MEDIA
7 Things To Do When
Social Media Frustrates You
by Edie Melson
I
wish I had a nickel for everyone who’s told me that Social
Media just doesn’t work for them.
Let me suggest, respectfully, that you’re just going
about it the wrong way.
These tips will help realign the time you spend on social
media, giving it structure and encouraging interaction.
1. Go back to doing the basics.
I teach that to have an effective social media presence on the
Internet you need to do three things: Facebook, Twitter, and
Blogging. The reason you must use Facebook and Twitter is
because, no matter what or who you’re promoting, you’ll find
almost one hundred percent of your audience on these two
networks. There are other valuable platforms like Instagram and
Pinterest, so those may be better choices in certain instances,
but in general Facebook and Twitter are the gold standards.
You also need to be blogging someplace regularly. Notice
I did NOT say you have to have a blog. I said you must
be blogging somewhere, regularly. It could be a group blog
or professional blog where you have a regular column. The
idea is to have somewhere to send your audience so they can
interact with you on a deeper level than social media. Think
of it as a place to sit down and have coffee with them, to get
to know each other better.
2. Quit trying to be fair.
By this I mean you’re trying to spend the same amount of time
on all the social networks you’re involved with. Each of us has
differing personalities. I’m better at some ways of engagement
than you are. For instance, I excel at Twitter, but not at
Facebook. So, I spend most of my time on Twitter because I get
a better return on investment. I don’t ignore Facebook, but
I know my limitations and my strengths, and I work to those.
3. Stop trying to do too much.
These days we’re all busy…crazy busy sometimes. So why
make yourself even crazier by trying to do it all. I remember a
commercial in the 70s that showed a beautiful woman holding
a frying pan, singing a song about how she can bring home the
bacon and fry it up in a pan. The prevailing myth was women,
as well as men, could do it all. Maybe some can. But I must
ask, who wants to? Not me. Work on the basics, then just add
what you can handle and/or what you enjoy. Remember, this is
a means to an end, not the point of your existence!
4. Change your unrealistic expectations.
Unless all the stars in the universe line up exactly right and
spell out your name, with your blog’s URL and social media
accounts, growing a following takes time.
5. Start—or Return to—being consistent.
Blogging on a schedule for six weeks isn’t long enough to grow a
following or even tell if you have an audience that’s interested—
ESPECIALLY if you’re not also being consistent at social media.
How long should you do it? Minimum of six months straight.
Then come to me and tell me that social media doesn’t work.
At that point we’ll have something to talk about.
6. Stop spending too much time on it.
Yep, you read that right. After you come up to speed on social
media, I recommend you spend NO MORE than thirty
minutes a day on social networks and a one-to-two-hour block
of time, once a week, writing your blog posts for the week.
7. Quit only talking about yourself.
One of the biggest mistakes I see with social media is people
confusing it with mass marketing. Let me ask you a question.
Do you engage with people who are constantly trying to
get something from you? If you don’t like to engage with
advertisers, you can bet no one else will. Instead post things
on social media that are valuable to those who follow or
friend you. Talk about them, share interesting tips gleaned
from others, promote other people. I know it sounds
counterintuitive, but I guarantee you it works.
Building an online presence isn’t a one-size-fits-all
proposition. But when we have a foundation in place,
we can build it into something valuable. n
Edie Melson is the author of numerous books,
including the bestseller Connections: Social Media
and Networking Techniques for Writers. She’s the
co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian
Writers Conference, Social Media Director of Southern
Writers Magazine, and board member of the Advanced
Writers and Speakers Association. Visit Edie on
www.EdieMelson.com and through social media.
Southern Writers 5