On Monday, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp went down unexpectedly, leaving users without access to their favourite platforms for 7 whole hours. For many it highlighted the additive nature of social media as it forced them to take a break from scrolling through their feed to communicate in real time. However, for businesses and creatives it served as a much-needed reminder of how important it is to have a space that you control. Whilst these popular platforms are a great way to reach and expand your audience, it goes without saying that you should start thinking about setting up your own independent platform, if you haven't already.

Imagine if you were unable to use these platforms for an extended period of time. What would you do?

Now for many of you this may not seem like a real cause for concern, but for those for whom social media plays an instrumental role in your marketing strategy, now is the time to get started on creating your own space.

The ideal situation would be to have multiple ways through which you can promote yourself both on and offline. It doesn't mean that you must abandon any of the larger platforms, but you could start thinking about branching out to alternative spaces where you can market your work. Moving to different platforms will take some effort on your part, but in the long run it will be better for you if your marketing and portfolio aren't restricted to a singular platform. You don't want a monopoly, but you want to have your work on multiple platforms so that you are targeting different audiences and protecting yourself in the future should this ever happen again. 

You are most likely aware of these platforms already, but here is a reminder of a few other spaces that you can use to showcase your work as a creative:

• Dribble
• Dayflash
• Behance
• The Dots
• Creativepool

Lastly, it would be an equally good idea to invest in setting up your own website where you can sell, promote and give updates to your buyers on what you are currently working on. You can host your website through Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress, and buy your own domain so that you completely control the site.

When people ask you where they can find you online, try to direct them to alternative platforms that you use or to your space, so that you are driving up traffic and securing regular visits to these spaces that will persist no matter what happens.

Any thoughts on this subject? Let us know in the comments below. 

Photo credit: Amy Shamblen