Ep#81 Tech TikTok & Social Media Content Creator

Host: Jon

I was gonna leave that in the recording. Oh man. We just, no, I'm just kidding. Uh, it's all good. All right. Three, two. Yeah. Right. Sorry, two, one, please join me in welcoming Linda Haviv developer advocate at AWS, but she's also a huge social influencer. You gotta check her out on TikTok, Twitter. There's a whole bunch of stuff and we're gonna get underweight and talk specifically about it now, Linda, thank you so much for joining me.

Guest: Linda

Thank you so much for having me.

Host: Jon

All right, Linda, I gotta give everybody a little bit of information on how we came about this discussion and why you're on this show. I saw you on Twitter and I saw some of your content that you've been creating on Twitter. And I was like, oh my God, she's like this, this, this the three simple steps or how do you learn this? And I found it really engaging. And I found your personality like attracting the audience. I was like, oh man, I gotta have her on the show. One thing led to another, reached out to you. We met up at the New York summit and now here we are.

Guest: Linda

I love it. See the power of social media. You get to meet so many cool people. And that's really what it is. It's all about community. I, I look at social media is community, so I'm so glad I posted that stuff on Twitter. I got to meet so many people <laugh> and I, we got to meet up in the New York summit, which was really fun. Uh, got to, uh, explore Javit center with all the AWS boots. <laugh> lots of swag. Most importantly,

Host: Jon

Uh, yeah. Swag is always important when you go to these events. So today we're talking not only specifically about you and how you became a developer advocate, but about content creating. Maybe you're gonna gimme some tips on how to get started on TikTok, because I have avoided that. But based off some of your recommendations, it should be something I should be doing. We'll we'll jump in that in a second. But also you were a wedding singer.

Guest: Linda

Yes

Host: Jon

<laugh>. Okay. I wanna go, you're getting very weird. I wanna go right to that because developer advocate, wedding singer, as much as they seem different, they are so similar because you are, what you're doing is you're speaking to people. Well, you are singing to people, but anyway, how'd you get to become a wedding singer.

Guest: Linda

Yeah. So I actually grew up in a musical family. My dad is a singer. He sings in 16 languages. Uh, that's the bread on our table. As, as we're growing up, he, he immigrated and that's, that was the job he did. So we were always up at 3:00 AM playing, you know, instruments and, uh, singing and, uh, lunchtime was at midnight. So, uh, it was kind of a crazy, awesome fun household, but I grew up with it and then was always performing with him. And so when I was a teenager, uh, one way I started making, you know, money on the side was I started performing at weddings and then I did it for years till my second pregnancy. So like literally through like my first, my like kid, my, you know, for years. Um, and it it's a lot of fun. Um, I got to meet so many people and there are a lot of correlations between developer advocacy and kind of being in somebody's big day on their wedding day and, and making it, you know, fun and, and bringing, being able to facilitate that, you know, it's, there's the singing part.

Guest: Linda

There's really also strategic part to it. You want to kind of bring everyone together, right. And, and like celebrate. And you're kind of doing that for music. And here you're maybe doing, you know, kind of advocacy on developers a bit on behalf of developers. Um, and it is also very community based. Um, so there's, and there's also like a people aspect, right? Huge people aspect in both of them. So, uh, there is a lot of correlation there. Um, and yeah, I, I find, you know, music is also one of those things that, that brings everyone together and, and makes the world a better place in some respects. And I feel like so is like, things are educational. And so I find a fulfilling part for both of them and in an odd way, they're very similar <laugh>

Host: Jon

So you're singing for customers, you're singing for folks, right. And you're building that engagement and the collaboration, but then now you're a da and you're pretty much doing the same thing. I find it similar. I find it an easy jump, like transition right. To it. Totally like a parallel move. Almost totally.

Guest: Linda

It's just that maybe I might be, um, like singing on stage and speaking on stage or speaking to videos or video creation might be a bit different in some things you have to learn, but as far as delivery, like it's all about, you know, the psychology of like people, right? Like really knowing how to interact with people now through different mediums, you might have to do it in different ways. Um, but yeah, what I like about TikTok is it combines music and messaging, right? So there's, there's a lot of that too, that plays into it. I think. Um, so here and there I'll do parodies and stuff and kind of use my, like my musical background to change lyrics to songs and, um, just have fun. I think that's the most important thing. <laugh>

Host: Jon

I think I'm gonna sign you up as my, my mentor for TikTok when I get started, like, okay, Linda, how the hell I feel like it's such a new, I we'll, we'll get to that in a second. Maybe I I've got a pitch for you, an idea for a keynote or reinvent or a workshop, right. Maybe we'll see you come out singing and doing a TikTok type thing to engage the audience and then right into it. I have to tell you the audience nowadays is that will be totally down for everybody. I mean, you will capture them

Guest: Linda

And it's, it's virtually friendly too, for anybody tuning in. I think we've gotten so used to just the short form type content as well. Like as a society, we're just, we're, we're kind of getting used to it in every format, even if person's non TikTok, those talks and that whole format is on YouTube. It's on, you know, Twitter. Technically the videos that I posted on Twitter were on TikTok and I just repurposed them. So, um, that's another thing that we could get to, because of course I'm big on repurposing content and trying to do cuz time is limited. And I want to be able to interact with a lot of people in many different types of communities are on different platforms in tech. So you'll have, you know, more beginners in, in a certain area and also some content needs to be therefore maybe not reposted, but, um, for the most part, there's a lot that can be reposted and repurposed. So, um, that's something I, I ended up doing on Twitter because I wasn't a big tweeter pre previously to like posting videos on there. I was really silent on there for a very long time. And

Host: Jon

Well, I only stumbled upon you in the last couple of months. So you were definitely quiet on that. That's what I got active <laugh> I can guarantee you, ed has elevated your personal brand and awareness by posting on there. And Sharon

Guest: Linda

Fun fact, I, I got, um, hired because of TikTok, uh, because I think my skip manager found an end manager found me on TikTok and Twitter. So that's so just the, just the note on the, you know, being, being able to give back to the community and using social media for that. I think it's just a, a cool thing to know. I guess that is that it reaches that kind of, um, the tech community is very small on there and you could really interact network is very important, just as much as learning, I think be able to give back to the community as you're learning is really important. Um, and I always encourage people to kind of teach, teach as they're learning something fresh, cuz there's a perspective they have that they won't have later on. Yeah. Um,

Host: Jon

I think, uh, resumes are dead in a way where social media is your resume. Yeah. And the re I wanna give an example the other day I was talking with a, a folk and uh, he's like, I should have looked at your website first. Oh my God, you're perfect for this role. You're perfect for this opportunity. And he didn't even have my resume.

