Episode 38: Episode 38: From Stumbling Blocks to Stepping Stones: A Conversation with Heidi Dean About the Power of Social Media

Acting: Conversations on Craft

Before I talk about the amazing conversation that Heidi Dean was gracious enough to have with me, I need to add a quick note that this conversation was recorded before Twitter changed its name to X. Now most of you probably know that Heidi Dean is known in the industry as the top social media strategist for actors. She has also recently published a book, Social Media for Actors, 100 essential tips to grow, thrive, and survive online. When I was trying to figure out how to introduce this episode, I realized that I always seem to say the same thing about my guests: how they are passionate about what they do, how they love to help actors, and how they have given me great information to share. But it’s true every single time! And Heidi Dean is no exception. So if you are like me and have a love/hate relationship with social media then you will get a lot out of this conversation. If you are part of the, “I hate Social Media” club, Heidi gets it! She too, was once part of that club. That is, until she started to understand the power it had to connect her to people. And it isn’t about the numbers. As she says, social media enabled her, “to connect with the right people on my own terms.” Over a decade later, it has become her career, her mission, her passion to help as many actors as possible optimize their use of social media for their careers. While she steers away from saying we, as actors, “should” use social media, she does wonder why we wouldn’t. It’s free, it’s creative, and it’s not going away. I gave her a whole host of reasons why some of us don’t want to use it, don’t like it, don’t want to learn and she came back with a whole host of reasons why that is, and how to change our mindset. And it is a change in mindset that, as this conversation shows, could help our careers. So I hope you enjoy my conversation with social media guru, Heidi Dean. Heidi Dean is known as the industry’s top social media strategist for actors and the creator of Marketing4actors.com. She’s a social media writer for Backstage Magazine and a frequent speaker at film festivals, SAG-AFTRA, AEA, conferences, podcasts and universities across the country. Her clients include Emmy Award-winners, Broadway stars, series regulars, directors, producers, casting directors, voice actors and audiobook narrators. Heidi turns social media rookies into ROCKSTARS! Connect with Heidi Dean:Website: www.Marketing4actors.comJoin her Community: www.TechSavvyActors.comInstagram & TikTok: @Marketing4actorsX/Twitter: @marketing4actorYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@heididean30 Post Ideas: https://marketing4actors.com/30posts/Heidi's new book: https://www.amazon.com/Social-Media-Actors-Essential-Survive/dp/B0CVHMQRCFConnect with me: IG: @tarmeydanielleTikTok: @danielletarmeyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tarmeydanielle