Is the clock running out on your social media use?

Introduction: Marketing Through Social Networking Without the Insanity

Social networking: you know you oughtta do it. But the time it takes is enough to strike fear into the hearts of even the most productive solos. How can you do all this networking/Twitter/Facebook stuff and still run your business?

We’re looking at this topic in depth in our “Ten Rules to Successfully Manage Your Time in Social Networking Activities” series. You can navigate through all the posts in this series through the links above and at the bottom of the post.

Today’s the wrap-up and, in some ways, most important entry in the series: Rule #10 — step away from the computer.

#10: Get Offline Every Day

The most important rule is the last one: get offline. Unplug. Go outside.

I don’t mean once a week, or even once in awhile. I mean every single blessed day. Make it a firm commitment. Write it in pen in your paper calendar or make it a daily recurring appointment in your calendar app. It is non-negotiable, just like brushing your teeth and flushing.

Here’s how I do it: My daughter skips off the school bus every afternoon at 4:10. The bus drops her off right in front of a huge parking lot that serves in the summer as an overflow lot for beach traffic. In the fall and winter, it’s empty.

So, I set my cell phone alarm for 3:35 PM. It takes me five minutes to wrap up what I’m doing, put my hair up in a ponytail, and pull on some sneakers. I walk the half-block to the parking lot, and spend thirty minutes walking around the lot, which is about 1/10 of a mile for one loop, and doing some stretches and calisthenics up against this awesomely crooked and heavily-branched oak tree.

By the time my daughter gets off the bus, I’ve had thirty minutes of exercise and a very refreshing break from the wiredness of my working world. And, yes, I bitch and moan at 3:35. But here’s the thing: by 3:55? I’m so glad I’m out there, and not in here, even if it is just thirty minutes.

And when I come back to the work stuff, I do it better and faster.

Social Networking: Find a Way to Make It Work For YOU

The wrap-up and the take-away from this little thought experiment? Dive in to social networking but do it smartly. Think about your goals. Plan your approach. Go slow at first, and gauge your comfort level along the way. Remember the goal: to make your name (your brand) synonymous with what you do in your market. Get away from the computer and the mobile devices daily for a short period of time. Monitor your results and adjust your tactics appropriately.

And remember this, above all: there are other people at the other end of that social networking conduit. Treat them with respect, but don’t be afraid of them. They’re people, just like you. Find out what they need, and offer it to them. That’s the beauty of any kind of networking — making friends and forming relationships.