Guest: Linda

<laugh> see. I feel like today, especially for Deborah, I would probably look at somebody, you know what they're doing, right. Yep. Um, whether it be open source, whether it be the contributions, like it just, you wanna see what they're doing and a resume is maybe helpful for certain things. But I feel like it's becoming kind of what a website becomes, which is like, in some ways, the second place you go yep. Like you need a funnel to it from something <laugh> yep. Because you don't know enough about the person. And you know, I think like the way there's the common thing where people apply and their resume never gets seen in so many jobs. And it's like, it's hard to like differentiate yourself when you're just like a piece of paper. Right? Yep. It doesn't really show who you are. Um, so I think that's, we have the leverage to do that today with the platforms that we do have available to us and the community that's on there. So, um, take advantage <laugh>

Host: Jon

Yeah. Send me your social media links. Send me your post. Send me your video. You got YouTube. I'll watch that first. If I've got your resume in hand, I might get to that right at the call. If I think the rest was good

Guest: Linda

And you'll skim it for like eight seconds. Oh my

Host: Jon

Gosh.

Guest: Linda

Yep. Who has nobody sits there? Like really studying it when you're trying to look at a bunch of resumes at one, I mean, it's just, it's not feasible. Yeah.

Host: Jon

So Linda, walk me through the process when you create content and how you do it for TikTok, because you said, you know, obviously you take your TikTok to Twitter, but yeah. Walk us through it because I wanna understand. And by the way, I might take some notes.

Guest: Linda

Yeah. No, totally my stuff. Yeah. So I think there's a few things. Um, it, it depends on the type of content. Right. I have content that's timely. Right. So it's something that is related to an announcement and stuff. That's more evergreen or something that could be posted at any time when I say evergreen. Right. So, um, for me, and it's kind of the same rule, both for Instagram reels and TikTok. Um, I have, uh, I keep all my, um, ideas on notion and I have kind of like a semi JRA board on there. And I have my ideas because a lot of times when you're creating content, you need to have a spur of inspiration when you're doing it. And sometimes by the time you're editing it or recording it, you're not as inspired at, you know, you're not feeling that wave. So kind of making sure you capture that when you're inspired is very important.

Guest: Linda

So one having a tool to put everything down in a way that I could script very easily is important. So I use notion for that because I could quickly like drop down into my little like JIRA idea and put the script in there. So I start scripting as soon as I can, the bullet point, the draft, um, based on, you know, what I, I, I always try to kind of mix it up. So I do like some AWS content and some trends and some non AWS content and kind of mix it up to different, um, because a lot of the people I'm gearing towards are beginners or maybe cloud neutral. So I want to be able to also let them find the content, which they might not even be looking fors or the people that are looking for AWS content kind of have that mix.

Guest: Linda

So for me, it's very much like, uh, being able to balance it. So I look at the ideas and some things I have to hop on because they're trends and TikTok functions of trends. So that's a whole nother thing, but let's talk about the evergreen stuff. Um, for evergreen, uh, I, if it's something that's more educational, like a concept that I'm taking, that's a large one that then I have to trim down or teach or show something in 60 seconds that takes longer. So I know that by from sometimes by the time I write the script, it might not be published for another week or two, because I was doing this for a long time with another full-time job. I just recently joined now doing some developer advocacy full-time so I'll probably be able to pump this out faster. But, um, for me, it was really important to maintain my thought process when I was inspired.

Guest: Linda

Cause I think that's such a big thing when you're creating content, there's an energy that gets kind of felt through. Um, so I think if you're doing something that's more like yourself on camera a lot, and you're the whole time on the video on camera that energy's felt. So that's one way, uh, the other way, you'll see a lot. My content is only me for two to three seconds pointing and that's kind of B-roll content. I take maybe on one day where I changed my shirt 10 times and I have it. So when I want to talk about something and I'm inspired and I don't have time to film, I edit it. So I have these concepts and I'm like, oh, I'm in the mood to do this to that. And that was when I was doing it more, less planned, I guess. Now I'm trying to now plan it more out. So <laugh>, I kind of am

Host: Jon

Trying to actually, you just spoiled it. Uh, you did the, I do the same thing where I have a template where I will change my shirt in a recording. Yeah. When you do like, uh, a headshot, right. And a recording with a green screen, you change your shirt and do a bunch of different poses and then you just insert them wherever you do, or you do some actions and yeah. And those are the days where you can get a lot done in a template format. Right. There's nothing wrong with it, by the way.

Guest: Linda

Yeah. And especially when you're talking about educational content, like for example, I wanted to share, um, a resource, right. That, that I think is great for, or for resources of to get started with X. Right. So I was doing some research on that, you know, I kind of am looking, I think these are the four best. Here's what I tested. Here's what I checked. Here's what I don't like, you know, like I'm, I'm kind of doing the research there and then, but I might be like in PJ's and on would to be on camera, but here's my pointing video. Here's a sound that's trending. I use a, um, an app called, uh, trend talk to kind of see what's trending. Um, so that's helpful. Plus, you know, I, I look at the apps, I kind of spend time on the apps daily to kind of see what's going on, but I try to also make sure I don't do too much of that, that I block my creativity.

Guest: Linda

And what I mean by that is like, you want to be inspired. You don't wanna be drained. So too much of doom scrolling could be a problem. So you kind of need to balance like getting inspired and also being original and finding like what you wanna do without the noise. Um, and just like throw it on there sometimes and not think, um, <laugh> so, uh, for me, like the pointing ones are really great for productivity standpoint. So I love those because the rest of it is just my screen and I'm showing resources for educational content. It's really helpful. Another thing I've recommended people do when they don't wanna show their face as well sometimes, or don't have time, is to take videos of yourself working even from the side or from the back and time lapse it and literally put text above it with the beat, because the point is like putting a message, right?

