How to Effectively Budget Your Time on Social Networks

Is it Too Much Work?

Do you feel frustrated trying to keep up with using the social networks for your business? Sometimes I’m asked, “How do you spend so much time on Facebook/G+/Twitter, etc…?”

 

Have a Routine

There’s no doubt that these online platforms can offer you a great way to waste hours of your day. But the thing is, you’ve probably got a few other tasks you need to tend to so your business stays afloat. You can’t afford to be spending your whole day on Facebook!

What you want to do is set up a pattern that you can stick to everyday. Use that schedule effectively so that you can maintain your presence on these networks, cultivate your role in the community, support your contacts – yet still accomplish everything else you need to do with your day.

 

Here is my typical schedule and approach…

• Wake up, pour the coffee.
• Check out the news feeds on Facebook, then Google+, then Twitter and check out what’s going on with my contacts.
• Respond to posts, create a few of my own. Like the posts I like; +1 the things I like, comment, share, retweet, etc…
• Write a blog post on my site(s) – something I can post on each of these networks covering topics that will hopefully help my clients.

All together, this can probably take about two hours. After that I get to work on my projects, meetings, conference calls, etc….

However, even though I’ve finished my main social networking efforts for the day I leave each of these networks open in separate tabs of my browser. That way I can see if there is any new activity I need to offer a quick response to. This helps to keep me plugged in and contributing to the various communities I’ve become a part of, but I get in and get out and keep my real work flow going at the same time.

 

Your Mileage My Vary

This works for me. Maybe it would or wouldn’t work for you. The thing is, you want to just set up a routine that fits into your work flow that works for you, and is something you can maintain on a daily business.

You might be saying to yourself, “TWO HOURS! I can’t spend two hours doing this stuff!”  That’s fine, but just remember, having a strong presence on social networks can be very beneficial to your business. It’s where all the people are, and while it is a time investment, it doesn’t cost you a dime. That’s a pretty cool opportunity.

 

How About You?

Do you have a routine? What’s yours? What works best for you?