It is the big question that keeps coming up; you know you have to integrate Social Media into your marketing plan, but how? You’ve set up your accounts, you’ve
attended workshops, you are left wondering how to fit it all in… After spending way too much time in my early days hanging out on these platforms, I have put together what works for me. What works for me may not work for you but you will figure it out soon enough! Social Media Time Management is possible if time is organized and managed effectively. It can be easy and most of all, FUN! With an Editorial Schedule, Social Media Management Platform, and Smart Phone in hand, you’ll be ready to take on the Social Media world!
Tip 1: Make an Editorial Schedule:
It may seem a little daunting to sit down and do this but it really is key. You need to figure out what works for you and your business. As a solopreneur, you need to figure out x amount of time for admin, x amount of time for meetings and of course, x amount of time for Social Media and other marketing. Take the time to set up a calendar. Keep in mind your sales goals and the message that you would like to share.
Daily you will:
- Log into LinkedIn, post updates and check for people that you may know to connect with.
- You will do the same on your Facebook business page.
- Over on Twitter, you will send tweets as needed.
Weekly you will:
- Write a new blog post if you’ve chosen to blog. Perhaps it will be an audio recording or Video Blog aka “Vlog”.
- Send a request for interviews, proposals, or guest posts to any prospects that you’ve generated through your activity on social media.
The Editorial Schedule can change from time to time but will give you some guidelines to set yourself up for success and not burn out!
Tip 2: Choose a Social Media Management Platform:
There are various platforms out there that will connect your Social Media platforms. I choose Hootsuite as mine. Utilizing a platform such as Hootsuite enables you to have many different tools all in one place. You may choose to schedule some content tweets, Facebook and LinkedIn updates. You may choose to follow one specific topic or list and save this to one stream for easy viewing. You may choose to see which links have been read through the analytic tools that Hootsuite has to offer. Using Hootsuite cuts down on moving between browsers by having all your Social Media accounts connected in one place.
Tip 3: Use a Smart Phone:
Please choose a Smart phone. I won’t banter here about which one. That will be your personal preference but in utilizing this simple gadget you can take your show on the road! Social Media is about engagement. It’s about talking, asking questions, having a conversation and taking online to offline! If you are using a Smart Phone you’ll be able to respond to tweets when you catch a break in your day, update a Facebook fan page, or log into LinkedIn. You’ll be able to respond as you like in real time. If you catch a break in your day you may just send out a tweet and end up meeting someone IRL (aka In Real Life) to grab a coffee catch up on the fly or meet someone new!
These are just a few of my tips to managing your Social Media. Planning for it keeps it easy and fun!
Image courtesy of brand-it social media.
