Raise your hand if you’ve gone onto Facebook to check on a client page and you go down the rabbit hole and come up 3 hours later and have nothing done! Yes, I have done it too.
Recently I surveyed my fans and followers about their biggest social media struggle and time management was overwhelmingly #1!
With several different platforms to choose from, it is easy to get lost down that rabbit hole. Here are my tips to more effectively manage the time you have for social media.
1. AUTOMATE! The more you can automate content, the better. Hootsuite, Sprout Social and Buffer are three popular platforms. All of these allow you to schedule posts for Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. A good Google+ scheduling tool is the Do Share extension for the Google Chrome browser.
What I suggest is take about 1 hour, once a week, to schedule your content for the next week. You can then spend the rest of your time responding and interacting! This is what I do my myself and my clients.
2. PLAN AHEAD! If you have a goal to blog 1-2 times per week, dedicate time each week to spend writing and scheduling those posts. This will save you from the “oh crud” moment you have when you realize you are suppose to have a post up in 12 hours! WordPress sites have scheduling functions within them to schedule a post for the future. For example, I am writing this post on Sunday afternoon and it will be published Tuesday morning.
The plan ahead suggestion applies to more than just blogging – plan ahead as much as you can for everything. This will keep your organized and in a routine.
3. NOT DO IT ALL. Yes, I did just say you do not have to do everything. Many businesses think they need to have a presence on every.single.platform when in reality, they don’t. If you know your target market posts on Facebook more than any other, then concentrate on that one. There is no sense in wasting your time updating 5 or 6 social media platforms when your customers are only on Facebook or Twitter.
Concentrating on those platforms that your target market is on and forgetting about the rest will free up a lot of time. Trust me, it easy to lose time on these platforms – just stick with what works!
4. TIME YOURSELF. Decide how much time you want to spend on each platform and then set a kitchen timer or an alarm on your smartphone to buzz when your time is up. For example, if you want to set aside 30 minutes per day on Facebook, set the timer to start when you do and then it will let you know when your 30 minutes is up. At that time, move on to something else. I know of several who do this and swear by it. Placing a time limit can force you to concentrate on what you need to do and get it done.
I hope by implementing these tips, you will find your time better managed and your product increased.
What tips would you give to better manage your time? Comment below, I’d love to hear them!
Want more? Click here for my Top 10 Social Media Tips.
This is a great list Mandy! I especially like your last one of TIME YOURSELF – need to do that! Also do not know Sprout Social, so will check that out. Thanks for sharing this helpful information! Take care.
Thanks Cathy!
Thanks Mandy! I needed the reminder today to plan everything out ahead, since I always feel like I’m running behind.
You’re welcome Helena!
I am going to use these tips for sure. I always have facebook open and go there every so often but spend way too much time on it….I need to get at it; thanks Mandy!!
LOL! Thanks Olga!
Every time I integrate something new in my day, I reorganize and reprioritize! It can be exhausting… LOL
I try to do that too Sally! Thanks for stopping by!
Love the tips especially the one about the timer which I am definately going to try because I am so easily diverted!
Thanks Carolyn!
thank you for taking care of us! time ourselves – great tip! great job today!
Thanks Patricia!
Great tips, Mandy! I know I am facebook way too long some days! I think I’ll have to invest in a timer! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Alexandra!
Great article! I need to do the timer as the time flies by and I don’t even notice it! Thanks!
Thanks Kerry!
Running two home businesses it is easy to lose track of time, follow rabbit trails and more. Thank you for these time saving tips.
You are so welcome!
Great tips!! I shared this on twitter. 🙂
Thanks Joanne!
These really are great tips. When I do them they are amazing!! Until I get a routine downpat what I need to do is WRITE down the time management routine.
Sun- Hootsuite
Mon-Blog
Tues – Facebook
Oh look, I’m half done! Geez what took me so long, that was easy! 🙂
LOL! Thanks Suzanne! You seem to have it down!
