My Imminent Departure From Facebook and Twitter

You may have noticed that I've been extremely quiet in the online social networking world since early April; even my blog has felt deserted and alone. Truth be told, my disappearance was simply because I needed to take a break from computers and the Internet. To say "need" seems almost ridiculous considering that I'm hardly a frequent Facebooker or Tweeter, but the reality is that I'm very often online, waiting to add something to conversations, but rarely knowing what or even wanting to - sort of like those creepy people that stand near groups of friends, intently listening to everything being said, but never offering more than a dopey smile and the occasional chuckle at inappropriate moments.

I'm perfectly happy and able to socialise in the real world, it's just that there's not enough sociability in me to contribute equally to the offline and online realms. I can completely understand the appeal of Facebook, Twitter and similar sites to the countless (more socially engaged and/or energetic) people that use them, especially considering their marketing potential, but the cons outweigh the pros for someone like me and my decline in focus and productivity has demonstrated that.

So, within a few days, I'll be disappearing from Facebook and Twitter (having already waved goodbye to the lesser-used Google Buzz). That might sound like illustration career suicide to many of you, especially in this age of limitless digital self-promotion and Internet techno-magic, but I'm optimistic about shifting my focus back to some old school marketing techniques.

All that being said, my website will very much continue to exist, as will this blog, and I'll continue to be active across the blogging community (it's a bit less demanding on someone of my lower social aptitude). As always, you can reach me by email at info@brandondraws.com, by phone on +44 7415 327331 or just comment on my blog and I'll be sure to get back to you.

Into the social darkness I go...