Does the idea of adding social media to your already busy schedule make your brain instantly shut down and steam start to come out of your ears? I hear ya. When I think about adding ONE MORE THING to my plate my stress level goes through the roof. But social media outlets are the cornerstone to helping you, as a modern DIY musician or author, connect with your audience and build your career. So it’s an important aspect to make time for.
The key here is to find the right online tools that will not only simplify the process but save you a lot of time.
That being said, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite social media tools that I use every day. I know there are many options and I’ve tried almost all of them. The following tools are what work best for me, so if you have others that you use, I know everyone else would love to hear about them as well!
HOW TO EFFECTIVELY SIMPLIFY YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PROCESS:
RESOURCE #1: Buffer
BUFFER is my absolute #1 time saving tool that I use every day. That and it has drastically helped me improve my social media strategy. First thing when I get to work in the morning I poor over the blogs that I subscribe to on my Google Reader account (which I will talk about more in a minute) and I use Buffer to share posts and articles that I think my community will benefit from. I have specific times that I have scheduled within Buffer to post to both my Twitter and Facebook accounts and it keeps a running list of posts that I want to make and it posts the articles that I want to share throughout the day. It’s brilliantly simple and a huge timesaver!
They also have a great iPhone app so you can use it wherever you go.
RESOURCE #2: HootSuite
HOOTSUITE is one of the first resources I used when I started working with social media and it is still a vital tool that I use every day. For one, you can check up on your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more in one place. You don’t have to bounce from one page to the next. That and you can schedule posts with links & images to post at the exact time you want them to post. It’s fantastic! It’s easy to use and incredibly helpful. But most importantly it’s a huge timesaver!
They also have a free iPhone app :)
RESOURCE #3: Evernote
I don’t think I can sing the praises of EVERNOTE enough. I used to be one of those who had random sheets of paper scattered around with notes, ideas, important information, etc., that I could never find when I needed them. Evernote is a brilliant resource that keeps all of your notes, lists, etc., in one place that you can access anywhere.
It’s a great way to keep things organized and categorized as well. You have a million things going on...why not organize and keep everything in one centralized location that you can pinpoint anywhere?
And again, Evernote has a free iPhone app...
RESOURCE #4: Google Alerts
On top of social media management and consulting I also do digital PR for various musicians and authors. It’s important that I keep up with reviews that have been posted, articles that have gone line, and anything that I need to stay on top of for not only my clients but for my company as well. GOOGLE ALLERTS will email you (either daily or weekly) with notifications for mentions that have been made online for the keywords that you entered. It’s an easy way to stay informed and stay on top of your online reputation, which is very important.
RESOURCE #5: Google Reader
As I mentioned before, GOOGLE READER is a fantastic way to find relevant information to share with your community or audience. I’ve subscribed to various blogs and when a blog is updated it shows up in my Google Reader account. It’s a seamless & easy way to not only stay informed but gives you a way to share content with your audience. It gives you an “at a glance” view at what the blog is about and you can either read it or not.
In an earlier blog I gave more detail regarding how to set up and use Google Reader HERE.
I use the “Reeder” app on my iPhone, which is $2.99 and is worth every penny.
There you have it! That is my “social media toolbox” that I use each and every day. It has streamlined my social media considerably yet keeps me active on these important sites. Some people tell me, “How can you stay on top of your social media and still get anything done?” Using these resources I honestly spend about 30 minutes on my social media every day. With a little planning, the right resources, and some dedication, it can be that easy for you as well!
I’d love to know what social media resources you use! What has been helpful for you?
