How to be intentional with your time on social media

Are you spending quite a bit of time faffing about socials? Your efforts are better described as haphazard and ineffective rather than intentional and strategic? It's something I see quite a lot with my clients.

SET YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA GOALS
Set out your plan. What are you hoping to gain by having a social presence? Are you driving website traffic or sending people to your DMs? Defining goals will also help drive the type of content you create. 
Also think about how often you're going to be posting, where you're posting and when. Set an editorial calendar so you have a plan to follow. Or at the very least develop some content themes that you can create content around. 

DEFINE THE PURPOSE OF EACH POST
Understand what you intend to gain from every post on every platform. If you're posting to educate and inform, this is a fantastic way to lead with value and connect with your audience. 
These posts are great for when people specifically visit your page to find out more about you. If it's just a fun update- that is great it humanises your brand! I love a bit of personal branding. If it's an offer or call to action make it clear what the action is and ensure there is a follow-up once that action is taken. 

AVOID HAPHAZARD SCROLLING AND WASTING TIME
If you're managing your own social media (especially on a mobile device) it can be easy to get caught up in your newsfeed. Set a timer for your post updates and responses/ interactions with others. You can definitely lose your intention on social media if it turns into mindless scrolling and suddenly an hour is gone!
I like to set boundaries for 15 minutes in the morning and evening for interaction and engagement. Any more than that I think it definitely pushes into the time-wasting category!

DEFINE HOW SOCIAL FITS INTO YOUR BUYERS JOURNEY
Know what action your post is prompting. Is it for those buyers just starting to look into your company, or is this one of the last touches before you expect a sale or engagement? 
If you’re not sure where on the journey your social posts fit. Here is a great download you can snag that defines a customer journey. 

TRACK YOUR EFFORTS
Pick a period of time (a month is usually easiest) and record your metrics and analytics for the month. Not sure what metrics to measure?
There are a few things to look at. Definitely check what performed the best. Look at your engagement rates, did they increase? Have you had an increase in overall page growth?
On the gram check out comments, saves, and shares. Those are extra golden metrics that rank higher than a like. 

REFLECT UPON YOUR SUCCESSES
If certain posts performed exceptionally well, think about why. Try to identify what made it a standout success, and identify how you might be able to replicate it again. 
Did the post tie in with a trending subject (ie was it relevant to a trending #hashtag)? Was it information your audience is seeking? What did you change in relation to other posts? 

GET SOCIAL
If certain posts performed exceptionally well,
Don’t forget that people are on social media for fun. Don’t be shy and make sure you loosen up. You might find some of your biggest supporters and cheerleaders are among other business owners online.