Are You Wasting Your Time on Social Media?

We all know social media can be a powerful tool in the facilitation of conversation with customers, but could it also be a waste of your time? There is so much information floating around out there that it can be almost overwhelming, and a huge sinkhole for our valuable time. But, do not worry. Here are some pitfalls to avoid when engaging with social media:

Following too many blogs
I recommend subscribing to blogs that are relevant to your industry. However, be picky in the selection of which feeds to follow. Following a blog will do no good if you do not have the time to read it. It would be a good idea to set a timer and read no longer than you allow yourself. This will prevent sinking too much time in reading feeds and will allow your time to be better spend by responding to posts and engaging in conversations.

Reading every tweet, every Facebook post, and every other status update
Along the same idea as following too many blogs, there is just WAY too much content out there for anyone to keep up with. Follow people because they have something valuable to say, but once you begin following a crowd, it becomes difficult to read every single post. Don't feel guilty if you miss some posts, many are duplicates and no one can possibly know everything going on at any given time. I would advise making a favorites list or group to ensure you can catch everything from the most relevant people.

Following or friending too many people that are not a part of your community
Just because you receive a request does not mean you necessarily have to accept it. If you will not receive any benefit from the connection, why make it? Too many friends/followers will not provide you greater stats, it will eventually raise the question of whether you are spamming social media networks. Again, be picky and don't let anyone that is not relevant to your business or industry take up too much of your valuable time.

Checking social media networks too often
Some people I know try to constantly check their social media account to keep themselves up to date. This is not a useful endeavor. It is a huge waste of time. Instead, block off about half an hour for yourself to spend reading and replying to social media. Resist the urge to check up on your accounts every hour and use the time saved to create original content of your own.

Getting over involved in too many social media sites
Keep it to the most relevant sites to your immediate fan base. I would advise Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and blogs or forums. Beyond that, only join a network if it is industry specific and extremely popular within your industry. Do not be afraid to ask your customers where they spend time online and do not be afraid to try something new. Give your new ideas time to see if it works, and then change your strategy if you find it is not suiting your needs.

Social media is a great resource, but it can be a huge sinkhole for your priceless time. Follow these tips to save yourself time and gain the most social media has to offer you and your company.