Sadly, who knew making technology nerds so rich (I don’t mean to be derogatory here, I’m a proud economy nerd) that billions of dollars would turn them into little Clobber Barons, bent on rigging anything they could throw a few millions at.

Another thing I’ve always stressed is that having your own website, under your own control, is one of the last vestiges of what we all hoped the web would be. An open, democratic playing field where everyone’s voice is just as loud as they gotta be. And, a way to sell your pottery.

Unfortunately, a small group of geniuses figured correctly that there could only be ONE destination for every niche itch on the web, with the other 99% websites fighting over the +/- 1% remaining.

Now, with Artificial Intelligence, are we are seeing the real revenge of the nerds?

Is AI their 2nd childhood, revisiting their robot friends?

But, not good robots like the ones on Mystery Science Theater 2000.

These are the bad nasty robots that suck up and regurgitate civilizations.

This is their push to punish real people who were never of much use to them anyway.

For most of us, AI is best at using a counties’ entire electricity output to make funny videos on YouTube. The funny part is the way the residents of these counties electric bills keep doubling. Ha ha.

Will “Play That Funky Music, Robot” bump human-played music off the streams?

But, there is always hope in that old standby, Natural Stupidity (NS).

NS is the force that makes the Unsinkable sinkable, the Redundant dumb ant, the Brilliant silly ant.

NS makes Major Economies go dead in the water. NS happens like clockwork. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

The sad thing is that when Natural Stupidity reaches such a huge wave of “forgetting the past,” the results ain’t pretty. The innocent are the ones that get hurt.

Maybe that’s why ordinary people are acting so guilty these days?

In conclusion, let me sum it all up.

There is hope in the dope.

The post Natural Stupidity To The Rescue appeared first on Tom Stier-Promote Globally.

I have seen many instances of established companies’ Facebook pages where a social media team blithely grind out breezy PR babble, only to see the Comments and Replies on these posts resemble a cauldron of bitter humanity.

Strangely enough, it can be quite entertaining, and it might even provide benefit to the company or politician as supporters and detractors battle it out.

This generates passion which can effect a positive result.

I have recently experienced this heat supporting my pick for the next President of the United States, Sen. Bernie Sanders.

I had been posting items on my personal Facebook page, both public and view-able only to Friends and eventually commenting on posts from the New York Times, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker and other Facebook sites with a heck of a lot more Views.

Boy, did that unleash some demons!

I had now left the protective cocoon of my Facebook friends and entered a world of decidedly different viewpoints. For instance, on the right is a screenshot of my rather innocuous comment on a post on Bernie’s main Facebook page. As you can see, my comment has 943* Likes (some of my other Posts have hundreds of Likes, so I’m rounding up to a thousand ;)) and 114 Replies.

The Replies to my Comment generated quite a bit of heat as supporters and detractors posted replies, when at one point the thread devolved into 2, and then 3 individuals getting very very personal and attacking each other in their replies.

At various points in this 114 reply thread I would add my own blithely positive interjections, gathering more Likes, and further inciting the detractors.

At the apex of the most heated personal attacks I posted a cheery “And Now A Message From Our Sponsor.  President Bernie Sanders! ” garnering Likes even from some of the combatants!

Now, you may question if this activity accomplishes anything. I do see Sanders is gaining in some polls, but don’t have access to any data the Sanders campaign may be gathering from their social media efforts.

I like to think that my tactics in supporting something I believe in are maybe very slightly bringing a positive consciousness in the minds of  folks that happen to see my posts…and laugh.

02/04/16 Update. The Facebook posting referenced above now has 1,001 Likes!

The post One Thousand Likes, For Some Dislikes appeared first on Tom Stier-Promote Globally.

Most of the benefit of activity on Facebook however, goes to Facebook. They are using your hours of interacting with friends to fund their path through the new economy.

And you thought Facebook was your friend!

It’s not a natural trait for an writer, artist or musician to talk much about themselves or their work in public. It seems unseemly. And, sometimes it can be counter-productive.

Unfortunately, if you don’t stand out somehow, nobody knows you’re there!

So, just how do you make a stand on this social media thing?

I offer a few proven techniques here, but for a particular situation or niche, the methods will most likely need to be adjusted to suit.

You Need a Personal and an Artists Page

Everybody on Facebook has a ‘Personal’ page. This is where you and your Friends interact with each other.

Most postings on Personal pages can only be seen by people who are Friends. Posts can be made public, and exposed to Friends of Friends, depending on your privacy settings. Then there’s Friends of Friends of Friends of Friends.

Facebook also allows users with Personal pages to setup Artist pages which are Public, as in Strangers of Strangers.

If you are an artist/writer/musician, you HAVE to have both.

