Feeling Invisible
Impossible Marketing
A different post today. Because I’m struggling.
Years ago, pre-Meta, I interacted on Instagram. I found some marvellous fellow authors and we built a community. I still have friends from those days. I even hosted monthly Lives with another author, interviewing others. And my account grew (to 7k followers). But then you-know-who took over and even when my account grows, I get just as many un-follows (as if by magic!).
My posts get shown to a tiny fraction of my followers, let alone new folk. And it makes no difference if I post photos, Reels, carousels, Stories, polls etc.
For the last year, even my Amazon ads have reduced. My Love Habit ads hardly get shown at all in the US - I suspect because it’s an LGBTQIA+ book. My others aren’t thus affected.
But a friend of mine has also seen reduced visibility of their ads, and yet the clicks (therefore costs) haven’t reduced. Although, sales have gone down.
I try BookBub Self Serve ads - sometimes they get seen, but then I quickly start getting “your ad isn’t winning many impressions” notifications.
I only started my Substack account last year. It’s shown a little growth, and I love the interactions I do have. But my weekly posts (articles) don’t get much attention at all.
And now it looks like I’ve been shadow banned on TikTok! I’ve been stuck in the 200 club most of my time there anyway. Although, earlier this year, I did reach a dizzying 3.5k viewed video!! My last four posts have got single digits.
Why am I saying all this? Well, it’s because I know I’m not alone. This decreasing visibility is an issue across the board. So, I hope to bring you a little comfort if you’re going through this too. It’s not personal. It’s just that Al Gore Rhythms increasing suck. You are not alone!
I know it’s hard to carry on in the face of such adversity. Trust me, I have plenty of days where I repeatedly question, “Why am I even bothering?”
We’re all exhausted. The events of 2020 have had long-term effects, and we’re all struggling. The world is a dumpster fire.
But here’s the thing, you don’t get if you don’t ask. We HAVE to keep trying. I have not spent 13 years of toil (and 18 books) only to get this far. You gotta be in it to win it!
This too shall pass is my life mantra. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, one post more each day, one more book, one more effort. Step by step, we will get through this.
Maybe order a massive fire extinguisher for the planet? A global Xanax??
Quitting, for me, is not an option! I won’t let the bar stewards win!!!
If studying history has taught me anything, it’s that life goes in cycles.
IT WILL GET BETTER!
So, have a virtual hug from me, and carry on.
Always in love and light,
TL