Ask HN: Is it possible to succeed without social media?
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First, define in detail what "success" looks like to you in relation to what you are trying to do. Be specific, here, because that yard stick varies from person to person, profession to profession, etc.
As an example, I consider myself a pretty successful controls technician because I have a good reputation in the circles I run in, generally get the job done quickly so my customer can get back to work and stop losing money and my work hasn't resulted in anyone getting hurt (a very real possibility in my industry). I have almost no social media presence.
My friend is in real estate, and he has spent years building a client base that feeds itself on referrals by making himself very open, accessible and interactive on nearly every social media platform that most people use daily. He is also quite successful and has cultivated a reputation for trust and honesty because of his social media presence.
To define success, it's important to understand what it is you want to accomplish.
As an example, I consider myself a pretty successful controls technician because I have a good reputation in the circles I run in, generally get the job done quickly so my customer can get back to work and stop losing money and my work hasn't resulted in anyone getting hurt (a very real possibility in my industry). I have almost no social media presence.
My friend is in real estate, and he has spent years building a client base that feeds itself on referrals by making himself very open, accessible and interactive on nearly every social media platform that most people use daily. He is also quite successful and has cultivated a reputation for trust and honesty because of his social media presence.
To define success, it's important to understand what it is you want to accomplish.
In the modern age, it seems you need social media for exposure. If you have a business, it seems the trend now is to create TikTok videos and other kinds of social media content to build and maintain awareness. If you have a skill, it also appears you need social media to announce yourself to potential employers or clients.
Personally, I'd prefer if I didn't have to do all that, but is that not a losing strategy?
How was it before the advent of social media, and do those methods no longer work as much as they used to?
Is using social media actively a "join the train or get left behind" thing?
If yes, how to do it while limiting your digital footprint?