As a professional working in social media, I spend most of my day working on developing strategies to leverage channels like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blogs to engage with customer communities. Then, when the day is over…I spend more time researching new tools, looking into the rumors of whether company X is buying company Y, reading articles about the latest digital technology and building connections with other bloggers and social media professionals.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great job and I get to work with some amazing people, but sometimes the timesink of all these channels and activities can result in a bit of social media overload. I thought I’d capture a view into that craziness in my latest social media comic.
Do you work in social media? Do you experience social media overload? Feel free to share any tips/tricks on avoiding the timesink and keep a sane balance between the online world and the digital one.
Cheers!
–Sean
Sean, I loved this artic… … … … …le. Sorry had to step outside for a while.
I know the feeling! I always try to just go for a walk or get out.
It certainly seems that way sometimes.
This is like a conversation with my wife!
The only suggestion I have is to take a speed reading course, so you can speed up your reading.
I took one years ago and it really has helped.
OMG…that’s me!
LOL. Thanks for the eaves and the link.
Hahah! Funny but difinitely!
Your LOL Character is so dry, (as in funny dry) -> @socmedsean Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/qsTM6cn0
That is perfect! I have felt that way often and every now and then I just unplug and relax. But…I do tend to think that perhaps I should just check in to see if I should be answering any e-mails. I seem to have more difficulty unplugging than I thought I would.
Well done. It seems that more and more people are questioning the ROI of time spent on social media. The return is there if we spend our time doing the correct activities.
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/MV18uOOF via @socmedsean
Sean this is exactly how it feels sometimes!
Here’s my trick: Playtime happens on my phone when waiting for something or I’m idly watching TV. but when it’s time to work, I put myself in a spot where I can’t be distracted and write 3 lists:
1) To do list
2) Must do list
3) Must do today list
and in each of these three, I list them from hardest to easiest. Graham Skinner has led a Mastermind Group in my area for a while now and when I attended those, this was the best trick I ever took from it. I also took one other thing from this group…. “Eat the frog FIRST” Meaning get the meanest, nastiest, unfun thing done first. everything else is down hill from there.
I also take a break every hour and walk around the block or the office for 5-10 minutes and leave my cell phone on the desk. This gives me time to think, clear my head, stretch, exercise, and get my head back in the game and ready to tackle the next task.
Yep. know the feeling. Got to get out more too.
Great comic and post. It’s all in the balance.
Improved Reading quadrupled my reading speed. Taking a walk. Turning off the computer. It’s amazing how much one can get done within a short time frame on SoMe whereas one can sit in front of a running system and use 4x the time for the same content.
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/YTF3erOz via @socmedsean
Social Media Comic: The #SocialMedia Timesink – http://t.co/lfWKeI0T
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/DTR0u4Ji via @socmedsean
I like the comic strip. Lots of fun Also Sean welcome to scoopit:)
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/tGuqxNPJ via @socmedsean
plan your blogging time…write ahead and schedule your posts..allow other social media to come naturally like instagram and four square…tweet as a way to let thoughts out and then plan time for that as well…they key is to control your time so it doesn’t control you…
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/DrwZtzH8 via @socmedsean
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/KU0aJNNF via @socmedsean
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/YIshz8zT via @socmedsean
haha not bad..:) cheers
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/t77jHEpw via @socmedsean
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/430EZX0A via @socmedsean
Yeah–so I quit freelancing 9writing and social media) and now devote all my time to my own projects.
Overload? Solved! Ha ha! It makes a difference when I care about it because it’s MINE, ya know?
I think it’s important to schedule time to unplug–completely! No phone, no laptop, etc. etc. Brain breaks are a good thing.
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/U5pxMylp via @socmedsean [yep - guilty as charged!]
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/sDaWKTEE via @socmedsean
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/GGMdE1Uf via @socmedsean
Uh-huh… Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/56Y9wmP1 via @socmedsean
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/ItaL9qpW via @socmedsean
Don’t have any tips for you – I need tips! I’m a complete addict and can’t figure out how to get away from it, so I’m just going to find someone to hire me to do it.
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/tCbwuksp via @socmedsean
I’m experiencing this RIGHT NOW! I got home, checked all of my social media channels and realized nothing was new b/c I’ve been on them ALL DAY. Now I know the average person is thinking “that means she wasn’t working” but if they worked in social media, they’d understand.
The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/sijS8Li3 via @socmedsean
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink – http://t.co/vaLtRhc8 – #SocialMedia #Humor #Comic (via @socmedsean RT @strategyplanone)
The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/pL0B4blH via @socmedsean
Scheduling with Buffer has changed the way I engage, and has gotten positive responses in terms of comments and reshares on LinkedIn, Twitter and, to a lesser degree, FB. The advantage is that I can schedule a few hours or days worth of posts in one session; of course, I can always fire off a post ad-hoc if I want.
At present it dominates too much of my existence. However, it’s what is keeping the little sanity i have left remaining intact.
Once I’m am back on my feet again I will have to look for some programs to make my presence a bit easier.
The Social Media Timesink (comic) http://t.co/roDkBf0L via @socmedsean
I don’t really have any tricks. I can’t tell you how many times “just one more tweet” or just “one more update” led to evening before I knew it.
Social Media Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/e4RWDc4p via @socmedsean
Great observation
This has soooo been my Sunday –> Comic: The Social Media Timesink http://t.co/ltEUKfQu #needabreak
Take a look at this cartoon from @SocMedSean. Does this #cartoon explain how your days can go sometimes? http://t.co/X1rO1UrR
Social Media overload?
Time to take a break, it’s TGIF! Have a good weekend, everyone!
http://t.co/hliLKChP http://t.co/31lm8vTF
I like the ‘Eat that Frog’ approach too. Just started using Paymo to track time on projects and it does help keep one focussed, but doing ‘research’ on social media just leads one down rabbit-holes so easily! I like paper to-do lists too – harder to ignore and more satisfying to tick off.
Love the ‘toons btw!
To all the social media professionals out there, I think we can all relate to this funny comic! http://t.co/F8Mtpf6m #marketing #socialmedia