Whether it’s posting a photo of a recent real estate listing on Instagram or sharing information about an upcoming event on Facebook, most businesses today use some form of social media to promote their goods and services to stay in touch with customers.
Although it’s a useful tool for marketing, the lure of it can make even the most dedicated business owner lose valuable time in productivity. There are ways, however, of maintaining a social media presence while staying productive. Here are five ways to do just that:
Plan: Create a social media calendar listing the date, platform, and the topic on which you wish to post. Plan an entire month’s worth of posts at a time. This will make it easier to “get in and get out” more quickly. Be sure to include a period of time in the calendar for responding to comments on your posts.
Limit: Pick three social media platforms to focus on and use them well. By honing in on your market through appropriate social media channels, you’re more likely to succeed in reaching your target audience.
Even with just three platforms, it can be easy to get sidetracked. Limit time online by setting a timer or using an app like Repeat Timer. When the timer goes off, it’s time to move on.
Stop: Stop notifications and alarms from distracting you throughout the day. Silence these during work hours on your phone and on your computer. Push notifications can pull you from important work.
Share: Share the burden and the joys of social media marketing by enlisting members of your team to post or blog. For instance, photographers might enjoy showcasing their skills by promoting business through photos on Instagram. Writers might welcome the opportunity to blog or come up with witty posts for Facebook. If team members can take on some of these tasks, it will free you to focus on other things.
Move: Although social media is an excellent tool for marketing and creating relationships with customers, nothing compares to one-on-one contact. Be sure to move into real-world interactions by making phone calls to loyal customers or setting up in-person meetings with colleagues and potential clients.
And a bonus tip:
Love: Make sure you are using social media for connection. Show some love by liking and sharing other people’s content. All the work needn’t come from you.
Recently, DigitalWire360 and Local First Arizona took candidates for their ‘Brand Camp’. By sending in a video describing why you should become a ‘camper’ you could be chosen to get advice and a makeover on social media. So I grabbed my camera, made a video and waiting to hear from DigitalWire360 and Local First Arizona to see if I’m being shipped off to Brand Camp. If I get there, I’ll make sure to write all the tips I learn on my Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. Those channels are also the places I share quick tips on getting focused, organized and productive and where and when I’ll be giving workshops. Follow, like and share those posts to stay connected and productive.
About Margo Crawford: Margo Crawford is a Productivity Coach and Professional Organizer with Wave Productivity. She works with entrepreneurs, small business owners, and business professionals to help them get more focused, organized, and productive in their workplace. Whether it’s social media, email, or piles of paper, if you want to become more organized in your office, call 602-677-8275 or email [email protected].