5 Steps to Proficient Social Media Management

by Seb

This is a guest contribution from Kemya L. Scott, Marketing Strategist & Social Media Manager at Phisco Marketing

Do you ever feel like social media is a vortex that sucks time from the atmosphere?

Have you ever lost track of time using social media, looked up at the clock, and wondered where your day went?

Or perhaps you're swamped running your business and there’s simply no time to use social media effectively?

You are not alone. 

It seems like some companies use multiple social media platforms so effortlessly, while others use social media sporadically, with tumbleweeds blowing through their accounts.

So why is there such a big difference? How do even the smallest of companies manage to look so great on social media while some fall by the wayside?

I’ll let you in on a little secret.

It’s not about outsourcing. It’s not about money. It’s all about systems. You have to develop a social media management system to get the best results from the time you spend on social media.

Whether you’re a one-person company or you have dedicated staff to manage your social media accounts, you still need a process, a system, to be efficient in the time spent on social media. Otherwise, the vortex will suck you in and you won’t see any results from your efforts.

The great news is that you can make time for social media, in the same way you make time for your other marketing efforts. Time management is the real issue here… how to manage it all.

Five Steps to Better Social Media Management

The following five steps will lead to better social media management. Use them all for the most powerful results!

Step 1:  Plan and organize content in advance.

Plan content ideas for your blog and social media posts in bulk. You can plan by the week, month or quarter or even by the year. Once you have an idea of what you want to talk about (as in post), you can organize your content ahead of time and eliminate the “what should I post today” anxiety.

Step 2:  Keep a list of go-to resources for content to share.

Keep a list of go-to resources for content to share. I use an RSS feed to keep blog content at my fingertips. When I’m looking for some good info to share, I visit my RSS Reader to browse my favorite blogs, and presto! I have content to share.

Step 3: Use a social media management dashboard.

Use a social media management dashboard to schedule some social media posts in advance. A dashboard will allow you to post to multiple social media profiles from the same place. I save hours of time every week by using my HootSuite dashboard for scheduling, posting and searching. You can configure your dashboard to include keywords, lists, scheduled posts, mentions, etc. If you are not using a dashboard, start today!

Step 4: Be actively engaged for 1 hour daily.

Acknowledge the value of engagement at least an hour or so on social media daily. This doesn't mean self-promotion, this means back and forth sharing and interaction. Break up your one hour into 10-20 minute chunks of time. I live by my 20-20-20 rule when I’m super-swamped and can’t get online several times throughout the day. I can still hop on social media to meet and greet people and interact socially.

Step 5: Focus on two or three platforms.

Decide which social media platforms you should focus on. Let’s be realistic, you can only focus on 2-3 platforms at best, so decide which platforms need to be a priority for your business. If this tip has you stumped, consider this key criteria to help you decide: where are your customers looking for your product or service? This is where you should be spending most of your  time. Sure, you can use other platforms, but concentrate the majority of your  time on the platforms that will get you in front of your target audience.

This basic system will eliminate two major challenges most people face as they try to add social media into their marketing mix:

• the "what do I talk about" problem, and
• the “how do I make time” problem

Yes, this system will work for you!

For those business owners who claim they’re too busy and don’t have time to learn social media, I know this isn’t entirely true. It’s simply a matter of finding the best time management systems and tools that work for you.

Develop a content strategy, employ these time-saving social media management strategies, and keep up with your competitors in the social space. You’re giving away money and opportunities to your competitors if you let tumbleweeds blow through your accounts!

Ciao,
Miss Kemya

Miss Kemya is a Marketing Strategist & Social Media Manager at Phisco Marketing, a marketing consulting firm that facilitates the growth of small businesses through conventional marketing techniques merged with social media tactics. Visit her blog for all your DIY marketing and social media needs, and hire Phisco Marketing to kickstart your marketing and fall back in love with your business!