As a landscape photographer we use a variety of tools and techniques to bring us closer to everything we need to bring us in closer contact with those who understand and practice the way we do.  It is both purposeful and enjoyable to find a community of like-minded people to share in their experiences and learn about the products they use.  A social media experience that works well will:

1. Make us feel a part of a community and share our unique kind of photography with those who appreciate it.
2. Make us aware of safe, rewarding and fruitful places to go and enjoy the practice of photography.
3. Make us want to spend our money and time on genuinely important tools, learning experiences, and favorable destinations to create rewarding and profitable products.

Indeed our goal is to see, meet, and do.  We shouldn’t have to trapse all over the internet, neighborhood, or world to find apt tools to help us do this. What if we had that all under one trusted roof.

We can reach our audience by looking at how Weixin accomplishes growing and keeping everything within their pulse.  First, it is important to know the audience you want to reach.  Weixin, a Chinese app, is successful at creating an “‘all-in-one-platform” in which users can stay within the world of Weixin and complete almost any task!

This all-in-one social media product has an interface that is easy to use and navigate.  The app helps to reduce what is known as “‘search costs’” which can hamper users by causing them to visit more than one platform to complete tasks. (Mahoney & Tang, 2024) Weixin reduces these costs by making its use “straightforward and convenient,” by rarely creating a need for audiences to leave.  The app also creates an easy and efficient way to shop.  It simply, “makes everything so easy to do and significantly enhances its users’ self-efficacy.” (Mahoney & Tang, 2024)  Importantly, Weixin frequently introduces new features, functionality, and campaigns to satisfy “audiences’ mood at a certain time or in a certain context.” (Mahoney & Tang, 2024)  Also, by creating ways for users to pay within the app, they can do almost anything even make reservations for taxi rides, which encourages users to see Weixin as a one stop for almost everything anyone can do online. 

Weixin is a phenomenal platform for keeping people engaged and using this engagement as a platform to deliver content and marketing.  They can therefore create easy access to community and essential products.  As landscape photographers we could create our own community in a one stop shop.  With wants and needs satisfied we could, as Weixin does, create a routine and shopping experience that we trust because we know the people who suggest and promote the items, places, and services promoted.  It is always available on whatever device people own and more importantly wherever they are. 

When we create a world for ourselves we become a part of the lives of everyone involved.  We can look for, use or even create a platform that will change the way we look at social media.  As a landscape photographer it is important to create a homebase that radiates with all of the ways we can present and represent our craft. As we move in the world we create we could create easy access to all of the ways we need to interact, communicate, purchase, and experience our community and brand of photography.

Mahoney, L. M., & Tang, T. (2024). Strategic social media: From marketing to social change. Wiley-Blackwell