Guest: Linda

You're visually attracting people and you're showing it with like a, with music maybe that matches or something, but you're really trying to give information, right. This, the field of like tech, you're kind of giving a lot of info. You're just trying to make it bite size. So for that, um, that's another great way I've seen it work for people I've suggested it for to do. Um, and it, it also, like there are people who don't wanna show their face, so that's a great way to also create content. Um, and yeah, and for things that are trends, some things I'll do on the fly because they're trending. Um, I'll at 2:00 AM suddenly feel like recording something and that's great, but, and it's very, some stuff takes longer than others. I would say the things that are, um, heavily like, like, uh, boiled down, like things that are something that you have to do a lot of research and then boil it down to 30 seconds. That takes longer sometimes because knowing what to not say without it being lacking and with giving the right caption support to look elsewhere for the rest of the information is important, especially when you're starting to talk about like, you know, AWS or stuff like that. Like you kind of wanna give people, um, where to go and doing that and supporting their journey is important, you know? Um, so I'm always cognizant of that as well. So a lot of times the research takes me actually a while.

Host: Jon

What's the ideal length of video that you create for TikTok or can you create, and by the way, I am taking notes because my first TikTok will be reviewed by you before I post it. I

Guest: Linda

Can't wait. Let's do it. <laugh>

Host: Jon

All right. So what's the ideal length.

Guest: Linda

So the ideal length, I would say it ver it, it evolved. So it used to be that like seven seconds, 15 seconds was the best they did expand the amount. You could put like three minutes, you put 10 minutes now, but I would say that it's still the shortest that you could do it in many ways, unless you're like, I've seen longer videos that tell a story, but they have to be really like, like you you're like riveting, like, you know, or, or like a story that you really wanna stay on for. So it kind of like YouTube in a way, right? Like where you kind of need to have people like stay on and like the engagement, but TikTok is even a faster version. So I would say the shortest amount, you could say something is, might be the best way in a clear manner, or like with a feeling that you, that you bring out of something.

Guest: Linda

So there could, it's not that everything needs to be said fast it's that, um, it needs to be delivered in the shortest way. Like if there's too many, like, you'll see even people speaking on TikTok, they're never just speaking and not editing it. Like the ones that are like viral, they usually have like cuts even on the, like the pauses are sometimes there's pauses that are needed. And there's some that, like, you know, people don't have the patience, so it's like, it's very like, you, you see the cuts. Yeah. You almost feel the cuts. Um, and it's really about like, kind of delivering in the shortest form, uh, in, in a way. But I think it leaves room now with the longer ability to give more deeper content in some respects or give a longer like con you know, tutorial that you couldn't do. Right. If you wanted to talk about the six pillars of the well architected framework, maybe, you know, a minute is a little bit tough. So like a minute and a half,

Host: Jon

Unless your speed doing it. I was like, oh my God, what?

Guest: Linda

Yeah. Like, you're not gonna grasp any of it yet. Exactly. Or for example, there's a lot of trends, you know, there's a lot of conversations you'll have like the same person kind of speaking, like as two different people. So those things could be really engaging and could be longer as well. If there's a storyline you're following. Right. Think about mini movie. So very much like this is storytelling, and if you're gonna make it longer, make it a story worth watching.

Host: Jon

Yeah. No, that's actually, that's that's good advice. Make it a story worth watching TikTok audio or the trends you did is that audio license. Like, can I, when you say you're finding that audio for it, mm-hmm, <affirmative>, I'm always afraid of using now. I act I have a purchase a third party where I get my audio from, but can I use that audio in TikTok? Or are they, is it allowed or what?

Guest: Linda

So, yeah. So if it's copyright for you, you could use the audio that you have if you have a subscription. But, um, the audio that I'm using a lot of times that is not like that is copyright is from the library of the, of TikTok. So when you create, you could save an, when you see like a video you like, and you hear an audio, and sometimes you'll see where it's from. Um, a lot of times it's maybe musicians that people know songs that are trending. And, um, they, those are actually in the TikTok library for use, but it's like, you have to leave it there. Technically, if you repost it to Instagram, you would have to add that song from their library. Otherwise you're gonna get, and there have been a lot of cases where people do mixes and post them, and sometimes they do get flagged.

Guest: Linda

So the audio for everybody goes down. So it's, it's, there's been audio that has been removed from like, sounds that I've used, um, because, and everybody who's used them has it's, it's more like some people do mixes and some stuff is, you know, there is copyright issues and there is a lot more of that happening currently. But I would say if you're using official songs that are like actually on there from the artist, you're fine. If it's from the library. Okay. So you're cl so you click, like you literally, there's a used sound button and you're using the sound that TikTok offers you.

Host: Jon

So can I cut up that sound or a certain visit? Yes. You

Guest: Linda

Could pick. Yeah. You could pick which part. So there's a way that when you pick the audio, you could scroll and pick the section you want to play. Um, so usually, uh, it's very helpful also sometimes for, for musicians. It's just like, there's a lot there that happens behind the scenes. I'm sure as far as like, who's posted how that gets approved and all that, but usually you could tell when it's an official one from the album versus like something remixed, um, because you would see who it's by. Um, so the chances of the official one's getting removed is probably less than, than, uh, ones that are mixes of a song that might get removed. Um, there are also trends in audio that are more people speaking, like somebody spoke and they say to sound, and then people are like lip talking to, to what they're saying.

Guest: Linda

So that is not music, but it's, you know, or, or there's a knocking trend that was happening recently that, you know, that's, it's not a song. Yeah. It's just a beat. Um, and you could bring your own. So like there's songs, like, I, I tend to do it acapella, just cuz I'm scared of copyright. So I, I was just doing it acapella. Like I took Lizzo it's about time song. Um, and pretty much like just changed it to a coding parody. Um, but I was saying in acapella, although I could probably use the track instrumental or something, but that was a sound and then some people reuse my sound. So you could also create sounds,

Host: Jon

Are you using your phone for editing? How are you editing these to get out as quick as

Guest: Linda

Possible? Yeah, my favorite app. So a lot of times, um, I edit so I, so for context, I post the same video a lot of times on Instagram TikTok, sometimes Twitter, depending on the video. And I'm about to start posting on LinkedIn, which I have not been doing and YouTube shorts.

Host: Jon

So if you need help on LinkedIn, let me know. No, I can't say my put on that.

