Social networks are literally changing the way projects are projected. All things being equal, if three actors are up for a role in a big project, the actor with the largest following is likely to get it. This means that if you’re a smart actor, you’ll start building your social media empire BEFORE you’re ready for a series regular.
If you’re like some of my clients, the thought of using social media for your acting career can be completely overwhelming. I’m here to tell you: don’t panic! Here are four simple steps you can use to start your social media mojo, giving you an edge over the competition!
1. Start small
There are many social media platforms to choose from, but my advice is to start with one and get really good at it. If you’re already using Facebook anyway, why not start there? Do you love taking photos? Try Instagram! Maybe Twitter is more your speed. There is no need to overload yourself right away. You can always add another one once you’ve mastered the first one.
2. Create a plan
This is where you can get creative! With your actor’s brand in mind, think of a few topics you’d like to post about regularly. For example, do you have a charity that you work with? Do you like to make people laugh? Are you a foodie? You can also repost or retweet other people’s content and say hi. Of course, don’t forget to post your acting successes too!
3. Make a schedule
Once you have a few daily topics in mind, it’s time to schedule your posts for the week. I recommend using a free app like Bufferapp.com or Hootsuite.com. I’ve found that scheduling daily posts in advance (for the week or month) is much more efficient than trying to post every day.
4. Be social!
It’s called social media for a reason, so make sure you spend a little time every day responding to other people’s likes, retweets, mentions, and posts. Reciprocity is very helpful, so keep up the dialogue with your friends!
5.Look at the clock
Be careful not to fall down the rabbit hole. Social networking sites are made for you to kill time, so be mindful of how you’re spending yours. Fifteen minutes a day is all it takes to stay social.