We all have busy days, busy lives and less time than we all want. So how do you and your companies make time for social media?
Well, here are some ways you can make time;
- Wake up earlier
- Work on the commute
- Start work earlier
- Multi-task
- Skip lunch
- Work through lunch
- Prioritise social over other tasks
- Go mobile whilst queuing
- Work later
- Work from home
- Go to bed later
Ironically, both social media savvy active users, and those who have no intention of using social channels will both agree with these ways. So how can the two opposing forces both agree? Quite simply one side views social media as important, the other disregards it in raising barriers and putting other tasks before it.
No time for social media
So taking the non-adopters first, social media is commonly viewed as a drain on resources, an unnecessary task that does not deliver value, something that you cannot fit into your day or your team has no bandwidth to do. These are challenges and arguments that resonate with most businesses, managers and individuals within them. Not just marketing professionals, but all departments and functions.
So, let me raise this; when the internet was invented you didn’t have to make time to use it. Just like you didn’t need to make time for email (okay, may be you do now as your inbox is constantly full.) And you didn’t need to make time to use a phone, or even a mobile when they were launched. If you get a text message or instant message, you don’t consider the time it takes to read and reply. You use these channels and mediums as they added value and made your life easier, they now have become very important to you.
Do your companies allow you to use these channels? I imagine the answer is yes because they make you more productive, benefit the company and help add value in the things you do. You can communicate with people with greater ease and access richer information quicker. You don’t make time for them, you just use them. But, for some reason social media is not viewed in the same light.
It just fits
Now let me ask you this, do you make time for social media in your personal life? I expect the answer is no. You use it as you feel it enriches your relationships, makes finding information easier and generally offers value to you. Using social media for personal interactions just happens. Five minutes here, 30 seconds there and 20 minutes later. You do not make time for it. It fits within your life, when you need it or when you want it.
Within a business environment it should be no different. If you believe it offers value, you entwine it within your daily activity. It is a potent channel and tool to better connect, reach and communicate with your prospects and customers. And as it is important, if you do need to make time then often you will do so. On the other hand, if you don’t see value in it, then it will always be burden or taboo that you will not touch, put to the back of line and find reasons why not to become social.
The two sides may never see eye to eye, but with the underlying B2B trends of social unquestionably becoming adopted more I know what side of the equation I’d rather be sitting on.
