A career as a digital media marketing account manager might be one of the best jobs out there, and I’m not impartial at all! One of the biggest facts to whether or not you run a successful social media campaign is your ability to manage time well. Time management is essential for anyone who is looking to manage social media. Below are tips and tricks I have garnered from my experience with handling social media campaigns for clients, and also for my own personal social presence online. These time management tips while managing social media will help increase your efficiency, as well as foster overall excellent habits as an account manager.
Use A Scheduling Tool
The use of a social media content scheduling system helps you manage posting content in an effective way. In today’s digital world, the use of a scheduling tool is essential for a successful campaign in major networks like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn. A scheduling system allows you to plan out your posts according to when you would like them to be sent out. This makes juggling accounts simple, rather than posting in real time. There are several scheduling tools out there, but two that I prefer are SproutSocial and HootSuite.
When choosing a scheduling tool, I would recommend you choose one that offers:
- Reporting, Analytics, and Insights
- Multiple Account Management
- Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ Posting
Create a Daily To-Do List
One of my biggest pieces of advice for those interested in managing social media is to plan and organize your day. Each day might not always be the same, but if you establish a “To-Do” checklist, it will increase your efficiency. Below I have created a generic list of to-dos that are typical of someone who manages social media.
- Replies
- Research
- Content Creation
- Scheduling Content
- Developing Advertising Campaigns (Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn ads)
- Reporting and Analytics
- Community Outreach (retweets, favorites, commenting, sharing)
- “Putting Out Fires” (contingency plan for unexpected emergencies)
I personally start my day off checking my email, then reply to tweets and posts. Next I move on to content creation where I develop posts, then I schedule those posts using a scheduling tool. From there I review analytics for my clients to make sure I am on track for the month. The rest of my day is spent researching, community outreach, creating ads, and of course, putting out the occasional fire. Not every day is the same, but keeping an organized list of to-dos helps me keep on track.
Example of one of my daily to-do lists.Always Be On, But Not On All The Time
Managing social media doesn’t mean we need to be glued to our computers and phones 24/7. It’s best to spend time where it brings you value. Knowing when to be active on your accounts and when to take a break is something I had to learn over time. With that being said, your time might be spent differently depending on the client and its industry. Although you should never ignore important messages, it’s good to take a break from managing once in a while to refresh your brain.
Create An Editorial Calendar
Don’t wander aimlessly into the social media abyss. Create as editorial calendar each month for your campaigns to provide guidance to your content. Here at StrataBlue, we develop 30 Day Plans each month for clients, where we break down each week into separate campaigns and content focuses. This strategy helps me, as an account manager, develop content centered on each focus. An editorial calendar is also a great way develop KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) for each client.
What are some time management tips you have when managing social media? Do you have any advice for those wanting to pursue a career in digital media marketing management? Leave a comment below.