Recently, I wrote about my Tips for Virtual Assistants. Today, I want to share information about something that goes hand in hand with virtual assistants, which is social media management. For my clients, I also work as a social media manager for their brand/small business. Today, I want to share with you my tips for social media management.

What is a Social Media Manager?

According to techtarget.com, a Social Media Manager is “the individual in an organization trusted with monitoring, contributing to, filtering, measuring and otherwise guiding the social media presence of a brand, product, individual or corporation.”

Tips for Social Media Management

Quality!

With everyone on social media nowadays, you have to find a way to stand out. I will admit, it is nice to have a nice constant flow of posts and information. However, if the information is not correct or pertinent to what is “hot” at the current moment, it could be doing more harm than good. What you need to keep in mind is that you need to be sharing information that is worth reshares and retweets.

The key is to also try to find content that will last. Trends that last for a week or so are good, but if you can find content that will continue to bring in readers and followers for months or even years to come you want to do so. For example, social media topics and busy mom topics are always hot topics on my blog.

Use your tools.

I really do believe that the right tools can turn any “average” social media manager into a “must hire.” Tools can be so useful and help you cut your time in half for planning social media posts. Here are some great options when it comes to scheduling social media posts:

• Tailwind
• Buffer
• Hootsuite
• Facebook has its own scheduler

Tailwind

A great way to make sure you are pinning on a regular, consistent basis is to use a scheduler. Personally, I highly recommend using Tailwind. Tailwind helps you to easily set up a schedule with optimized time slots. This helps so that you don’t have to manually pin. Tailwind allows you to schedule multiple posts for Pinterest and Instagram, months in advance. You can even set it up to pin to multiple boards. Tailwind allows you to track activity and trends and offers analytics to help you monitor your Instagram and Pinterest followers, brand mentions, likes, repins, boards, etc…

Tasty Pins

Another Pinterest tip I have is to create multiple pins for each blog post. Pinterest favors new pins. Plus, if you create different pins, you are creating options for your readers. Recently, I found a plugin called Tasty Pins, which makes hiding pin images A LOT easier. Tasty Pins is a tool that “allows you to optimize your blog’s images for Pinterest, SEO, and screen readers.” It isn’t free. However, it is only $29 a year! That isn’t bad at all. Break it down and that is less than $3.00 a month! It is definitely worth your time to research it.

Analyze your data.

Analyzing your data is extremely important. This data can tell you what your followers are responding too. Social Media data can also show you when the best time to post/pin is, which can help you when you schedule your posts. Twitter moves quicker than other Social Media platforms so I have read that some people share up to 5 times the blog post they wrote on the date it was published. This might work on Twitter, but I wouldn’t recommend it on Facebook. You do not want to get marked as spammy on Facebook.

Pinterest analytics tell me when I need to make new pins. For example, I recently had a pin go viral. This told me to make new pins for the same post and get those moving around Pinterest. It helped keep my blog post hot for months.

Batch similar tasks.

I have found it very beneficial for me when I batch similar tasks. For example, I like to create my graphics for all my clients (and myself) for the week. Once I get the graphics created, then I work on scheduling them. I like to schedule all of my Facebook posts, then move on to the next social media platform.

Recycle posts.

Recently, I have learned that it isn’t a bad idea to recycle posts. I have taken a few older posts and added some newer information, updated images, and created new pins. This takes a lot less time than writing a new post, but it revives it enough that it has the potential to bring in new followers and still gives new information to my current followers.

Remember the basics.

Sometimes we get so caught up in “finding the new it thing” that we forget to remember the basics. Being creative and thinking outside of the box is great! However, remember your basics. For example, use hashtags and @mentions. This is a great way to step up your engagement. Also, remember to use the right sizes for graphics on each social media platform. Here is a good place for graphic sizes.

Network.

You are going to be one of many so you are going to have to find ways to pull your readers and followers in, other than just great quality. Step out of your comfort zone and start making connections. Comment on other bloggers posts or comment on IG posts of people that are in the same niche as you. Believe it or not, this is a great way to find partnership opportunities, which can give you the chance to tap in on some of their viewers. Plus you have the added bonus of having someone who understands what you are doing. I have made so many friends with my blogging and I know that I can reach out to them anytime.

Schedule certain things in advance.

Keep in mind that some posts should be shared in advance. Here are some examples:

• Holiday promotions
• Blog events
• Giveaways
• Event promotions

It is always a good idea to get some traction before a big event.

Don’t always multitask.

Yes, you read that right. I said, don’t always multitask. I am a busy mom so I really do get it. Busy moms get by each day by multitasking. However, sometimes it isn’t always a good thing. Sometimes the truth is that multitasking can severely dimish your concentration, which can lead to some of your not so best work. So when it comes to working, give one task 100% and then move on to the next.

Storytelling and emotion.

People are drawn to good storytelling and a good story always evokes emotions. If people love to read what you write and the way you make them feel then they are going to keep coming back.

Be real.

Be real and I truly believe the followers, readers, and clients will come. We like to feel like we know the people we are following. Being real is huge, especially if you are a blogger. People will connect with you and want to keep coming back for more if they feel like you get them.

Learn to say no.

This one is something I am still having to work on. It is all about prioritizing. If you don’t have the time to take on something new, you have to learn to say no. Do not stretch yourself too thin. I promise you that it isn’t worth it.

In closing, I hope you have found my tips for social media management useful. The truth is social media is always changing but stick to the basics. Do you have any social media management tips? I would love to read about them in the comments.

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31