Zumbador

(this is not a sub toot aimed an anyone in particular)

Hey creative people. When you write a post about your work on social media, no need to put in a disclaimer like "shameless self promotion" or to lead with an apology.

1) You made a thing. That's amazing!
2) You're allowed to tell other people about the thing you made.
3) You're even allowed to say it's for sale.

You're not forcing your message on anyone - especially not here, where there's no algorithm - and you're not manipulating anyone, or lying to anyone, or spamming anyone.

You made a thing, it's available for sale. No need for apologies or guilt about letting us know.

#WritingLife #Drawing #Art #Music

Aug 4, 2023 at 2:01pmWeb
Show threadLu 🇦🇲Aug 4, 2023
@Zumbador And also, artists posting their art on social media should be shameless self promotion, should'nt it ?
Show threadT.S. AguilarAug 4, 2023
@Zumbador
This toot looks just like "shameless self promotion". 😂
Show threadArt Saves Us AllAug 4, 2023

@Zumbador

TRUE DAT!

Show threadZumbadorAug 4, 2023
@ArtSavesUsAll ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Show threadgeobeckAug 4, 2023

@Zumbador
Self-promotion is the only form of advertising I like to see on Mastodon.

By the way, check out my blog:
https://geobeck.ca

😜

What's It All About?

Perspectives on authenticity and integrity in my reality

What's It All About?
Show threadLaura J MixonAug 4, 2023
@geobeck @Zumbador I'll buy that. :)
Show threadAlison ReynoldsAug 4, 2023
@Zumbador just followed you because of your wonderful post! I always find it hard to blow my own horn!
Show threadMike Pingleton 🐸🍩Aug 5, 2023
@lacellabella @Zumbador shouldn’t that be “toot my own horn”?😁
Show threadAlison ReynoldsAug 5, 2023
@somuchpingle @Zumbador toot, blow, whatever. . . you get the drift 😂
Show threadRupert 🇪🇺🏴‍☠️😾🔭📷🍺🍪🌍🔥Aug 7, 2023
@somuchpingle @lacellabella @Zumbador totally agree with all this, if only I had a horn to toot... 😹
Show threadAlison ReynoldsAug 7, 2023
@rupertcutler @somuchpingle @Zumbador I don’t have a horn but I could toot my flute 😂
Show threadAdrian McEwenAug 4, 2023

@Zumbador Amen.

As we say around here in @DoESLiverpool...

#DoEpicShit #TellPeopleAboutIt #GoToStep1 #art #creativity

Show threadZumbadorAug 4, 2023

@amcewen @DoESLiverpool

Fabulous!

Show threadJaycieAug 4, 2023
@Zumbador This culture is by far one of xir favorite part about xir corner of the Fediverse.
Show threadSeedy Three SixtyAug 4, 2023
@Zumbador @wx1g I think a lot of it comes from Discord servers and stuff where they might have rules against self-promotion. Like, if I can get banned for self-promoting here, where else can (or can't) I self-promote?
Show threadCadey BunnyAug 4, 2023

@Zumbador self-deprecation is so rampant and it's something I go out of my way to try and avoid.

I would actually argue that leading into something with a disclaimer, apology, or some sort of self-deprecation, actually makes it look less appealing on average!

Creativity is amazing, and people who do that and show it to others should put that creativity on display at full force, so that others may share their enthusiasm!

Show threadZumbadorAug 4, 2023
@cadeybunny exactly
Show threadShoku the MN Wolf 🏳️‍🌈Aug 4, 2023
@Zumbador I am sorry to say that I have seen people promoting themselves be attacked for doing so. The trend of tagging it is probably going to continue.
Show threadFigaroAug 4, 2023
@Zumbador Agreed! I'm here for this shit, show me your creations!
Show threadBarbara KrasnoffAug 4, 2023
@Zumbador Thank you. It's taken me a lifetime to get over the whole "don't be boastful" thing that was drummed into me for most of my youth, and which is still hard to get past sometime. This helps.
Show threadCharming MalcontentAug 4, 2023
@Zumbador
Beautiful sentiment expertly expressed.
Thank you for your humanity, fellow Fediversizen.
Show threadArmoured WizardAug 4, 2023

@Zumbador Folk think self-promo is bad/shameful because we see "I like Mastodon because it doesn't have Adverts" all the time!
I know you're already typing "But that's different...". It's really not.
If I post "Buy my stuff <link> <Image>", that is an advert (see: "bad").
Already weighed down by imposter syndrome, and strict limits on self-promo from other places, it makes it hard to "just let you know" I made something...

P.S. Do you want a Rainbow Chain Mail Dice Bag? :)

Show threadMax Leibman has moved!Aug 5, 2023

@ArmouredWizard @Zumbador This is the example of gatekeeping/HOA culture I recall seeing the most of when I first started getting involved—not just artists feeling that way, but others literally saying, “No, that’s an ad. That doesn’t belong here.”

And, ok, technically? Sure. It’s an ad. But only an asshole would say so to shut it down. That gal who made those cool hats or the dude with the sweet photo prints, both of whom are barely making rent, aren’t what fucked up corporate social media.