Guest: Linda

<laugh> I it's almost like I, I have to see, I know that LinkedIn has a lot more photos these days and some videos, but I, I, I'm kind of like trying to see which ones I want to pick to put there. Some things work, some things I feel like are worth less. Yeah. Um, so kind of the things that have a lot of meat from an educational standpoint, um, because it's, I feel like that will do better. Um, but I, I shall, I shall report back. Um, <laugh> on any findings. Um, but I think for TikTok, for editing the question regarding editing, um, I used to edit in TikTok because they had an auto sync to a sound. So if I was picking a sound, um, sometimes if I cut all the videos I wanted, even if it wasn't to the tee, it would almost put it to the beat, which I'm very sensitive to because I like things on the beat, like as the musician in me, like do it <laugh> it's like, but um, over time, uh, I started using InShot because the quality of me editing there and then being able to download it in 4k and putting it both on Instagram and TikTok without the logo issues and all that is probably better.

Guest: Linda

So InShot is an app that's like third party. It's not, it's just an editing tool, but it's great. Um, you could even import sounds from video. So let's say if there's a sound you want to check on, even though it's not, you're not gonna upload it with that sound, you will pick it from the library. Yeah. But you could pretty much easily take the sound from TikTok by just saving a video with that sound and importing the sound into InShot. So, um, InShot is, is the way I usually edit things. They're more complicated if I'm doing a video for, in one shot, for example, like if it's just the trend, that's three seconds, then I'll do it in the app. Um, but otherwise I, I do a lot of InShot editing, which is it's on the phone, it's a mobile app.

Host: Jon

Uh, and then speaking of InShot is not an official sponsor, but if you want to just look in the description below, yes. I'll just check, uh, can I do these videos? Can I edit them on my desktop and then actually upload them the TikTok? Or does every thing have to be done?

Guest: Linda

No. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You could. Absolutely. I know, uh, Brooke who works with me, she uses Adobe, um, to edit all her, all her videos. So absolutely you could do it on desktop, you could do it anywhere. Um, and then as, I mean, as long as it's just like the, the sizing is correct. Yeah. Um, that's, you're good. Um, a lot of people do. I mean, there's a lot of people edit probably on desktop. I'm on mobile a lot because I like being on the go when I edit. And I'm also with two kids and sometimes like, I just, I'm trying to do these, this editing in between and editing could be time consuming as you know. Oh. So, um, you know, I try to keep my prime hours to filming and writing and the editing sometimes I end up doing in the late hours, even though I probably shouldn't, but I'm still trying to figure out a, a kind of a cadence yep. Of

Host: Jon

Sorts, a happy, medium and imbalance between creating content, editing content. I know editing.

Guest: Linda

Is there really any balance when you're on social media? I mean, it doesn't end

Host: Jon

<laugh> well, once you're there it's anytime really there's no specific time for doing. It's like I find myself when like at the New York summit or any of the summits I go to and I create content. I literally am sitting down at a table editing quickly, uploading and posting almost within minute as fast as possible because I have like a template I'll drop it on there and I want to get this information. This is, this is key to the value of being out there quickly on social.

Guest: Linda

Yep. Agreed. I mean, I, I think that's the other end to it, right? There's the parts where you have to kind of like deliver fast and not overthink certain things. Yep. And that's something that I had to actively like get better at, because I used to be one of those people that would like really over perfection pieces of content over time. I let go of part of that because the truth is like, it, it doesn't that small difference is that you're making, it's not really, what's gonna make a huge difference in actually it just taking up time. Yeah. And like the overthinking, sometimes it, it, especially for short form, it's like just throw it out there. Sometimes it's, it's, don't overthink. And if I could tell myself anything as I would've started earlier doing it and not overthink, um, cuz it's funny. I started on TikTok by accident.

Guest: Linda

So I was actually posting on Instagram and I just decided I'll throw the videos on TikTok because, and why not? Because I was making short form videos. I was like, yeah, what am I putting this energy for in time? And I'm like, well, I'm all about, you know, two birds in one stone. So time is, you know, limited. I'm all about that. So, um, I didn't know that there would be so much interest in cloud, on TikTok, but um, TikTok was pushing educational content during COVID. Um, during the beginning COVID um, they actually sent an email out to people who were active on Instagram, uh, to get payment, to be on TikTok for educational content. But I didn't do it because I, the time I had, uh, my second was under one and I hardly had capacity for like my job. Like it was just like too much. Um, but I do regret it in some respect cuz it was a good time to be on there, although it's still a good time. It's just the beginning. And it's one of the best search engines to be honest TikTok. That's the other thing. Um, gen Z I think O almost over 40% of gen Z uses Instagram and TikTok as a search engine instead of Google.

Host: Jon

So, oh, there's some stats. It was actually recommended by a previous colleague of mine about TikTok teaches. He's like, dude, you should do your podcast studio and set up. I told him, I said that wasn't the first time somebody recommended it. In fact, I was speaking with somebody <laugh> and uh, she mentioned that she could do a whole

Guest: Linda

Highly recommend

Host: Jon

What's that now for a quick interruption, a huge shout out to our friends at Veeam for sponsoring this episode, Veeam backup for AWS can easily protect all of your Amazon EC two RDS and data. Wait a second. They can protect my VPC data too. Yep. That's right. Simplify AWS, backup and recovery while ensuring security and compliance. All right. Now back to our episode,

Guest: Linda

Highly recommend plus one plus one <laugh>

Host: Jon

I, I, I have to look at it. I mean, I don't know. I don't, I guess I don't know what my fear is. Maybe I'm up there in age, I guess. And TikTok always thought was like,

Guest: Linda

You know what it is? I think any new platform does that. Yeah. Like I think whenever you don't have, and I think it's really, how do I put this? I was scared of Twitter and the reason was I was asking myself why, and it's because when you don't know your community on there and when you don't have a support system, even like a virtual support system somewhere, it feels unfamiliar. Yep. And it feels scarier because deep down we're all like, no matter how much you're used to certain things, it's just like, it feels like you're wa it's like when you're walking into something new right. And anything. Um, but in a different respect, cuz you're putting yourself out there and it's vulnerable, right? Yeah. Like, so, so that's where it feels like, you know, but, um, my suggestion is throw the content on there and don't look

Host: Jon

And don't look, Hey, I actually don't

Guest: Linda

Like, if that helps close your eyes and post that's what I did on Twitter. My first Twitter video that I posted

Host: Jon

And see what sticks

Guest: Linda

<laugh> I posted, um, like, like I was so scared to post the one where I was sing. I was singing AWS services. I decided to sing as different AWS services. And I was so scared to post that on Twitter. Like so scared because that felt really vulnerable because it was kind of like, for me, like it was like my creative, like craziness, right? Like, so I wanted, I was like, oh, like, it feels more vulnerable when you're doing something. That's like, you know, like you have the things that everyone's doing and then you have so things you try that are quite different, like singing about services. And you know, I was nervous on Twitter because I, I know that Twitter is a lot of hot takes and like has like, I felt like I would get trolled maybe. So I, I closed my eyes when I posted it and low and behold that video was how I met so many people.

