Why you should share your pottery and your journey on Social Media?
If you are someone just starting on your pottery journey or have been at it for a while, I highly recommend sharing your work on social media. I understand that the term 'social media' can be ‘anxiety inducing’ for some of us – it certainly was for me. I recall spending hours writing and re-writing captions, repeatedly reading them to ensure I didn't come across as silly or presumptuous. Oh, the fear that someone might actually read it – why write it if you don't want anyone to read it? Well, that's a topic for another time.
Right now, let's focus on encouraging you to share your work online. And by sharing, I don't mean bombarding all the social media channels. Just choose one – the platform where you spend a lot of time or one with friends. Better yet, pick one where no one knows you to overcome the fear of judgment, and start there. Why am I advocating for sharing your work online? It's where I began after overcoming my overthinking, and it completely transformed my life! Let me highlight some of the wonderful things you can experience by sharing your work on social media – from personal growth to connecting with a supportive community.
1. Creating a Visual Diary
Firstly, it could be place to document your journey and your evolution as an artist. A place which records all your success and failures- Like a visual diary of your creative journey. Looking back at my older posts, I can clearly see the difference in my work, how my skill has improved with practice and how my aesthetic has evolved over time. It stands as a timeline, vividly illustrating your starting point and the considerable growth you've achieved along the way.
2. Turning Passion to Business:
Having spent some time making pots, you may want to sell them (they will soon start taking over all the shelf space in your house) and turn you passion for pottery into a business. AT that point, starting from scratch while building your online presence will be an uphill task. Whereas, if you've already been sharing your work, you'll have a portfolio of work online and an audience you've seen your evolution and may be interested in purchasing your work.
3. Creating a Community: Also, as you share your work, you'll naturally draw in people with similar interests. This contributes to forming a supportive community of like-minded people who are on a similar path as you. I can't stress enough the significance of having a community you can lean on for feedback and encouragement during uncertain or creatively challenging times. Also, being aware that others are following your journey encourages you to stay committed and consistent in your craft.
4. Overcoming Fear: Another important aspect involves overcoming the fear of judgement, especially in today’s digital landscape where presenting yourself and your work is almost a prerequisite for a thriving online business. Putting your work out there opens you up to opinions and feedback. It might sound scary, but trust me, it's a game-changer. It helps in conquering the fear of judgment making you more comfortable in the online world. Through this feedback process, you not only open yourself up to diverse perspectives but also get valuable insights from others in your field which is a huge bonus. If you are running an online business, creating more of what resonates with both you and your audience could be the key to success. However, understanding these preferences can be challenging unless you're open to sharing your work.
5. Opening Doors to Opportunities: Another significant benefit is the opportunity to connect with a broader audience, opening doors to potential opportunities that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. Sharing your work not only expands your reach but also increases the likelihood of stumbling upon valuable prospects and possibilities you might have overlooked.
More importantly, your creative journey has the potential to inspire others, much like how the journeys of fellow creatives motivated me to start sharing my work. So, don't hesitate—CREATE AND SHARE! Your unique experience could be the spark that ignites someone else's creative passion.