Show threadTim FordAug 4, 2023
@Zumbador
Speaking only for myself, this is definitely a symptom of being shamed for it in the past. Like, a lot. It's nice to have this positivity, but believe me when I say changing my habits is an uphill battle after being dunked on routinely for accomplishing things creatively.
Show threadAli's OdditiesAug 4, 2023
@Zumbador Thank you for saying this, a lot of people dont think their stuff is cool/good/amazing enough that people like it. but you should always be proud to show off your stuff, you made it!
Show threadChad of Sketchy AbstractionsAug 4, 2023

@Zumbador What makes advertising bad (to me) is active manipulation by soulless corporations to yield the highest return. Not individual people trying to exist by creating things.

That being said, as a creative person: even though I'm not currently selling things here, it's always intimidating to share what I make. There's always a fear it's not good enough or I've done something wrong.

Show threadZumbadorAug 5, 2023
@SketchyAbstractions sharing ones work can be scary. It makes you vulnerable. I don't know if it ever gets easier!
Show threadRicki Yasha TarrAug 4, 2023
@Zumbador Huge ditto here, I appreciate getting to see the awesome stuff people have created and don't mind a little sales pitch. We should support artists we enjoy if we can afford it. To me this isn't anything like the aggressive ads on other social media sites.
Show threademdlAug 4, 2023
@Zumbador Well said! I feel like it's fairly common to feel that way, and everyone who creates something needs to hear it sometime. And I'll even try to keep it in mind for my own sake.
Show threadRugged Bot RomeoAug 4, 2023
@Zumbador this gave me some extra happiness (and relief) today. Thank you! I love to create, and often the people closest to us are the least likely to support us until we "make it". Whatever that means.
Show threadZumbadorAug 5, 2023
@RuggedBotRomeo it's sadly true, family and friends aren't always supportive
Show threadYoraAug 4, 2023
@Zumbador Somehow, apologizing makes it come across as more needy, not less.
Show threadZumbadorAug 5, 2023
@Yora it does. Or like some kind of humble brag
Show threadWilliam GunnAug 4, 2023
@Zumbador This is true up until you reach a certain level of success that people can get attention by criticizing you. Then none of that applies and you have to be careful. Also, you won't know what the level is until you have a few encounters as nasty as they are surprising. Happy creating!
Show threadsparseMatrix 📻Aug 4, 2023

@Zumbador

I love seeing all the cool stuff people do, even if I can't usually just buy stuff I see.

Show threadsara mitchelAug 4, 2023
@Zumbador truth
Art is Work!!!!!
Show threadZumbadorAug 5, 2023
@qualitychaos that would make a good t shirt
Show threadUrethramancer🐀Aug 4, 2023
@Zumbador The only algorithm here is me following people who follow too many artists for anyone sane. If I had a problem with self-promotion I'd unfollow them.
Show threadC.S.StrowbridgeAug 5, 2023

@Zumbador

And if anyone gives you crap for advertising your work here... block them.

And if you see anyone giving artists you crap for advertising their work here... also block them.

Show threadshadownliteAug 5, 2023
@csstrowbridge I do this after being harassed for it. Preemptive blocking is great. See them be an a-hole? Block them.
Show threadUnwomanAug 5, 2023
@Zumbador I started feeling this way really strongly after a person on Twitter a couple of years ago tried to shame me for some actually brilliant self-promotion I'd done (hand out matchbooks at parties promoting my album called "The Fires I Started") when I realized... rich people can hire others to do that promotion for them, and are they ever ashamed?
Show threadZumbadorAug 5, 2023

@unwoman yes exactly. It's considered impolite to promote yourself directly, you're supposed to draw a veil (of money) over that part and make it seem as if the promoting is just magically somehow happening.

But that "magic" needs visibility algorithms and advertising and data harvesting to happen.

So as a matter of fact, self promotion is the opposite of all that advertising / influencer crap.

Show threadUnwomanAug 5, 2023
@Zumbador 100%! And there was a time, 10-15 years ago, where recommendations from fans on social media could give actual boosts to sales and popularity, but the algorithms limit those so hard on corporate social media now that it feels helpless. So, back to self promotion, and tbh im scraping by decently with it (Being contrarian, I'm more ashamed to be considering hiring a PR firm than I've ever been of self promotion, because I remember those days of organic growth unsquashed by money)
Show threadPJ "Vote Green" CoffeyAug 5, 2023

@Zumbador

Oh well, I write stuff about Tabletop roleplaying games #TTRPG, like D&D which in its 5th edition also has an Advanced form available.

I make tools to make it easier to create worlds which have cultures and different heritages to play in.

https://homebrewandhacking.com/2023/05/30/introducing-me/

It's not much but it's honest work and sometimes it involves reinterpreting Greek myths.

https://homebrewandhacking.com/2023/04/24/the-elysians/

Introducing… me.

So, who am I and what am I doing and why should you pay attention? I’m PJ Coffey, you may know me from such podcasts as “Morrus’ Unoffical Tabletop RPG Talk” which has over …

Homebrew and Hacking
Show threadJill MinorAug 5, 2023
@Homebrewandhacking @Zumbador @juergen_hubert is that your logo? I love it!
Show threadPJ "Vote Green" CoffeyAug 5, 2023

@jillrhudy

Thanks! I do my best to get good art. I'm hoping to strike it big on Kickstarter and spend it all on really cool pictures. 😎

#goals

Show threadTakiro 🎨Aug 5, 2023
@Zumbador
I'll keep the shame to myself, then.
Show threadrivetsAug 5, 2023
@Zumbador
Show threadChris LAug 5, 2023
@Zumbador what if people find it sells better to have that sort of framing?