5 Tips to Help Make Time for Online Marketing

While working at Patch, I found that many local business owners struggled with marketing, whether it be finding the right publication to advertise in or just getting a website up and running. So below is my first post to reach my goal to help local business owners conquer the world of online marketing. 

When I initially decided that my first post on social media and marketing would be a guide on the differences between a Facebook page and a Facebook profile, I had no idea that it would take me more than two weeks to actually sit down and write something. Thus came the inspiration for what will likely be the most important and crucial thing to think about when marketing your business. Making time for marketing online.

Every business owner wears many hats which can make it feel difficult to make time for anything other than basic necessities to keep the business running. But in today’s technological world, keeping ahead of the competition online can play a big role in the overall business. So, without further adieu (and without taking any more time out of your chaotic schedule!) I give you my five top tips on making time to market yourself online.

1. Keep It Short
   You’re not expected to write a novel of a blog post, or a three paragraph Facebook post. In fact, you shouldn’t write too much because in the online world, your fans and potential followers won’t have the attention span or time to read long drawn out posts. So what does that mean for you? You can save your own time and keep your fans attentive by keeping it short and simple!
2. Social Media Should Be Fun!
   Social media is used first and foremost to be social (hence the name). Being social and having a fun, casual way to communicate with friends, businesses and brands are reasons why people use sites like Facebook,Twitter, Pinterest, etc. Using social media to market your business should be a fun extension of your job and shouldn’t be seen as an added, daunting task. Put your personality into it and view it as a tool to help you build relationships with your customers and clients.
3. Block-Off Time for Marketing
   Just as you may block off time in your planner to meet clients one-on-one or force yourself to take an hour lunch to get away from the work, you need to set aside scheduled time to work on your social media presence to start. When getting started, grab your planner and try to block off 10 minutes to post something quick on Facebook before you leave the house or right when you get to work. Then block off another small chunk of time either in the afternoon or later in the evening. After a while, you’ll get used to the routine and it’ll come more naturally.
4. Harness The Power Of A Smartphone
   If you have a smartphone, you already have access to your own social media marketing workshop. The best part? It’s mobile! Your busy schedule may not leave you with much time to sit at a computer and respond to messages or tweets, but with your smart phone, you can make quick updates, snap a photo and share it with your followers or connect with your fans on the go! Just go to the App store on your phone and download the apps for the social media sites you use! They're free!
5. Link Your Accounts Together
   Do you know that you can link your Facebook business page, Twitter and LinkedIn together to save time and make your life a bit easier? While this technique may work better for some business more than others, linking your social media accounts together can save you time when starting off, allowing you to post what you have to say in one spot and having the information automatically distributed to your other accounts. With little effort, you’ll look like you’re a busy bee, working hard to update all of the sites while successfully running your business!

Do you have other tips for time management when it comes to marketing online? Have you had success using any of these techniques? Share your thoughts in the comments section to help your fellow business owners!