question of the month

It's that time of the month again...time to learn from others ((and meet my sponsors))! This month we're talking about social media and what they've learned from using it. I hope you enjoy reading their responses and take a moment to visit their blog/shop and maybe even connect with them over your favorite form of social media!

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Allison of  Whatever the Circumstances says:
I have recently been enjoying using twitter. I love that you can connect to individuals and a whole group. I also love the versatility of linking up with Instagram and Facebook. I don't know what I have really learned from using, except that it has helped me to form more friendships in the blogger world.

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Sharon of Soundless Soliloquy says:
I'd have to say that Twitter is currently my favorite form of social media. I recently signed up after spending years thinking it was pointless and a waste of time. (Don't judge!) When I started my business last year, I decided it was time to extend my social wings and join the ranks of the tweeting world.
Here are a few things I've learned from using Twitter over the last month and a half.
1. If you have a business, write a blog, etc, join social media platforms as soon as possible. Even if you don't intend to use the account right away, one day you'll be glad you reserved your username. It took me months to find a suitable handle for that wasn't already in use. In searching for the perfect Twitter "name", I read many stories about people and brands that weren't able to get the handles they wanted because they were late to the game.
2. Twitter is its own little universe. It has its own set of rules and codes of conduct. I can't say I have a grasp on everything after 1.5 months (like how did that music band from SoCal find me?), but I have learned (thankfully not from first hand experience) that it's not polite to follow someone in hopes that they will reciprocate and then delete them once they're following you.
3. Condensing what I want to say to 140 characters or less? It's harder than I thought it would be, but it can be done!
4. It's incredible what and who you can discover by just clicking. You start by following one person and then another, and the next thing you know, you're collaborating with someone who was never even on your radar. At the heart of it, Twitter is all about building your networks and I'd love for you to be a part of mine, so send me a tweet!

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin

Sarah at Family Darr says:
My favorite form of social media would have to be Twitter. I feel that you can really get to know people with Twitter as people post WHATEVER they are feeling at the moment. I recently found two great friends on Twitter that LOVE TV as much as I do. We must have tweeted back and forth for an hour (DO YOU LOVE TV too? @sarahmdarr @SenseofCents and @Heydtie042know whats up!)

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Lauren of Fizz and Frosting says:
I'll admit that I was a latecomer to Twitter, but it has quickly become my favorite form of social media. I love having the ability to interact with other bloggers, and by using it, I've learned how social media can help to build my blog's readership. It's such a great way to connect with friends and followers throughout the day!

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Monique of A Creative Girl, Living in a Country World says:
At this moment, it is Twitter. I've been able to connect with individuals I wouldn't normally connect with via Facebook. I've built some relationships via Twitter, and have been able to build a readership because of the platform. I've also found some great bloggers via Twitter as well.

Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Beth of Until Only Love Remains says:
I have to choose the obvious & famous Facebook. I remember the year I was going into college and a friend told me that EVERYONE in college had facebook and that myspace was "so high school" (please imagine me quote un-quoting that in the air!) It was my freshman year of college when they opened it up for everyone and myspace disappeared (RIGHT? does anyone use that anymore? Even if I wanted to, I bet I couldn't remember my password...)
I love it because my parents were okay with me never calling home because they would look though my pictures and feel like they had spent time with me. I love it because I went to college out of state and I have friends LITERALLY all over the world. We can still be friends and share our lives & pictures with each other. I love it because I don't have to scrapbook anymore, Facebook makes albums for me. Some people boycott the Facebook, that is not me. Haters gunna hate.

Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest

Lauren of Pearls Poppies Pinkies Up says:
I go back and forth with social media. Sometimes I am tempted to go on sabbatical from my iPhone, Facebook, Pinterest and the likes. And other times I am no doubt giddy when I get to share and network with others via social media tools. They have all been really helpful in growing Pearls Poppies Pinkies Up reader base, which I am so thankful for! I tend to love the visuals and creative inspiration that Instagram and Pineterest bring with them, while I also have to give Facebook a lot of credit for bringing new readers to my blog as well as connecting me with other bloggers. Currently, though, Instagram is my favorite. I love that it is a window into a life. A window into an adventure. A place that after just browsing through some photos, you leave feeling like you've experienced something in a new light, seen something from another's perspective, have gotten to enjoy the same beauty as someone else. Instagram allows a person to tell a story, share a moment, in just a snapshot. I love that about it. And I also love that it is simple. It is the minimalist of social media in a way. With Instagram, words aren't even needed, and a photograph can be shared with no strings attached. I like the no-strings attached aspect, the way it fills my love for polaroid-esque moments, and of course the filters.
One thing I struggle with as a blogger, with Facebook, (and this is probably why I don't have a Twitter account) is that I don't want to over share or bombard other's with too many words. I don't want to jam up the news feed with everything and anything about Pearls Poppies Pinkies Up. But on the other hand, I do want to share about blog posts etc. Its a fine line to walk at times, not over promoting, or over sharing, yet still being active via social media. I am often rethinking the way I use social media, and about the message I am sending-- wanting to be modest and humble in my process of sharing about PPP. It is important to think about these things, for me as a blogger, but also for me as an individual, because I want to stay true to who I am, and have Pearls Poppies Pinkies Up, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram be a true reflection of my character. This is something that I am continuing to learn about. With that, I'd have to say, that Instagram really is the place I feel most comfortable sharing. Maybe it is because words aren't required and that it does feel a bit more down to earth at times. That, and I just love photographs and getting to peek into another person's story :)

Whew, that was a lot of info and it sounds like most everyone is loving Twitter lately. Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts! I hope  it helped you think about your own use of social media in the blog/shop world.

I'm actually guest posting over at my friend, Jessica's blog today! Head on over to Swish and Swoon, a vintage fashion blog and check it out :-)