How To Manage Your Social Media Campaign – Without Getting Overwhelmed
So you’re an entrepreneur and business owner. Great isn’t it? But not exactly a breeze. One of the most important aspects of running an online business is using social media effectively – but how do you manage it all and not get overwhelmed?
1. Know What You Want.
Have a clear vision of what you would like your business to become. Think of it in positive terms – ‘I want a 10% increase in turnover within 2 months’ rather than ‘I don’t want my turnover to stay static.’
Make sure this goal is SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable (within your control), Realistic (a stretch but not impossible), and Time based (give it a deadline.)
2. Break It Down.
Break the goal down into manageable steps. This gives you a strategy. Then assess how social media fits into this strategy. That will give you some practical actions that will guarantee progression but stop you from getting overwhelmed. Remember – even if you stumble, you’re still moving forwards.
3. Prioritize The Bottom Line.
Technologies come and go (remember Myspace? Friendster?) but the bottom line of your business is the number one priority – always.
Social media is a great addition to your marketing strategy – but is can’t replace the nuts and bolts of effectively running your business the old fashioned way.
I’m not saying ignore social media, but I am saying keep it in perspective – it shouldn’t be your only strategy and if a there’s a day where you’re in contract negotiations to sign a big deal which means you miss Twitter for a day it’s not something to sweat about.
4. Choose Your Social Media Platforms – And Stick To Them.
To say that there are a lot of social media networks is an understatement.
As a business owner, some may hold more appeal to you than others. For example, I love Twitter for its ease of use, chatty nature and ability to connect directly with peers, influencers and potential clients. Facebook is great for building a community but can also very easily become a time vampire!
I also like commenting on articles and blogs (or responding to comments made on my articles–hint, hint!)
What are your preferences? In all likelihood, if you enjoy the platform, you’ll be much more inclined to use it more frequently–so start with what you like and go from there.
5. Be Honest About What’s The Best Use Of Your Time.
This can be a tough one. Are you on social media for personal enjoyment or for business gain? And does this choice determine what and how you share on these networks?
Is social media something you personally want to be part of or would it make better use of your time to outsource it to a virtual assistant or specialist service?
6. Automate
Automate as much as you can. There are some great tools to help you make social media more manageable. Services like Hootsuite, Buffer, and StumbleUpon, can all be great tools to take some of the hard work out of your social media campaign.
7. Notice Progression
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they’re working towards any goal is focussing too much on where they’d like to be and not noticing the progress they’ve already made. This can lead to feelings of despondency and de-motivation – especially with a big goal that will take some time to achieve. By shifting your focus to the progression your made and how far you’ve come, you can build not only your motivation but your self-esteem too. Above all else, business should be enjoyable. If it’s getting stressful, notice the signs and take some action – get support, clarify your priorities and work your plan.
Back To You…
Do you have tips about managing social media effectively? Comment below so we can all learn from each other.
About Our Guest Blogger Jo Casey:
Jo Casey is a trainer, coach and writer who specialises in helping people develop their emotional resilience so they have less stress, be more focused and feel happier.
She’s worked extensively in the public, private and non-profit sectors with companines ranging from large organisations like Daimler Chrysler and Toyota to small companies with a handful of employees along with solo entrepreneurs.
You can find out more about Jo, and get her free report on, “How you can cut your stress in half” by going to http://www.jocasey.com
Connect with Jo Casey on Twitter, Facebook, Facebook Fanpage, Google+
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One Response
Boy oh Boy…
This is something we all need to focus on more. The entire social media realm can become overwhelming for even the most adept online marketer.
Great reminder!
~ Louis