Whether you’re a seasoned social media user or just taking baby steps in your business, one of the biggest challenges you have is social media overwhelm. Here are 5 rock solid steps to keep you out of social media overwhelm and have you reap the benefits of strategic social media.
#1 Don’t Be Everywhere
It’s totally unnecessary to be on more than 2-3 social channels, and one may be all you need. The key is to ASK YOUR CLIENTS where they are. When I say, “where they are” I mean where are they active, not just signed up. Stop guessing and just make that a routine part of your intake or discovery conversation. You only need to be where they are.
It’s likely you can limit it to Instagram and Facebook for interior design. Social media overwhelm happens when you falsely believe that you have to be everywhere and that’s simply not necessary or effective. Let it go.
#2 Master One at a Time
It doesn’t matter how many networks you’re on if you don’t have a posting strategy and implementing it consistently and persistently. Social media overwhelm occurs when you take on too much. Random actions get random results and that’s a big hairy waste of time. Whenever you dive into a new network like Instagram or perhaps you haven’t been on Facebook regularly, you want to give yourself 30 days to establish a routine of impact.
Just having a profile is profoundly ineffective, it’s engagement that counts.
#3 Create an Editorial Calendar
This will put you way ahead of the game and keep you out of social media overwhelm. You’ll also avoid losing 30 minutes or more with your app open wondering what on earth you should post. (Talk about a time suck, YIKES!) Don’t make this complicated, you can do it in a word document and if 90 days is too far out, go for 30 days.
As an example, I do my Instagram by theme, it makes it fun and easy for me. So December is everything holiday related and I can schedule each week in two hours at two posts a day, then I jump in daily to interact, engage, follow, and reply. Other times I’ll make it a color theme, or I’ll theme it around a global event like the Oscars, the lunar eclipse (I did a whole week of moon themed decor and architecture, very cool and memorable.)
#4 Drop Poorly Functioning Channels
This sounds obvious, but there is a MYTH that the more icons you show your website somehow means you’re more important. That might sound good but when you have someone like me who checks all of them only to find that you aren’t active or engaged, you just look like you’re out of touch. In fact, you and I know that you’re in social media overwhelm.
So, if your Twitter has no posts, delete the icon. Google Plus is actually going to shut down this spring, why not get out now? LinkedIn is more useful for commercial design than residential designers, is that your out? Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook can all work well together, so assess which one or two is best for you.
#5 Are You Hanging Up on Your Clients?
Social media was never intended to be a broadcast channel, instead it was designed to foster conversation, engagement and impact. Think of it this way, every time you post, it’s as if you just picked up the phone and called a bunch of friends (your followers) told them what was up for you and then you HUNG UP. I say you hung up because you aren’t sticking around for 10-15 minutes to reply to comments, engage in keyboard chitchat, and form connections.
Hey, I get it, I’m guilty of it too. I also know that today the algorithms on these networks are sophisticated enough to measure that engagement and if they don’t see it, they rank you lower and don’t show your talent to as many potential clients. Pain in the you-know-what and totally true.
Clearly there’s a lot more I can share around social media overwhelm and how to stay out of it. Take the 5 steps here and let me know if you feel less overwhelmed and more in control.