I have engaged in discussions with artists & musicians who insist they are doing fine promoting their gigs & openings on their Personal Facebook. But, they are failing to plan ahead by doing this!

There is a limit on the number of friends a personal page can have. They can’t really PUSH their product on their personal page (It’s unseemly!) and, biggest reason of all – Facebook doesn’t want you to do this! And, it’s their ball and bat.

That’s why Facebook went to all the trouble to set up the personal and public aspects in the first place.

I Have Something to Say, And I’m Not Saying It

I hear all the time “But, I’m not a writer.”

Then I see the person has posted a lively 300 word post or comment on another post on Facebook!

I suppose it’s due to that “staring at a blank page, coming up with nothing” syndrome.

You’ll need to transfer this same feeling and immediacy when posting on your Artist page.

You write emails that tell friends what you are up to. At a party you may get into a spirited discussion about a mutually admired artist. Re-purpose this for your own purposes on the Facebook party.

In case of emergency, we can help you with our Proxy Posting Service.

Interaction on social media stirs up reactions that help thoughts flow. If nothing else, I believe Facebook has brought back the nearly-dead art of writing to friends.

Don’t Just Toot Your Own Horn

One of the most most glaring faux pas in social promotion is where, in a musicians desire to tell people about their own work, the ‘social’ aspect of social media is forgotten.

Don’t be a “one way street.”

It’s good etiquette to Like other artist pages & comment on other writers posts. Remember – it’s better to give than receive.  Eye before E, except after sea.

We Didn’t Know You Were Selling Something

This is the best reason to have an Artist page on Facebook. You can promote your product every day, and not annoy your Friends.

Think of Facebook as a stream constantly going by many many eyeballs.

Nobody sees older posts, only what is at top. The thousands of folks who have Liked your page may only see the briefest glimmer of your news. So, rinse and repeat for best results.

Intersperse BUY posts and upcoming shows or events on your Artist page.

If you are a musician, get your songs on Bandcamp, then the link to your song will appear on Facebook as a combination in-page player and BUY button.

If you have gone to the great effort of having a shopping cart on your website, don’t be shy! Pick a product every day, and share it!

Don’t just post the link. Have something to say about it. Remember, Facebook wants you to do it this way. Facebook commands you!

I’m a Human Trapped in This Little Box

It’s tough to make a living as a musician or artist these days. There have been tons of articles written about this, and the situation could be described as in-human.

However, the one bright spot in our techno-logic society is the that most of us ARE human! We need human contact. Even nerds!

Leaning on sympathy, or perhaps I should say empathy, in your promotion is OK. If someone is intrigued by your work (which they have now seen or heard because you are implementing the previous tips) they need to know that this is something you do for a HUMAN living. Also, you need to pay your web developer!

Get that out right at the start! There is a gentle, but firm way to do this. Find your way.

What Works This Week

When I  get a question like “How can I get to the top of the first page in a Google Search?” my answer sometimes is “Rob a bank.”

This would definitely work, but may not be the best method for everybody It’s best to travel a less dramatic path.

The ability to remain flexible in the type of posts you make on Facebook, AND on your website, is essential.

People love posts that somehow give back a good feeling. So, for you it may be something funny or serious.

You could be political. And that could turn off a whole lot of people OR connect you with a whole lot of people.

We stand ready to help you with our Proxy Posting Service.

As you begin posting on Facebook with the new goal of increasing your bottom line, you’ll notice (as will Facebook) that certain Posts reach a larger audience than others.

You simply need to do more of those!

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Tom Stier – Promote Globally is fighting in the Internet trenches all day long and ready to assist with a unique promotion strategy. Get in touch today!

The post How Do I Promote My Art Business on Social Media? appeared first on Tom Stier-Promote Globally.

What are the reasons for this?

Social posting tends to be shorter faster thoughts, with less composition involved.

Cute kitty!

Sometimes it’s just a picture. Cute kitty!

The interactivity factor – knowing that your friends will see what you are sharing, and possibly comment on, is an exciting proposition.

However, when faced with the prospect of doing the same kind of thing on their own domain, their own website, they might feel daunted.

One common complaint I hear is “I’m not a writer.”

In fact, I actually hear this from people who have published!

I believe that the average person may be writing even more than they did years ago, due to the explosion in blogging and then social media.  And, what’s tucked away in your email folders?

I am also seeing development in ways to merge the social interactivity element between social media sites and yourownwebsite.com.

The instant feedback is coming.

For business websites this also presents opportunities.

Business owners view what appears on their product or service website as a more formal endeavor than just posting a photo with a short caption.

A ‘hard sell’ element can creep into their message.

Hard sell definitely does not work in social media.

What does work is friendly, non-political (or political if you want to define yourself that way) and interesting.

The post Social Media and Your Website appeared first on Tom Stier-Promote Globally.