Host: Jon

Yeah. I think that's how I stumbled upon you doing it. And then your other videos were your point. And when you create those videos, the template of you pointing to these services. Yeah. Do you have ones that say, okay, I need to point the four things. 1, 2, 3, 4, oh, I need one that's 3, 1, 2, 3. And I gotta look this way. One, two. Yeah. Do you, I know you've got a boat.

Guest: Linda

I have B roll. I actually have a folder on my phone with pointing videos, like literally. So I could use at any point and when a beat trends, I look at that folder sometimes. Yeah. You know, of course, if I, if I'm in the mood to record, I'll record it. But yeah. It helps cuz also even if I'm traveling or I'm going somewhere, like it kind of, I don't like giving away my location for example as well. So like till I'm at, till I've left. So I sometimes use that too. Yeah. To do videos even though like I might be like in Florida and I'm like posting, like I'm in New York, you know, that

Host: Jon

Kind, uh, misdirection. Oh no, not really. Yeah.

Guest: Linda

<laugh> well I say, I say, but it's like always like, you know, and also like you have maybe a setup, right? Like you have a setup. So I like having my setup. And so if I'm somewhere else and recording somewhere else, I think TikTok is very forgiving as far as that, like it's very authentic. Um, but it's still nice. Like if you have your thing and your style that you prefer. So, um, I sometimes like wanna, like I edited a lot of my videos when I was in Florida for like two weeks on vacation and posted and I had all the pointing videos cuz I had all these ideas and I was inspired, but I didn't, I, I didn't wanna record there. I was like, not in the head space. I, yeah, I was with my kids. I was with my family, you know? And um, it was like perfect. I had all these pointing videos that I saw, those videos did really well. <laugh>

Host: Jon

Do you have a backlog of all of videos that you wanna post? Like, okay. Here's how I do it. And I wanna know if you have the same thing or kind of the same mentality as there are at any given point. I might have two to three videos saved for, if I don't have one, that's ready to go in my podcast. I can throw this out there just to keep generating the content and the, the awareness.

Guest: Linda

Yes. Yes. And I, I do. And the thing is though for me is one thing I'm, I'm always, I would say sensitive to on my platform is the ones that I have on the backlog that are easier to make or sometimes not the heavy educational ones. And I always don't want my feet to be, to not meet education. Like, you know what I'm saying? Yep. So sometimes even though I have the backlog, I keep that. But I, and but always when it comes to like the educational pieces, I'm always like so hungry to just post it that I just post. But yeah, I have to get better to keep it on a backlog. But yeah. I have like a lot of like, I have like two to three, always in backlog as well. So we we're in the same wavelength.

Host: Jon

Ah, you have to, because there are sometimes you were talking about like a, I don't wanna say a creative block, but you're not in that mental state to do a creation. Right. You had this idea, you wrote this idea down and you're so powerful to do it. You're like, I wanna record that, but I don't have time. I'll get to it later. And then you come back and that energy for that's not there and

Guest: Linda

There's no better time than the present when it comes to that. You know, I've used to, I've increasingly realized that when you're in the head space to record, if you could prioritize it. Yeah. It sounds funny, but the leader doesn't have the same energy. Sometimes it, sometimes it's okay. You, maybe people won't feel it, but there's something you could also discover when you're in that head space yeah. That you wouldn't touch on. Um, so there's some things, depending on what the topic is for like stuff that's pointing and I'm inspired, I could do that at any time, but depending on the video, if it has a lot of energy exertion, for example, like if you're speaking, um, and you're in the mood and you're kind of there, um, there's times that I've forced myself because I wasn't, I, I realize that that mental state is actually key. Like sometimes you

Host: Jon

Can tell

Guest: Linda

Depending on what the content

Host: Jon

You can tell from, you can definitely tell when I record something now versus later you might not be able to do it because I have, you know, like, uh, like you might not be able to tell from the audience aspect, but my energy might not be there. Or I could be highly energized because I thought of some additional things that I wanted to add to it. Like, okay, I, I gotta set up this, oh, I gotta do this. I mean, there are some staging stuff that I like to do to prepare for recording. Right. And, but they're also the improv ones. I did one that was out in my backyard promoting a book signing event, you know,

Guest: Linda

And those end up doing, to be honest, the improv ones end up doing the best. Like the ones that I put so much time into sometimes aren't the ones that perform well, like verse like the ones that I do wanna whi and it's funny. And a lot of times I don't measure the virality as quality sometimes because I think, yes, there's things that go viral that might bring people in. But I think there are a lot of things that might be more niche that I don't look at it. Like it needs to be viral. Like it's, it's, it's quality in helping people. When somebody asks you the same question, I have your confidence. People ask and having a video for it. Like, and I keep bringing them back to this video there's videos that have gotten third or fourth wave because of that. Not because I'm trying to make, like, it's not about numbers.

Guest: Linda

It's about like answering people's questions, but in a way that I could do it, like, and, and, and scale <laugh> so, you know, scalability of sorts. Um, and so yeah, a lot of common questions. That's another thing I I'm trying to hit on a lot more, um, and prioritize and always take a step back and be like, okay, what's, what's a question I constantly get when I don't know what to create condom about, or I'm not inspired. That's when I ask myself, I look back at people's comments and I'm like, what can I answer? That I'm, that I'm at the head space to answer that helps people,

Host: Jon

The viral ones that, uh, go and you don't understand why they go. I have an example for you. And I wanna know of a viral one that might have went really like huge for you. And you're like, I, I, I, I, would've never thought about that. There was one, uh, three years ago, two years ago, and this was not in my professional, you know, network, but I posted it on YouTube. I did a YouTube, it wasn't con considered a short then, by the way, it was just a YouTube. Oh, my video.

Guest: Linda

It

Host: Jon

Was just YouTube. It was just

Guest: Linda

YouTube. You were, you were ahead of the game.

