TPMusings

Participating in social media such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, blogging, and so on is a requirement for an organization today…whether large or small. But there’s so much info and chatter coming in through social media that it can overwhelm you, eat up your time, and ruin your productivity.

 

Since I have begun to comment on social media tools, many of you (well, at least three or four) have asked how to manage the almost overwhelming volume of input on the web, and exactly what has value enough to pass along.

 

Simplification is the key to staying in touch, and yet still continuing to participate. Keep an eye on your mission and you will get your work done.

 

Here are a few tips I find helpful:

1.    Use simple tools to make the most of social media, the simpler the better. Tools that combine several social networking sites together into one dashboard are the  best. 

a.    TweetDeck is a good example, combining both Twitter and Facebook into one simple dashboard. There are also versions of the same software available as apps for your PDA that automatically synch your information no matter which way you access your deck.  

b.    .Another good example is Digsby, which combines email, IM, and social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn together in one web application. Personally, that’s a little much for me, but it might work for you…

c.    Another popular set up uses tools from Gmail. It can be set up as an all-in-one inbox with Twitter, Facebook, IM and more. It can become your primary Productivity Center. 

2.    Focus on sending out HIGH IMPACT MESSAGES. It’s a precarious balance: if you send out too many messages, you risk being blocked or branded a spammer. But if you send out too few, you will never build up a following. A conundrum. But only if you let it be one. Focus on VALUE in your messaging. 

a.    Make your messages and links HIGH IMPACT. Think like your reader and send out things that they will

                                          i.    Read and use

                                        ii.    Resend to others

                                       iii.    Articles of interest, resources, news related to your industry, and comments from valued thought leaders are good examples.

b.    If you set a goal of only passing along high-impact content, by definition you will reduce the amount of time you spend in preparing and sending your messages.

3.    Let go of the need to read everything. Learn to scan. It’s literally impossible to consume ALL the information that comes at you like a fire-hose. Be selective. 

a.    Find reliable sources of information that are valuable and that fit the personality of your networking. 

b.    Scan to get the gist of what’s going on, instead of trying to read every entry or feed. With practice, you’ll get pretty good at spotting the wheat buried within all that chaff. 

4.    Figure out which social networking toolsets provide you the most value, and concentrate on them. Try some of the most popular, but select only a couple to focus on. 

a.    Be selective at what you send out and make certain it is of value and interest to the audience targeted. 

b.    Likewise, though, fee; free to cross-pollinate links and articles across your various audiences and tools. Your audience is most likely different between Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, but some content you discover may have value to those allied audiences. Share it with them. (And make sure to attribute to its originator is appropriate.)

5.    Form close relationships with people who give the most value, but not everyone. 

a.    I found that when I first joined Twitter, I selected and followed about 20 people. Very quickly I discovered who among them had things of value to say and pass along, and who didn’t. I quickly “unfollowed” those who did not provide value.  

b.    Find those who give you the most value, and reciprocate

                                          i.    Comment on their blog pages

                                        ii.    Re-Tweet their postings

                                       iii.    Recommend them on your LinkedIn pages

                                       iv.    Post links to their blogs to your Facebook

c.    Reach out to them and make a true connection.

6.    Overall, manage your time wisely. Find ways to integrate social media activities in your life without them overwhelming the other work you have to do, and your personal life.

a.    Set a regular schedule, such as two or three times a day, or when you typically need a break in your routine. 

b.    The amount of time you invest is, of course, in direct relation to the value social networking has to your profession or career. For example, since I advise clients on its use, my involvement is more than if it is just an interest or avocation. 

c.    Regardless, set some boundaries to assure that social networking doesn’t become an obsession!