
When you are searching for answers to your problems, people are not looking to learn more about a personโs story. Maybe even folks are not looking to understand the context of why youโre doing what youโre doing nowadays. Especially not on a blog.
Readers want quick answers to their inquiries.
Death to old school blogging.
With that being said, social media used to be a refuge from this. As a creator, you got the chance to show a peek behind the curtain, to get to follow the story of creation.
![Instagram feed with a cup of coffee](https://i0.wp.com/hellohomegirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pexels-cottonbro-studio-5052877-1.jpg?resize=1000%2C1500&ssl=1)
For my niche, I tend to share raw footage, the reasons why I do certain projects, and more on social media. Iโd figure out my project and share on IG, working out the kinks to create a finished product. Then, Iโd withdraw most of the personal narrative voice from it, and transform it into a how-to guide that shows up on the blog.
Thus, blogging ainโt dead, it just lacks the narrative voice.
Likewise, SEO has been a phenomenon on social media platforms for a while now, but it feels that itโs dominating the landscape more than ever. Moreover, on social media, SEO has an additional twist.
![keyword search on New York on instagram](https://i0.wp.com/hellohomegirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pexels-cottonbro-studio-5081917-1.jpg?resize=1000%2C1500&ssl=1)
Social media SEO likes controversy. Yes โ he/she/they is a messy queen who lives for drama. So, to drive engagement, you probably will benefit from pissing people off with a hot take or doing a project so wrong that people are forced to call you an idiot several different ways in the comments.
Strategies for successful social media reach mirror what we bloggers implement:
- Donโt make it about you.
- Use trending audio, keywords, and holiday moments.
- Share educational, inspirational, controversial, or helpful content.
- Be an expert in your niche.
Yโall โ I have a few confessions to make.
- I find it hard to not make my content about me because, well, Iโm doing the work for me and my home.
- I donโt celebrate all of the holidays, especially not the most profitable ones, so I donโt make content based on those moments.
- I do make educational content, but Iโm not a person who makes hot takes. I certainly donโt enjoy pissing people off on purpose.
- I donโt consider myself an expert at much in my entire life. I see myself as a student first in all things.
Essentially, SEO has been Sucking Enthusiasm Out of my work.
![old statue of young woman with smartphone in museum](https://i0.wp.com/hellohomegirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/pexels-photo-3819818-edited.jpeg?resize=867%2C1300&ssl=1)
This entire year, Iโve been ignoring these personal truths. Itโs been nagging at my gut and nipping at my heart. Iโve felt like an imposter at times, especially with the expert thing. In honesty, I have held true to not doing the holiday things and avoiding the controversial takes, but there are consequences to that.
In totality, I think the consequence of how I conduct myself is the feeling of screaming into the abyss.
Because I donโt follow all the trends and donโt adhere to all the SEO tips, I donโt reach as many people.
But, the real question at the bottom of it all is, why do I want to reach people? Why have I put in hours of studying, purchased many courses, and scrutinized hundreds of pieces of my own content?
To be continuedโฆ
Sincerely,
Felicia.
Content creators: Why do you want to reach people? Non-creators: How do you discover content that you like? Let me know if you feel compelled.
This resonates. You put a lot of my own feelings about the state of the internet into an eloquent blogpost. Thanks for sharing it
Thanks, Mara. I’m willing to play the current game, but only to a certain extent.
Feeling this deep in my bones, Felicia
I’m both glad and sad to know that I am not alone in this feeling.
Wow wow wow. You voiced what a lot of people are feeling right now. Wish I had any advice to share, but as you said, youโll need to figure out your own โwhyโ. Let us know when you do- we all need help haha!
Thank you, Bridget. It felt so natural to write my thoughts in this way. In my upcoming post, I begin to think through it.
Hi Felicia,
Yeah, I feel you. It’s super frustrating to put posts out there on the blog and on social media and barely receive any feedback. Especially on social media if the algorithms just suck and prefer paid ads.
Although I feel there’s a shift starting now… with Google going to emphasize real, personal experience instead of generic ChatGPT articles and with more and more people starting to re-focus on actual personal exchange and support – I think 2024 will be super interesting and change things, hopefully to the better.
Cheers from Germany,
Anne
I think you make a fantastic point concerning the reported changes to Google’s ranking priorities. I think that is a positive to embrace. Thank you for your readership, Anne!