Host: Jon

Yeah. It wasn't considered, we were down in, uh, New Jersey and my kids are big fans of Steven share. I don't know if you know him from okay. Some YouTube. Right. And apparently he purchased a house, uh, somewhere in that area. So we were down there and what we did is we actually found house number three. Right. So he's like doing it. And we stood in front of this house. Like kids let's do a quick video and I'll, I'll post it on Twitter and I'll tag the guy. Right. So I got on YouTube, shared it on Twitter, over 50,000 views of this video.

Guest: Linda

That's so funny.

Host: Jon

No lie. I was, I was like, how, what the heck comments galore now? I don't read all the comments cuz people are just trolls and sub aspects.

Guest: Linda

Yeah. But when it gets a certain number, it's better not to read it at

Host: Jon

That point. Yeah. I was like, how is this doing this? Well, and it was just people because I tagged him, I put him in the tags. I, I did all the SEO stuff and I, it was an improv video. Like we had no script at all. The kids were right next to me doing it.

Guest: Linda

I, I love that. But that's, that's what happens. It's sometimes the things that come off, I get super authentic. And that's what I like about TikTok too. It doesn't need to be overproduced. Yeah. Um, and it could be so raw. It almost is what makes it feel like you should always be doing it. But at the same time, it's a lot of work. And even when something feels very authentic, it might be, especially with educational content could be a lot, a lot of work. Like for me to say some three things is also saying these are the three things. Right. And whatever you're leaving out is also a message. So it's so hard. Like that has happened to me where, um, I posted something, I didn't think it would go viral. And like, I was like, Ugh, I wish I made it a little longer.

Guest: Linda

But then what it like, and just added this, you know, cuz people will always be like, oh, why didn't you say this in a seven second video? You know? Like, why didn't? I mean, so for example, we were asking regarding something that went viral that I didn't expect. I was, it was a Saturday and I decided, I saw an article about the top. It literally was titled top paying certifications. And I assumed I'm speaking to people in tech that are maybe upskilling. So when you say topping certifications, like sometimes like to people who are beginners, I would say certifications are not like, it's not like you get certified and you get the job. You there's like, it helps as a guide, but it, but it's not required. You know? Like there's a whole context of certifications. Um, but when somebody sees that title, they're like, oh, I get this certification. I get this job, this video, I decided to post like the top, I don't know the top one, there was 10 of them. And I posted five and said, read the caption for the rest. So I put the rest in the caption, this video got 2.5 million views.

Guest: Linda

Wow. And then let me tell you, it was like less than seven seconds. So,

Host: Jon

So why didn't wait, wait, wait, if you read each one, it would've been longer than seven seconds.

Guest: Linda

So I didn't read it. I was just listing them with B-roll of me typing. Yeah. And I had the rest in the caption, but the problem is that like for people looking at it without reading fully, they just get the message and then you reach people that were just like far from tech. Yeah. And in some respects it was like a lesson for me too. That like how clear I have make certain things, especially when it comes to that kind of stuff. Right. Because I wanna lead them in a direction that I'm helping them. And of course, like I could say, you know, especially the certification topic, like that's something I talk about a lot. And that, for example, like for me, like when I'm having a conversation, it's like a thing I will say. Right. But if it's like written and I'm, and this is a title and I said the source of the article. Right. But like, they weren't like it. It was just like, you know, it just became like viral to the point that like, you're trying to like explain to people for seven second video. And then I did a reply to that video. So that helped, you know, giving it

Host: Jon

Like a reply to a video. Like you did a video on top of it. What is

Guest: Linda

That? Yeah. So we're reply. So TikTok how it works. And so does Instagram now, but when people comment, you could reply with a video. And then what happens is when you go to the video and you look at the comments, that video reply comes up. So I expanded on some things in that second video. Okay. But it's hard when you're trying to, like in a, you know, I was quoting an article that from a very valid source, you know, like about the top paying and you know, those, and that was like a lesson to me. Like just because an article says top paying certifications in a TikTok, even if the context isn't a comment, assume people won't see the most important stuff. And it's like, so, so those are things like I've had to like figure out from like a TikTok standpoint, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. Yeah. And it's like, now I literally have like a, by the way, like every time I post about certain things, it's like, this is a guide. This is not the way, you know, please read the caption. <laugh>

Host: Jon

Like, opinions are my own mileage may vary. <laugh>

Guest: Linda

It's like, but again, it's like, then again, how far can you go? Cuz if the more like, as far as like a seven second video, right? You could all, you can't also say everything you wanna say, like it, it, it's not gonna happen. It's literally a way to be able to talk to people. On the other hand, there was so many people who started actually doing the research and have I, I gained from that video, a lot of following a community that was, I gave them further resources because of that. So, I mean, you'll have the people who just like wanna assume, and I try to go through a lot of comments. And then at some point there's a lot of, you know, you just end up like, there's a lot of trolls and you're like,

Host: Jon

You, you have to ignore a lot of that stuff. Uh, lessons learned, you mentioned one lessons learned what are other lessons that you've learned throughout the process of creating videos that you wanna share with everyone?

Guest: Linda

Yeah. Um, I think bringing your full self a bit in some respects, like not being scared to try things. Uh, a lot of times, like it's good to start by maybe doing things that other people are doing. And like PR just like, I, I almost compare it to singing, right. So when you're learning how to, like, when you're singing and you're kind of find your style, you imitate great artists or imitate a lot of things, then you find your voice over time. And I think it's the same thing with content creation. Like you try things, you throw darts, you see where your strengths are and your superpowers are. I still don't know what mine are, but my point is you, you play around with it and you find your, your thing that from a, from a few respects, from a productivity standpoint that you could actually commit to and support because there's a cadence to it.

