Here’s a scenario you can relate to:
Just before settling in to edit this post the other night, I skimmed eight different articles on social media (how-to, why-to, when-to, where-to, who-to…), clicked “Read Later” five times, “Pin It” once; posted on Facebook and Twitter, updated my Paper.li, shared a link on Google +, tweaked one of my online profiles and commented on one of my Facebook community pages—all between 9:30-11 pm. That’s two hours when I could have been curled up with my book (er Kindle), catching up with The New York Times beyond the headlines, or in a really daring move, simply lying in bed relaxing and talking with my husband.
If I haven’t given you a headache by now, it’s only because you’re all too familiar with this routine. Your fingers are throbbing, but you won’t shut down because you’re afraid of missing out on all the social, political, culinary, parenting, etc., banter, as well as any game-changing online marketing advice that might make all those minutes spent clicking and skimming, worth it business-wise.
Me and the 99 percent feel your pain. Which is why I am shunning a hard core business-forward blog post in favor of promoting digital downtime, something I managed to attain this past weekend. I never opened the cover of my iPad, sat down with my computer for a mere 20 minutes to work on a couple of Google Docs, and used my phone only to communicate with the two out of five children not with me.
I knew I’d turned the corner when upon noticing Sunday morning that my Twitter followers dropped by 7, I shrugged it off, and later that night, when I couldn’t muster up even one Girls- or Skyfall-related tweet.
A little early morning web surfing on Monday led to one of my favorite online voices, Chris Brogan, who has a few things to say about his own waning relationship with social media. What I embrace the most about his short ‘n’ sweet rant, is the acknowledgment about what he (and we) could be doing if we weren’t obsessively trying to keep up with the latest apps/tools, or counting likes and follows.
I also got a kick out of this witty, slightly snarky post by Lynne Lott, a university professor in Alaska who recently put herself on a social media “diet.” Neither she or Brogan (or me for that matter) are knocking social media. We’re just reminding ourselves and the rest of you that it is OK to walk away. Or, to just “play” on your favorite platforms without evaluating every character for Klout, retweet or viral potential.
Now I know some of you are thinking, “But wait, this is a business website.” Well, I didn’t forget that either. After all, most of us do rely on social media to increase our brands’ visibility, drive sales and position us as thought leaders. With that in mind, I deliver you 21 Social Media Marketing Tips From the Pros, one very thorough guide to maximizing your online time—and your bottom line.
It’s a long read, so if you need to take a break, feel free to pause right here and leave a comment about the suggested strategies, what you/your company has done similarly or different, and what those results where. I’m willing to wager that you’ll have an eager audience, because in this game, “expert” is a relative term.
Dawn Elyse Warden-Reeder
A former lifestyles magazine editor and reporter covering an array of topics including philanthropy and business, health and well-being, sustainability, fashion, music and food, Dawn entered the public relations and social media field in 2010 as Executive Partner of The Whole Enchilada PR, now the culinary division of The Warden Ettinger Group. You can find Dawn on LinkedIn and Twitter (@eatDEWwrite).
Follow Me:
I can relate. Thanks for the link, Dawn.
Sometimes stepping back or taking a break from social media helps one gain more perspective than if she were to charge forward continuously on all platforms.
As with work-life balance, social media strategy appears to require continual adjustment for practicality and return on investment. Adjusting strategy, of course, is also time and energy consuming.