I was too busy at the day job today to participate in the Network Solutions “Solutions Stars Video Conference” as it happened. But the nice thing is, the free video conference has posted its video sessions online.
The conference aimed to “provide insights and online marketing tips to small businesses.”
I just had a chance to check out the first video session on the site, titled “Time Demands,” and I wanted to provide some thoughts on a topic I struggle with every day. There’s only so much time in the day after all.
In the video, Tim Ferriss, author of “The Four Hour Work Week,” starts it out talking about how often a business owner should blog and basically states that you create your own rules as to frequency. Ferriss says he focuses on writing two quality blog posts a week.
He also said he does use Twitter, but he doesn’t follow anyone. Instead, he uses it to send links to his blog or other interesting info he finds on the Web. He says, in social media, you “want to have as few inboxes as possible.” How many of us who are knee deep in social media can say we follow that advice? Not many.
I also liked this simple common sense advice, from Toby Bloomberg of Bloomberg Media: “Social media is one way to go that really gives you more than what you put in.” I agree, because if you’re a small business owner in this economy, why wouldn’t you invest in social media when it can have such a huge payoff, for free, for just the time it takes to do it?
There are obvious challenges to being involved in social media from a small business standpoint. Myself, I’m on my own, as marketer, accountant, digital media producer. I also work a day job, and have a family.
A few people in this “Time Demands” video mention spending at least two hours a day on your social media pursuits – blogging, Twitter, Facebook, etc… My challenge is finding that time. And deciding how much time can I truly be online?
If you get a chance, check out the Solutions Stars site. There is a ton of great content to watch and digest.
Subscribe to Wheel on the Web via email
October 30, 2008 at 9:33 pm |
Kevin – thanks for the mention. i think one of the secrets to a successful social media strategy – especially for small business owners wherer $ are traded off with people/timem – is to not to let the technology/tools over whelm you. Start with one or two ‘tactics that you can build on to reinforce your positioning, and the relationships you’re developing .. then add on.