Guest: Linda

Like if you do something that takes you like so long and the output of it, like is not worth your time, that's something to reconsider and play around with U unless you enjoy it and wanna do it anyway, then all for it. Because it's not about like the virality, it really is about you enjoying doing it. You ha that here's my second point. You have to enjoy doing it, or it's not gonna be consistent for you. Um, and third don't overthink too much. So, you know, sometimes you just need a post. And my regret is not even doing it earlier and not being like being less like super like calculated over it. Like, like sometimes like I'm trying to like research it. And sometimes the best things are not really necessarily thought through. They're just helpful or answering somebody's questions or being candid. So I think finding, finding your voice over time and taking risks and playing, like in the sense of like playing around with things, I think the beauty of these platforms is the creativity part. It's, it's not there because the resources that you're sharing, yes. There's newsy things, but the resources that you're sharing are not new. There's a lot. I think the problem today is the influx of information, how to simplify it. Right? So like use it to simplify things. Always if you're not sure, take a step back and be like, how do I simplify this for people in my niche? How do I make it easier for them to do this? If you're helping them, you will succeed. And in a fulfilling way,

Host: Jon

You know, I have to quote, uh, Nike on it and just do it. Just, you know, get done, get, just get your video out.

Guest: Linda

I have a shirt I made that says just code it. Cause

Host: Jon

I just code it. <laugh> you get started, but it's just code it. Just start writing to code it'll work. Uh, it'll go there. I actually like that shirt will, uh, yeah,

Guest: Linda

It's kind of like when people say, how do you start to learn anything? I'm like, just try to just dive. Like, I mean, it's, it's hard to say, like, you know, but I think for coding, like you just drive in cloud cloud computing is a bit different. I find it a little harder to guide people because it's like chicken and egg, you know, as far as learning with cloud. Right. Cause a lot of people getting into cloud come from something else. Right. For me, I came from web development. Right. So it's like that completely new. So I always try to put myself in shoes of somebody starting with cloud. Right. Completely new. Um, and I'm like, well maybe networking fundamentals or maybe like, you know, and there's no one coding has a lot more of a path these days that you could give people versus, uh, just like general coding, like, you know, like web versus like here's how to get started with cloud computing, which I think is a challenge we're trying to solve. Um <laugh> but uh, I think if you get really confusing for people yeah. They want, they want like a specific like roadmap sometimes. And it's very hard to give them a

Host: Jon

Roadmap. It's hard to give 'em cuz you don't know where their perspective or their personality's gonna take 'em yeah. They wanna start coding, but what language do you like? What, what do you wanna learn? What do you wanna do is part of the thing. So right. Jumping in there is probably a little tougher.

Guest: Linda

Right? Exactly. So the, so for just do it for like specific things, I'm like <laugh> and really, yeah. Sorry. I know we went on a tangent on my,

Host: Jon

Not that's what the whole conversation about

Guest: Linda

I know. Yeah. Cause like for me it's like, um, I think it was Lou from open up the cloud who he's awesome. Um, he kind of always, his suggestion is learn enough to identify a role you want and work backwards from the role. And I love that suggestion because I think even if you don't end up going for that role, you will find your path by like aiming for a role. Right. Because, so, so learning enough fundamentals to kind of like figure out what roles there are and then take a role and work backwards, which I love that suggestion that has been something I've been like crediting blue from open up the cloud. And literally like I think that advice is solid, um,

Host: Jon

Backwards, true Amazonian, uh, comment.

Guest: Linda

Meanwhile, I have a book right there.

Host: Jon

I have that same book. Uh, it was recommended by a good mentor and friend of mine, Linda, before we wrap things up, give me some guidance for TikTok for creating it. All right. Yeah. So I, I wanna create one. I wanna get started. You said my podcasting set up. What is a quick way to just capture something, get it out there and see how well it does.

Guest: Linda

Yeah. So I think, for example for you, I would literally take three seconds of each thing you wanna show on a closeup, take one video that's that's kind of wide angle and maybe an intro sentence, like I'm gonna show, or I'm gonna show you the setup or you just show yourself walking in or something like that or pointing and you do a voiceover or you have music on it. And literally like make it under seven seconds. And on each one, just put the text so that I would do for a setup, uh, I would use in shop for it. It's quite easy to use. Um, and I think honestly like setups do really well if you don't, if a person wants to get started and not show their face, literally just take your camera, speak over it while you're showing it and then just chop the pauses and post it.

Host: Jon

Okay. I don't have a problem being on camera.

Guest: Linda

I know you don't

Host: Jon

I'm help for this.

Guest: Linda

Wanna be

Host: Jon

A seven seconds is gonna be tough for me by the way. Uh,

Guest: Linda

So don't think about the seven seconds. I would say just at first, just show the details and then it doesn't need to be actually seven seconds, but yeah, you'll see, once you have the videos, if you take them separately, for example, your sign, your mic, your desk, your keyboard, your monitor, right. Or whatever. And then literally just take like a, like a video like, like that. Um, there is an auto sync button on TikTok. So if you upload, you could literally go press. I wanna post on TikTok. Yeah. Pick all the videos you just took and press pick a song from the library and press, press the auto sync button to sync it with the music and you're done and put the text. All right. So you won't really need to cut it. It'll like sync for

Host: Jon

You. It'll sync for me in seven seconds. Will it extend the video within the beat? So an example like, yeah. Okay. So the beat might be longer in certain ones or the videos or the no, it tends image. Okay.

Guest: Linda

It'll sync it for you, especially if it's a short, um, sound. So depending if, and you could even test it. So like let's say you, you press autos sync and you hear a sound and you're like, okay, I don't like this one. You pick a different sound, you press autos sync again, you get a different edit of the, the same video. So that was how I started initially, like with, with just trying to edit cuz in TikTok, there's an autos sync to the sound button, which is amazing. So highly recommend. Um, just as long as you upload the video separately, it will understand it's a different section. Or if you take it in one shot, just cut the video. When you upload it, it doesn't need to be cut like to, to an edit. It just needs to be cut. So you have like, here's my mic here, video. Here's my thing. It'll pick the section and you could also change where it is.

Host: Jon

All right, Linda, how does, how do folks follow you? ONAC on Twitter. On

Guest: Linda

Instagram. Yeah. So you could go to my website, Linda Vivah, where all my, um, all my links are there and my setup and all that. I need to add my LinkedIn into there. So I'll add that in. Um, but yeah, uh, you could go to Linda Vivah.com and yeah. So thankful,

Host: Jon

Wait, wait, wait, wait your last, name's not Vivah though. Oh, wait. I'm I am, I am wait, you gotta, I gotta understand this. I thought it was Haviv.

