Social media is an activity that can require a large time investment. As a busy business owner, you may not have an abundance of free time available for social networking. While hiring a Virtual Assistant can be a big help, one of the best strategies to maximize social media involves scheduling your interactions.
Step #1
Establish Social Media Goals
What do you want to accomplish with your social media interactions and efforts? What’s your goal? The goal needs to be measurable and timely. For example, instead of saying, “I want to increase my followers or fans” you might say, “I want to reach 5000 fans in three months” or, “I want to increase my followers by 10% by the end of the first quarter.”
Step #2
Create a Plan to Achieve Your Specific Goals
The next step involves some planning. You want to outline a step-by-step procedure to reach your goal. For example, if your goal is to reach 5000 fans in three months, you can approach it several different ways. One way might be to launch a Like My Facebook Fan Page promotion where you hold a sweepstakes and award the winner free products or services. This promotion will undoubtedly require some work on your part. Outline the steps you need to take to make it happen.
Step #3
Pull Out the Calendar
Assuming you know how much free time you have in the day, the next step is to grab a calendar and start scheduling your social networking activities. If you don’t know how much free time you have in a day, consider tracking your time for a week or two. If you are unable to complete your task list each day you may need to prioritize and restructure some of your plans.
Taking a look at your calendar, break your social networking tasks down into small, manageable steps. Ideally, nothing will take longer than 30 minutes. It can be anything from accepting friendships on Facebook and sending each a personal message, to scheduling your tweets for the week. Identify the task, put it on your calendar, and attack your plan in bite-sized pieces.
Step #4
Follow Through and Assess
Try to stick to your plan for a few weeks. Then step back and assess. What’s working? What isn’t? Are you still trying to do too much? Are you procrastinating on social media? Are you getting distracted from your goal once you log on? If necessary, rework your plan so that it fits your needs and goals better.
Step #5
Celebrate Success
Once you’ve reached your goals, take some time to celebrate your accomplishment. Then set a new goal and repeat the process. Scheduling your social media efforts gives them a purpose. It helps you grow your business without wasting your valuable time.
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