Mandy, you’re right! Sometimes it feels like a time warp has occurred while we go onto FB for “just a few minutes!” Thanks for the tools to help us keep control over our time.
Thanks Sharon!
Great tips for managing social media, Mandy! I really like the idea of setting limits with a kitchen timer!
Thanks Sherie!
Great tips, Mandy. I am using Hootsuite to schedule my post to FB, Twitter and LinkedIn. And it really help me in saving my time. And personally love the last tip – Tim Yourself. Will absolutely try that one. 🙂
Thanks Lorii!!
Oh, I’m anxious to use the Do Share for Google+, I seem to have problems posting there. I hope it works. I appreciate you sharing your insights Mandy!
Thanks Kim! I enjoy using it – it’s helped a lot!
Oh Boy, did I need to read this article! 😀 Thank you for posting this!
You’re welcome!
Mandy, these are great tips. I have to admit I have not been scheduling as much as I could be which leads to frustration. Really appreciate how simply you gave me the solution. Also have felt I had to be doing something on every social platform – so really appreciate your post!
Thank you so much Sue!!
I have to do a better job of this.. I feel like I’m always behind.. and never get caught up,, uggh! These are great ideas Mandy !! i’m going to work on using them !
Thanks 🙂
I am going to try a little harder to manage my time with it! I’m not going the best job of it!
You are doing great Liz!!
That’s probably the most important tip of them all for me..knowing that you don’t have to DO IT ALL and be on EVERY single social network. That combined with the Google+ Extension.
We have to make sure we don’t spread ourselves too thin!
Thanks so much for sharing. Some days I spend more time down the rabbit hole than accomplishing my must do’s!
Thanks Stacy! I think we all do that sometimes 🙂
There is so much power in social media but I have learned that it is better to do a few really well than all of them only half-way! Thanks so much for validating my thoughts that we don’t have to do it all! Great advice!
Thanks Denny! It is important not to spread yourself too thin.
Great tips…FB, the big time taker needs to have a timer built in!
Thanks! I agree – Facebook takes so much time!
Mandy,
These are great tips. I realize I can’t know it or do it all so these were refreshing for me to realize the “why.” So much to learn with social media that I am glad you are out there sharing your wisdom and your business. I do love the communication process of social media.
Thanks Carol!
Thanks for writing this. I really appreciate the tips, especially that I don’t have to do it all!
You’re welcome Christiane!
Thank you, Mandy for an Amazing post! Love these, especially the last one. I appreciate you sharing your wisdom & knowledge 🙂
Thanks Susan!
Great post, Mandy. The hardest lesson I learned in my social media journey is that I don’t have to be everywhere and do everything. It is better to do a few things well, than everything poorly. Great advice!
Thanks Theresa!!
Great tips, Mandy! Time management can be such a struggle when managing social media accounts, but I think you offered up some great advice so users can have an active presence, yet still have the time to engage with their audience and give each network the necessary attention.
Thanks Brittany! Most people do struggle with time management because it is very easy to get off task!
I wrote about this recently on my own blog, and we came to some of the same conclusions. l will have to try the one about the timer.
Thanks Susan! After I wrote mine I saw yours!
Awesome post Mandy regarding time management! So interesting how we can get lost in social media. I love the timer! It really does help keep me focused. Thanks so much for sharing such great information.
Thanks!
You had me with the first paragraph…lol. GUILTY!! You really have to be disciplined with your social media time, so true! Great post.
Thanks Sara!!
The rabbit hole..LOL…been there. Time management has been crucial!! Excellent article!
Thanks Carl!!
Yep, time management is definitely my biggest problem. I like your suggestion to take an hour and schedule all of your content for the coming week, but I’ve yet to master that. It takes me at least an hour to schedule for the day! I have found that timing myself helps with all things social media. Social media takes as much time as you’re willing to give it!
It’s mine too – I get distracted very easily!