5 Time Saving Social Media Tips

What you’ll learn today:

Social media is here to stay
The many benefits for your biz
5 social media time management tips
How to take the guesswork out of social media

About 7 in 10 Americans say they use some form of social media – a trend that has remained pretty stable over the last 5 years, according to Pew Research. Contrast that to just 5% in 2005, the year after Facebook went live.

In the nearly 2 decades since Facebook first made its humble debut, social media has become an integral part of the fabric of our daily lives. Despite the many controversies that have ensued over the years, few would argue the power that social media has – in business and in life.

Any savvy marketer knows that social media is one of the most important marketing tools any business can employ.

The Many Benefits of Social Media for Your Business

After all, it’s like a FREE marketing and public relations tool that can:

Build brand recognition
Expand your tribe
Give you insight into your competitors
Generate new product & service ideas through engagement with followers
Help you network in ways that were unheard of even 25 years ago
And much more!

But there’s a catch. From a practical perspective, the most obvious one is: Time is money.

And we spend a lot of time on social media.

If time is money, then social media certainly comes at a cost…

Follow our 5 favorite tips so you can maximize the time you invest in social media (and save $, too):

Time Management Tips

#1. Know your audience.

You might be thinking, “Of course I know my audience.”

Maybe…maybe not.

Don’t assume you know which social platforms your audience prefers. Do your research and “listen loudly” to find out where they’re most active.

Maybe they’re using Twitter to call you out on customer service. Have you checked? If you’re a coach or consultant, your audience is probably on LinkedIn to network and get professional advice.

Don’t rely on mainstream stats to guide your business decisions too much, because they may not tell the full story.

For instance, according to Pew Research, YouTube and Facebook continue to reign: 81% of surveyed people reported ever using YouTube, while 69% of people reported ever using Facebook. For LinkedIn, that percentage dipped to just 28%.

And only two platforms measured – YouTube and Reddit – enjoyed what Pew calls “statistically significant growth” since 2019, the last time the Center polled people.

But those stats may not describe your unique audience. While platforms like Facebook are widely used, it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to reach and engage your audience in a meaningful way that gets marketing results.

Most of our clients use LinkedIn for professional purposes. While the number of users may not compare to a larger platform like Facebook, it’s the #1 choice among our coach and consultant clients to reach and grow their audience.

Did you know? LinkedIn predates Facebook: Founded in 2002 as a networking site for career-minded professionals, the popular social platform burgeoned to over 675 million users globally in 2020.

#2. Save your sanity. Monitor your time!

Duh, right?

Yes, this sounds obvious and very simplified, but it’s also quite true.

For those that are already well versed and actively using social media, it may be a simple matter of limiting the amount of time spent per day/week (because as we all know, 15 minutes can quickly become several hours if you’re not mindful).

For business owners that use social media in their marketing efforts, it’s smart to choose 1-2 platforms to focus on so you’re not scattering your efforts.

If it’s hard for you to set boundaries on social media (we’ve all been there!), one easy strategy is to set a timer, or only allow yourself to access social sites on certain days of the week or a specific time of day.

Here’s a tip: plan with a purpose!

Instead of aimlessly scrolling through your feed, set an intention for why you’re on and what you want to accomplish.

No matter what your goal is, you’re much more likely to actually achieve it if you have a plan first.

#3. Stay current on trends.

Building on #1 above, it’s important to remember that, just like the rest of our world, social media is constantly evolving. A trending topic can quickly fizzle, and people are always trying the “next big thing.”

To maximize your efforts and see a real ROI, you have to keep up with your audience. As we suggested above, you can (and should) monitor stats and trends, but that should be just one component of your strategy.

Combine current stats and trends with some savvy forward-thinking. Remember to keep your digital ears perked so you can listen to your audience – if you really do, they’ll tell you a lot.

To illustrate the ever-evolving world of social, take this example:

Remember Myspace? It hit the social media scene in 2003. Just a few years later, in 2006, it was the most visited website on the planet.

And then there was Facebook. The world’s most famous social platform wasted no time in eclipsing Myspace, which is now just a “social media afterthought.”

#4. Increase efficiency to maximize your efforts.

Work smarter, not harder. That’s our mantra here at Marketecs!

There are many platforms available that allow you to integrate multiple social media sites. Platforms such as HootSuite allow you to view and update multiple social network sites at the same time.

And many programs will integrate with your social accounts, making updates more automated – all with the intention of saving busy business owners like you time.

Here are some other articles we’ve written you may find helpful:

#5. Outsource, so you can focus on bigger things.

Outsourcing social media tasks may not be the answer for everyone. However, it can be a terrific time saver for you if:

You’re not well versed in current media trends and technology (or you just don’t want to be).
You don’t have the time to devote to social.
You’d like to grow your presence and engage more with your audience, but you need some extra support.

Can you relate to any of those statements? Then delegating your social media tasks to a qualified social network pro (or an entire team) can be a game changer.

Outsourcing ANY task always requires trust and good communication as the foundation of the relationship between both parties. When done correctly, it has some great benefits – not the least of which is allowing you to focus more on what you do best. After all, isn’t that why you’re in business?

Kick back for a few minutes & watch this TedTalk on The Power of Social Media, where Carter Jamison talks about his journey to social media success – and the opportunities that exist for everyone.

Bonus Pro tip: Sometimes, pivoting your social media plan to respond to current or ongoing events is more important than sticking to the original plan.

Perhaps at no other time in our history has this advice been more important – given that our world seems to be in a rapidly evolving state of change. Wouldn’t you agree?

Aligning your social presence with current events offers many benefits, like:

Showing your audience you’re current & relevant…not tone deaf.
Encouraging greater levels of engagement from your followers.
Setting you apart by making your presence “alive” and fresh – instead of just another face in the digital crowd.

Put yourself in your followers’ shoes & ask what you would find most engaging. Timely, relevant content that acknowledges or responds to recent events…or just another automated quote or meme that doesn’t seem to relate to much of anything current.

So, if you: