Last week I outlined a few tips for managing your social media accounts, especially focusing in on engaging with your fan base. If you read that post, I am sure a few of you said something like, “How am I supposed to balance all of my responsibilities AND not get overwhelmed by additional relationships to manage online?”
During my sophomore or junior year of college I remember I was up really late. I think I had just finished studying for an upcoming test or writing a paper. Of course, those 2AM infomercials were on my TV. Now, overall, I hate shopping. I make my list, enter a store, purchase said items from my list, and exit. I am not usually swayed by endcap displays at the grocery store or Amazon’s “add-ons.” However, for whatever reason, this little blonde spunky lady on the screen had me hooked! I had always been very active in sports in high school. I’m from a small town – they’ll let you play anything just so they have enough people to fill the roster. But Chalene convinced me that her workout, complete with DVD set, meal plan and some training equipment, would get me back into shape like high school again, if not, better!
Fast forward seven years. I was surprised to see Chalene’s face pop up on a marketing newsletter I follow as a speaker for an upcoming seminar in California.
What I didn’t know about her is that she is more than just a fitness trainer. She is a business owner, a parent, a friend, a daughter, a sister, a wife, an employer and much more! I’m sure many of you fit into similar categories and wear multiple hats throughout the day. She and her husband now train other business owners on how to effectively and efficiently run their businesses in a way that fulfills them within their jobs as well as personal lives.
I listened to her podcast on “Managing Social Media Overload – Social Salvaging.” Word of warning: I already knew what to expect and liked her from her workout DVDs and, as a fellow marketer, can track with her pace. However, if you are an Estate Planning or Elder Law Attorney, she may drive you a little crazy. So, if you are thinking about listening to this (free) podcast, I recommend starting at about the 15 minute mark (of 30 minutes). You’ll skip her fast-paced build-up and hit the highlights for preventing Social Media Overload, including:
1) Salvage Your Content.
You don’t have to come up with a new something every single day! It’s better to re-share something you’ve shared before than not post at all that day or week.
If you found a really great article or have a handy tool to direct clients to on your website, save that information. Post it on Facebook on Monday with a quick text blurb. Then, post it at the end of the next week, again, this time with a different title – maybe ask a question, instead. You can use it again the week after that, saying something like, “In case you missed it….”
Salvaging your current content saves you time searching for something new to share.
2) Don’t Be a Social Media Slave.
Yes, last week I asked you to engage with your fan base. However, if you have come home and your child is asking for your help with homework and you can’t put down your phone because you are replying to new “Likes” and “Comments” on your Facebook page, we have a problem.
If you just posted something interesting to social media, keep the page up for about five minutes after your post. Reply to the first few responders. Then, move on to your next task. Do make a point to respond to social media inbox messages at least once a week if you can, but know that it is okay (and reasonable) that you cannot reply to every single person.
While online relationships are very important, they are in no way more important than the real life relationships asking for help with their Algebra homework.
3) The “Cleaning Out the Closet” Mindset.
This probably applies a little bit more to the ladies reading this post, since I hear men tend to keep clothes for, say, 30+ years before they get retired… but a general rule for your closet is that if you buy something new, it’s time to give away something old. This keeps your closet manageable, not too full or disorganized.
Same thing with your social media. We’ve given you an outline for the staples: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+ and maintaining an Avvo profile. We push most for you to manage Facebook and Google+ as you are getting started, getting “Likes” and especially “Reviews.” Since there are only so many hours in a day, if you decide to add a social media platform, you may need to pull back from another. Try to focus on at least two and understand that the others will be operational, but more from a maintenance than heavy engagement view.
Reference: Chalene Johnson hosts The Chalene Show, a free podcast available on iTunes. The Managing Social Media Overload episode is currently #53 from 08/26/14.