15 Tips for Automating Social Media Posts

As an entrepreneur, your To-Do List is never-ending, similar to a Twitter feed on a busy day.  You’ve got calls to make and e-mails to send.  Oh, and don’t forget all of your social media platforms.

Social Media Management is always at the top, right?

But, who has time for social media when you are busy running a business, developing the next product, and meeting with potential clients?  This one task alone can take up hours, days, even weeks.

But, wait…

There is no way around it. You and your business need social media!

 

Social Media INCREASES all of the following:

• Brand recognition and loyalty
• Authority in your field
• Following and interactions with customers
• Traffic to your website / blog posts / videos
• SEO rankings

All of these reasons will drive more traffic and revenues to your business.  

However, how can you possibly run several social media platforms with all of their own individual requirements and your business?

Two solutions:

Automation and a stellar Virtual Assistant!

This is the perfect project to hand off to a Virtual Assistant who specializes in Social Media Management.

Using social automation wisely means saving time, increasing your visibility and reach, promoting your products—and having people think you are present more than you’ve ever actually been before.

It feels personal, and is well-timed, especially if you and your VA are on the same page and speak the same language!

Here are 15 tips for making the most out of social media automation with your VA:

 1. Don’t Sound Automated!

The first tip is THE most important: Just because you are automating a post, or sharing a link to your latest blog post, your message doesn’t have to sound impersonal. The simple use of “you” speaks directly to your audience and shares your authentic voice!

2. Customize According to The Social Platform!

Each social network has its own audience. Sending the same stylized message to all of your social media accounts does not communicate your savviness or intuitiveness. For one thing, most networks have different requirements. You have to condense your message to fewer than 140 characters on Twitter, whereas a Facebook post can be longer.Take the time to customize for each network … then automate!

3. Use Content Creation Wisely

It’s a great idea to find and curate highly useful, interesting content for your audience. Content curated appropriately will provide your audience with relevant information, as well as developing you as the authority on the topic.
But even if you pre-schedule pieces, do go into your schedule and add a sentence introducing the curated content, or putting your own twist on why you are sharing it. Add your personal voice and monitor responses.

4. Fill the Gaps!

Anticipating the social media posting “lows” in the month help keep your followers engaged and your voice relevant. Using apps and tools to automate posts and fill the gaps between your posts is ideal, especially if you’re busy at a three-day conference or in hospital for a minor operation or off the grid at your island getaway.

5. Plan Your Posts With Your VA Before You Go on Vacation

Just as you prepared your VA to handle your business correspondence before going on vacation, prepare your social sharing in advance. You’re probably thinking that you can in many otherwise, you also need to prepare your social sharing before you go on vacation.

Yes, mobile uploads are great, but please make sure you maintain the consistency of the strategy you developed with your Social Media VA!

6. Pre-Post About Your Vacation

If fact, share news of your vacation planning and preparation with your followers, if you think your audience would enjoy it. Doing this makes your followers feel included in your plans (disasters as well as triumphs). Including them makes it feel as if you are taking them along (not leaving them behind).

7. Never Automate Direct Messages

Nothing is as disappointing as receiving an automated Direct Message on Twitter. Nobody—and we do mean nobody—responds well to these types of automated messages. It’s a quick way to get yourself branded as a spammer … and avoided.

8. Don’t Automate ‘High-stakes’ Content

There might be a time that you create some waves on the internet! If you anticipate provoking a huge emotional response from a tweet or Facebook Post, don’t automate it—no matter how great the temptation to “get the word out” to as many people as possible. Make your post—and be there to respond in real-time.

You wouldn’t automate a FB Live, would you?

9. Never say ‘Set It and Forget It’!

Your social media platforms should not be “out of sight” or “out of mind” even though you have automated them. Scheduling posts at the optimal time and frequency is a great strategy to maintain in your following sightline.
Make it a habit to check-in at the same time each day.

Keeping an eye on the happenings of your social media accounts will ensure you respond and acknowledge your following. Engagement is key!

10. Get notified!

The next best thing to being there in real-time: Setting up your automation tool or app so that it notifies you the moment someone responds. So look for tools and apps that offer this feature, and consider them before exploring other similar tools and apps.

 

11. Meet Your Audience At The Right Time

You wouldn’t schedule a party on Tuesday at 10:00 AM when your guests can’t attend, right? Same goes for automating your posts and going live.

Check your analytics on each network to find out when your ideal audience is present and engaging with your posts the most often, especially if your audience is on different time zones.

12. Create Seasonal Posts in Advance and Pre-Schedule

This works especially well with graphics-based posts, such as seasonal image quotes!

13. Monitor Your Social Posts

Use automation tools that let you monitor your automated posts and find out what’s being said about you and your brand. (Use keywords and hashtags to maximize the effectiveness of your monitoring)

14. Use Automation to Create Reminders

One of the most time-saving strategies is to use your tools and apps to create auto-reminders about upcoming live events like Twitter parties, webinars, book launches, contest deadlines and podcast episodes.

15. Never Make Automation a Substitution for Engagement

Automation should be used to maintain consistency—not absolve you from interacting. I cannot say it enough – engagement is key!

Final Note…

Automating your social media should be seen as an aide, rather than a substitute, when it comes to social interaction and growing your reach.

Don’t forget that you don’t have to do this alone.  Having a VA that specializes in Social Media Management can take this task off your hands.  

Communicating your goals properly will help your VA understand your expectations.  If you are new to the social media world, be sure to work with a Social Media Manager – VA that can translate your vision to the your social networks.  

Remember…

Social media is the fastest way to connect with your audience. Remain present even when you’re really not.  Make the most of every opportunity you get!

Do you need an assistant to manage your Social Media?

Click HERE to discuss services that will keep your business visible and engaged with your audience.

Do you have any tips or questions regarding automation? Be sure to leave a comment below!