‘Followers’ … ‘Following’ … ‘Views’ … ‘Comments’ … ‘Boost Post’ … WHAT did all this mean?? ‘Influencers’ with kickbacks for careless endorsements put me right off social media. Into Year 2 with Shirl’s Pearls, I was content to plod away. Posts were liked and appreciated – but numbers were slow to grow. My YouTube videos were too long and frankly, boring. The pearls needed some reviving: enter our videoman Amos …

“Shirl, we must start posting your videos on social media …”

“Oh no – I hate Facebook!”

“I’m thinking more Instagram and TikTok …”

“Full of weird people and aren’t they all too young to even understand what I’m saying?”

“No – the demographic is huge – all age groups. And doctors, scientists, financial advisors also post on these platforms.”

“Even then, how on earth can you explain anything in just 60 seconds?”

“Trust me, you can – they’re called ‘reels’ which go around in a loop. They’re extremely popular.” 

“You mean that’s the average attention span? 60 seconds?”

“Not even that. But at least 20% of them watch for the whole 60 – people will listen to what you have to say – your information is valuable!” 

“OK, Amos – I’ll do it because I trust you. But social media still scares me. Let’s get the apps and passwords on my iPad before I change my mind!!”

That conversation took place in March 2022. It all began with a video I did while holidaying in Noosa, Queensland. At a beautiful fruit and veg market in Tewantin, I saw luscious papayas outside, and immediately wanted to do a video on them!

My uncle’s neighbours provided the perfect setting outside their front door – where bright green plants graced a lush background. Cousin Susanna bravely volunteered to take her first online video, achieving the best angle perched precariously on a window sill …

We got the video done. Why are papayas good for your colon?, posted on Instagram in March 2022, attracted nearly 5K views. Encouraging for our first effort. We then did one video a week, posting on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Instagram and TikTok proved most popular. 

The focus on healthy veggies and fruit proved a winner. Try this okra dish! was the 2022 standout, attracting 35K followers. Benefits of eating pineapple in 2023 attracted 75K views on Instagram alone. 

Amos took a break, and I now worked with Alec and Zach – budding cameramen from the Australian Film, TV and Radio School. They lived near to me; what’s more, we were all close to the Farmer’s Markets at Bondi Beach. A great venue to film in as you can see below!

It was a cold Saturday morning in September 2023. Zach set up a table at ‘Deepa’s’ popular fruit and veg stall. With fresh produce displayed, we rolled. Healthy colon, healthy life and Let’s get your gut in order scored 250K views on Instagram and TikTok combined. It was worth it. Plus, I got over my fear of talking on camera in a very public place … 

Our next venue was another lovely Sydney beachside suburb: Maroubra, at ‘Fruit Ezy’ Pacific Square. Friendly people who were so happy to let us film there. It’s now our home almost every Sunday afternoon. Detox? Here’s how at Fruit Ezy was our personal best – with nearly a million TikTok views.

After my third year on social media, it’s been quite an experience. I dare say our team could easily market ourselves as specialists!

My Special Senior’s Guide for Serious Bloggers

• Find a teenager who loves and is skilled at taking videos.
• Pay a decent hourly rate – more if they have their own equipment. An iPhone14 can video nicely on its own, capturing light very well (lighting technique improves the more videos you do).  
• If you’re serious about sound, wireless microphones are a must. I recommend the RØDE Wireless Go II pack and a RØDE Lavalier lapel mic.
• Carefully choose your topic and age group you’re targeting. Here’s where you’ll need help inserting ‘hashtags’ (I call it ‘piggybacking’: directing like-minded viewers from other sites to have a look at yours). 
• All social media platforms give you ‘performance’ figures – i.e. countries, age groups, gender, viewing time; don’t be too disappointed when you first see them.   
• Now with your followers. Numbers are deceiving, for example:
  • Our Instagram page has 45K followers 
  • Give kidneys a boost with lemon juice! had 266K viewers 
  • 11K were followers and 252K were non-followers 
  • Average watch-time out of the 1 minute reel was 0:19
  • 15% watched the whole video
  • So, 266K viewers x 15% = 40K – which is not bad at all. (Only numbers will tell you the truth of how popular you are in this fickle, crazy, virtual world.)  
• Don’t pay any of these platforms to grow your audience. I personally would hate to see our name advertised on other websites. It’s annoying – so why would I impose it on others? 
• Don’t pay for Influencers either. When I first started, I was advised to find one to promote my page. So glad I didn’t.
• Only ‘follow’ people if you’re interested in their content, not just because they follow you.

If you’re thinking of venturing into social media and have any questions, please feel free to email them to me at shirleysherry@shirlspearls.com.au

2024’s rolling on, and I’m up to it. A million views is the goal – and only then will I use the title ‘Inspirational Influencer’ … Well, it’s a little different.