Anybody who has scrolled through the news feed of their favorite social media network knows how easy it is to lose track of time. The next thing you know, what you planned to spend 5 minutes doing turns into 20. I personally had to cut back on Pinterest when I first joined, because I would get lost in all the inspiring and creative projects and recipes and waste hours of precious time browsing.
When you’re trying to grow a business or ministry and serve more people, there are so many demands on your attention both inside and outside of the business. Every minute needs to be used wisely and purposefully. So, how do you make sure you’re not wasting time when you hop on social to connect with followers and grow your community?
How to Manage Your Time on Social
1. Plan a Content Strategy
Take some time quarterly or semi-annually to look at the weeks and months ahead to plan out themes, blog post ideas, and notable events. Hootsuite offers a great template here. Also, determine what topics and types of content you plan to share with your community. This will help to prevent you from scrambling at the last minute and will help you provide value consistently.
2. Batch Tasks
Repetitively doing a specific task will allow you to get more done in less time. Set aside blocks of time throughout each month to:
- search images to use in posts
- create graphics with text
- film or design tutorial videos
- curate beneficial and interesting content to share
- write blog posts
- build relationships and follow targeted accounts
3. Batch Schedule
Use the Facebook scheduler or other scheduling tool to set times for posts to publish throughout the week. This should be a combination of curated and original content. Evergreen content can be shared routinely in the future, as well. This should free you up to spend more time engaging with followers and influencers on social media and to focus on other responsibilities.
4. Set a Timer
When replying, commenting, and scanning content on social, be sure to set a timer. If you only have 10-15 minutes to designate to this per day, use the timer app on your phone or even use a kitchen timer to keep you on track!
5. Stay focused
Social media is full of noise and distractions. Sometimes you turn off your phone or computer only to feel drained and disappointed with the loss of 45 minutes of your life to social media. It’s easier said than done, but try to be intentional about what you are trying to accomplish with social by setting goals to complete specific tasks.
It will take a little time to get adjusted to new scheduling habits, but a little planning will help with taming the social media beast.
How do you manage your time on social? Share your tips in the comments!
For more free resources and tips on working smarter (not harder) when it comes to social media, check out my Streamline your Social Quick-start Guide!