We are in the age of information, and with that comes with being in the age of social media. It doesn’t matter if you delete it, or unsubscribe- because this isn’t going anywhere. It’s here to stay, even if it’s ever-evolving.
As with all things in life, social media has both a light and dark side to it. Social media is a place where people can connect, relate, and feel less alone. It’s a platform where you can express yourself creatively, get inspired, and even learn.
However, social media platforms can also be harmful. They can spread bullying, lies, misinformation, and totally overwhelm our nervous system. Most of all, social media can be really freaking distracting. Doom scroll, anyone?
This post will share 5 ways in which you can leverage social media for productivity versus distraction, because- let’s face it- it’s important to have social media if you have a business. And, most small business owners, or new entrepreneurs, simply can’t afford to hire out when it comes to managing or growing a new account.
5 Ways To Leverage Social Media For Productivity
If you’ve never used social media as a business owner, and you’ve only used it for entertainment and personal use- then the first thing you need to do when it comes to managing a business account is to change your mindset. These are working hours. These are not rabbit hole scrolling hours where you become one with your couch, okay?
That means it’s important to have strong boundaries around your social media use. These boundaries will reflect professionalism, and come with the intention of growth for your business above all else. Laughing at dog memes can be done off the clock.
If you’re a new business owner, then I suggest that at the bare minimum you set aside one hour of your day to dedicate to social media. Keep in mind, this does not include content creation. This is only for studying, engaging, and growing your social media account. If you want to learn more about how to include content creation in the mix, check out my post on batching to maximize your efforts.
Trending Audio
Okay, so a great way to spend part of the hour you’re on social media is to look for trending audio. This is super easy to do simply by looking on the explore page, or scrolling through Reels only. When you find trending audio, make sure you actually save it- otherwise you likely won’t remember the name or artist when it comes to content creation time.
The reason this is important is that the algorithm likes to feature trending audio, which means your visibility can increase. Increased visibility can lead to more followers of the account, and hopefully, more clientele for whatever it is you’re selling.
Trends
Since you’ve already ticked off trending audio, you can also venture into the trends category. All different niches on social media have different trends. For instance, because my account is heavy on yoga- I get fed a lot of yoga trends. This can look like taking your socks with your feet while you’re in a handstand, to overlaid text about being a yoga teacher on your Reels.
Chances are, you’ll stumble into trends as you find trending audio. Some trends actually go with a specific audio, while others don’t. Either way, check out your explore feed, as well as hashtag trends relevant to your niche. When you recreate the trend, make sure to do it in a way that showcases your branding so that it can stand out.
Observe Similar Accounts
There’s nothing wrong with looking at what competitors in your field are putting out there on social media. C’mon, this has been going on since the beginning of time in business- it just wasn’t with social media. Now that we all have these inside glimpses of what our competitors are doing, it’s a great way to stay ahead of the curve.
Sometimes you might see something that your competitor is doing that inspires you, and other times you might see something that reinforces your beliefs against whatever they’re doing. Either way, use this time as an opportunity to learn from those around you, rather than fall down the comparison trap. Try to stay neutral and observant, rather than making it personal and attached.
Engage With Your Audience
One of the best ways to make use of your hour on social media is to engage with your own audience. I have a full post about how to improve your engagement that can walk you through specifics in this area.
The reason you want to have an engaged audience is that your audience keeps your business alive. They are your customers, but they’re also kind of your boss. It’s important to get those temperature checks, to include them, and to acknowledge their existence! They can offer you a lot of guidance if you take the time to actually engage with them.
Engage With Strangers
Engaging with your own audience helps you to build trust with the people who are already there, while engaging with strangers helps you to grow your account ,and to bring in potential clients or customers. The trick here is to make sure you’re spending an equal amount of time on both, because oftentimes people are so focused on growing- they sort of ignore their existing audience. There’s a reason engaging with your audience comes first on this list.
Now, as you engage with strangers, make sure to only take the time to do so with people who would actually be a good fit for the brand. Whether that’s reaching out to new influencers for marketing ideas, or DM’ing potential new clients- check their profile first to make sure that you’re aligned. Otherwise it’s just a giant waste of time.
Trust me when I say that those 5 tasks will easily take up your entire hour of social media every day. And guess what, you didn’t even have time for doom scrolling in between! See, social media really can be used for productivity. Oftentimes, we just need a little guidance in order to make it effective.
I can’t wait to watch your account grow! You’ve got this, my friends.
xx,
K