Guest: Linda

So technically my social media handle is my last name backwards. Haviv Vivah is my social media name and Haviv is my real name. Um, for a very long time, you know, I was kind of doing the social media as a, as like two lives almost because I was doing it at night after work. Um, but now that I work as a developer advocate and I'm using social media as part of like what I do on a day to day basis, uh, it isn't a confusing. So please note Linda Haviv, Linda Vivah, same person. Uh, just, uh, I'm not sure what I'm gonna do yet. Uh, if you have any advice on what I should do, please tweet me <laugh> or DM me, uh,

Host: Jon

I'd say mix your personalities to one, you know, <laugh>

Guest: Linda

I'm like I have two productions. Oh my gosh. It's very confusing. I'm like, I didn't find you. I'm like, yeah. That's cuz my last name is just backwards.

Host: Jon

Okay. I'm gonna put your, your website, your social media stuff in a description below. Take note that it is the real Linda last name backwards. Reverse. However you wanna put it. <laugh>

Guest: Linda

I just overcomplicated it. <laugh>

Host: Jon

Uh, about Twitter,

Guest: Linda

Twitter also Linda Vivah. Okay. I kept the consistent with my wrong name.

Host: Jon

All right. So your wrong name is consistent everywhere.

Guest: Linda

Apart from LinkedIn, the only place that's not Linda Vivah is

Host: Jon

LinkedIn. Oh my God. I'm confused. No, <laugh> now wait a second. Uh, alright. We won't go there. It is gonna be a little bit to confuse. We'll

Guest: Linda

Link it on the bottom.

Host: Jon

Yeah, don't worry. We'll cross link forward back one domain will redirect to another and we'll get it right.

Guest: Linda

I'm trying to add for SEO purposes, both names on everything. So working on it,

Host: Jon

Did you purchase both domains? Just in case I did. Oh, oh well

Guest: Linda

I also purchased domains for my kids. Oh, I'm big on purchasing domains too many, actually.

Host: Jon

<laugh> yeah. I won't tell you how many I have because I have an idea and I'm like, oh my God, I gotta get this domain. And then every year that idea is still sitting there. The

Guest: Linda

Collection of side projects that haunt you.

Host: Jon

Yeah. <laugh> but just think of it this way. I like, I think I have like Myer media and every abbreviation possible just because I wanna own it. You're

Guest: Linda

Right. To do that though. Exactly. Oh, it's a

Host: Jon

End. Yeah. Hey, I brand

Guest: Linda

Is important these days.

Host: Jon

You, I have my NFT already, so just in case, amen. <laugh> Linda. Before we wrap things up, is there anything you wanna leave with the audience? We didn't even talk about your role at AWS, but everything transitions over there.

Guest: Linda

So crazy. I know it's

Host: Jon

Like, like you're creating this content, but this content's used dual purpose. Not only for your current role at AWS. Yeah. Wait, wait. Before we wrap things up and we're, we're going over just because we're, we're continuing,

Guest: Linda

This is the true conversation.

Host: Jon

Well, actually all the other stuff was just to get to this conversation, which will last a couple minutes, if we're lucky, what do you do at AWS as a developer

Guest: Linda

Advocate? Yeah. So I think as the title kind of suggests, it's funny, we're really advocating for developers, right? So it's, it's really about, um, being able to help people and advocate on their behalf in the cloud computing space. A lot of my, um, team is focused on north America, uh, general. So, you know, we're kind of regional based. There are specialty developer advocates and their different kinds of developer advocates. My, the T mom on specifically, um, is gearing more regional, um, and beginner friendly content and trying to help builders, uh, really have the best experience and be the best ally for them. Um, and so when it says advocating, we're really advocating on their behalf and trying to really understand if there's, you know, help them and also understand any issues that, that are happening and be able to internally advocate for them. So, um, it's really fulfilling work, um, that it could be done in many mediums. Um, obviously, uh, I, I do a lot of short form content, but it's not, that's just what people see. There's a lot of behind the scenes, a lot of writing, a lot of, you know, research, a lot of, um, assisting in other, other, um, uh, initiatives. Um, so right now my role is like a mix of building and content and, but really all about community at heart and being an ally two builders. So, um, it, it might evolve too. I, so <laugh>, I'm still in like month two. So figuring it out.

Host: Jon

Well, I'm glad we got a chance to touch two to three minutes on what you do. <laugh> we might have to wrap things up and extend it over to another recording in the future or wanting to looking forward to question any plans at reinvent. Are you going?

Guest: Linda

I am, I I'm probably I'm co speaking actually. Uh, yeah. So, uh, it'll be a topic regarding machine learning and music. So stay tuned.

Host: Jon

Oh, I love the cross egg. Uh, did you happen to see the video I did for re Mars with the AI battle bots by any chance?

Guest: Linda

Ooh, I did not, but I plan to watch it right after this call.

Host: Jon

I will, I will send the in shorts. So a couple of your Amazonian friends and myself, we did a quick interview right there at, uh, re:Mars about the AI battle bots. And what they did is they, they wrapped the song. So they were wrapping battle bots and they wrapped those that's so

Guest: Linda

Cool. I need to see

Host: Jon

This's you can use, uh, key words generated in there and I was able to spin it into more of a cost optimization feature from them. So it's actually pretty cool to add.

Guest: Linda

I'll send, oh my goodness. I, I need to see this. This is a, this is a right after this call. Uh, I need the link <laugh>

Host: Jon

<laugh> well, Linda, thank you so much for joining. Give some insights, some interesting information and I never say never anymore. I you'll all probably see me on TikTok. I'll rip that band-aid off.

Guest: Linda

I I'll be sure to like, you're gonna be on TikTok. We're gonna edit the first one together. <laugh> you're gonna be like, why didn't I do this before I do way hard. You're doing the tougher things, Jon. So believe me, once you're on it, you'll be like, oh, this is easy compared to YouTube and, and podcasting. So <laugh>,

Host: Jon

I, I will get my content out there and I'll look forward your help and actually cultivating it and making sure that it gets out just as well. I will just do it at some point. Maybe I've got some free time on my hands now, so I'll get it done. Thank you for joining me. I really appreciate it.

Guest: Linda

Thank you. Looking forward to seeing you on the talk.

Host: Jon

All right. Awesome. Everybody Linda Haviv, or wait, what's your last am. Did I pronounce

Guest: Linda

Vivah Javi Vivah to be determined? Yeah, I

Host: Jon

Know <laugh> uh, developer advocate at AWS. I really appreciate you joining my name's Jon Myer. Don't forget to hit that. Like subscribe ed notify, because guess what folks we're outta here.