The following is an excerpt with minor edits fromThe Social Media Why: A Busy Professional’s Practical Guide to Using Social Media Including LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Google+ and Blogs for Business by Crystal Washington.
Now that you have reviewed the top social media and social network options, decide which ones are best for you. You may feel, based on the practical applications, LinkedIn and YouTube would be the best suited for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a new position, you may want to use LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Make your decisions and move forward. You can always add another network later, should you choose.
Posting Frequency
Wondering how often you should post on each social network? While it varies by user and purpose, I would recommend the following to start off. Then adjust according to the amount of responses, comments, and clicks you receive.- LinkedIn – One time every one or two days, or link to your Twitter account if your Twitter postings would be appropriate for the strictly professional network.
- Facebook – For your profile page, one to three times per day. If you have a business page or group, once every other day for those.
- Twitter – Four to six times per day.
- Blog – One to two times per week.
Stay Productive
I’ll be the first to admit, falling into a social media black hole is something we all do. I’ve had more than my share of days when I’ve started off uber-productive only to find three hours have passed, and all I have to show for it is a gazillion interactions with Facebook friends, and many laughs. Want to become productive on social media? Here are my recommendations:1. Make A Plan
Understand exactly who you would like to reach (your target markets) and design your brand in a way that will be attractive to this group. Do not simply post what you want people to read, post what they want to read. Make a conscious decision to post information that appeals to your target markets vs. what you want them to want.2. Sign Up For Google Alerts And Visit Alltop
Google Alerts (www.google.com/alerts) will send you emails about specific topics you would like to post about. Simply type in the search words and set a new alert. Alltop (www.alltop.com) has hundreds of categories to choose from. Simply click on the link for your topic to instantly see top blog posts and articles you can share via social media.3. Create A Posting Calendar
Use a blank calendar. Decide what you’re going to post on social media each day, and then fill in your calendar with your choices. Consider holidays, upcoming events, and other items that might influence your posting. You can also include your blog, if you’d like. Do this at least a month ahead of time.4. Sign Up For Hootsuite
Hootsuite will allow you to update your social networks from one place. Additionally, you can schedule future posts on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.5. Buy A Kitchen Timer
Decide exactly how much time you will commit to social media each day. I suggest 10-20 minutes in the AM and maybe 10 in the PM. At whatever time allotted each day, set your egg timer for the correct amount of time. Then use that time to post, moderate, comment on others’ posts, photos, and so on.Watch This FREE Webinar!
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