by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
I teach writers how to build an online platform by investing thirty minutes a day in social media. I do this by utilizing a scheduling program (my favorite is Hootsuite). But, I also caution them not to spend much time talking about themselves, reminding them about Edie’s 5-to-1 rule.
For every 5 social media updates you share on any network,
you are only allowed 1 about yourself.
Remember, social media is not advertising. It’s a way of connecting with others online. These connections will come into play and be your cheerleaders when you are promoting a book or sharing something you care about. But we don’t start with what’s in it for us, we start with what’s in it for them.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Valuable Social Media
The key to only spending a short time each day scheduling social media updates is having a ready library of things to share. Today I’m going to teach you how to have the resources you need—always on hand—for valuable social media updates.
The Basics
Before you can build a library of resources, you need a focus for your social media updates. Your social media personality needs to have a focus. Just like an unfocused blog, a social media personality that posts about everything under the sun isn’t going to garner many followers. It doesn’t have to be just one thing, but it should be well-defined.
My focus for social media updates covers four areas. Yours will probably be something different, but that’s okay. The process is the same:
- Social media how-to for writers, business owners, non-profits, and ministries.
- Writing instruction and inspiration.
- Things to help military families and the communities that support them.
- Prayer/devotional thoughts.
These are the four primary topics I share about on social media.
I go to three basic places to find things to share on these topics.
- Blogs and sites I read regularly (I make sure I get email notifications when something new is shared on one of these sites).
- Social media updates that others share.
- Hashtags and people I follow on social media—especially on Twitter.
I refer to these resources as my library. But they are only helpful if I already have them close at hand. If I have to spend time searching through websites or scanning social media every time I want to schedule updates, thirty minutes isn’t nearly long enough.
Join me next month and I’ll share my tips on how to build the library.
Now I’d like to hear from you. Any questions about the specifics? Tips that you’ve found to help gather valuable social media updates? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie
TWEET THIS: Helpful tips for valuable #socialmedia updates. @MollyJoRealy @EdieMelson
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Edie Melson
Find your voice, live your story…is the foundation of Edie Melson’s message, no matter if she’s addressing parents, military families or writers. As an author, blogger, and speaker she’s encouraged and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Connect with her on her blog and through Twitter and Facebook.You can also connect with Edie through Twitter and Facebook.
My social media posts tend to heavily rely on humour.
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