How to Batch Your Social Media Posts – Getting it done in Half the Time
Chances are that you have heard of the popular idea of BATCHING. This strategy can help you accomplish WAY more in much less time. You can batch laundry, meal planning, cleaning – and yes, even your Social Media Posts! Let’s dig into Why and How to batch your social media posts for your business!
For example…
How many tabs to you have open in your browser right now?
Is your phone nearby?
If you’re in the office – chances are that your day is split up into meetings with coworkers, clients, emails, phone calls and tasks.
If you’re working from home – chances are that you have dinner cooking, you’re waiting for a call from a kid’s teacher, you have a load of laundry in…and you’re helping with homework while you read this.
Without a doubt, there are no lack of things demanding our attention everyday!
Have you ever noticed that if you just take your computer to the coffee shop to get something done, magically you’re through in half the time??
Why is that? Certainly the triple espresso played into it! But more importantly, it was the power of FOCUS.
It’s not rocket science to know that we all get more done when we can just focus on the task at hand.
Related Posts:
Crash Course: Setting up a Facebook Page for Your Business
100 Questions to Ask on Social Media (and get the Conversation Started!)
So let’s talk about BATCHING.
I am a huge fan of batching. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s simply the concept of grouping like items together.
This saves time in the grand scheme of things, because every time your attention is distracted, it takes an average of 15 minutes to get your focus back on task. That is a TON of wasted time! I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have that time back, and have some fun with it!
To explain – if you are making phone calls, sit down and make all of the phone calls you have to make in a row. Focused. Done. You can move on without giving it another thought.
Want to get more comments on your social media posts…. with even LESS WORK from you? Grab the 100 questions graphics pack! These images come ready to post as-is, and also as customizable templates. Save a ton of time with these graphics today.
The same could be said for emails, writing blog posts, or even laundry or grocery shopping. Planning a block of time where you accomplish one type of task will do wonders for your productivity and mental energy.
This is especially true with SOCIAL MEDIA.
Have you ever found yourself squeezing in social media posts here and there, giving it 2 minutes of random attention at a time? (If so, you are not alone in this!)
If you are NOT Batching your Social Media Posts (and creating them in 2 minute increments here or there) – THESE 3 things happen:
1. It simply takes more time.
Each time you dive into your social media posts and work, it takes time to get reoriented and remember what you are doing. Wasted time.
Also, creativity and the freedom to expand on your ideas rarely happens in 30 second increments here and there. Ideas need some focus in order to be well fleshed-out.
In fact, my husband laughs at me oftentimes, because when I am coming up with the most creative ideas and fleshing them out – I’m often just sitting and staring. Hey, no judgement! I need some time to stare if you want some creativity from me!
2. Your social media posts will be lower quality.
This comes from lack of focus. Think about the difference in your work when you can sit and focus for an extended time, and compare it to your work when supper’s boiling over, kids are yelling and the phone is ringing like crazy. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that a “quick 2 minute” time of work during that last scenario will not be your best.
3. You will be more frustrated.
If you have a task that you just constantly work on all day in 2 minute increments, it can quickly become the thing you LOATHE. What first began as a fun endeavor becomes a nagging pest in your life.
The solution: BATCH your Social Media.
1. Plan 1-2 blocks of time each week for content creation.
During this time, you will:
- Plan out your social media posts for the week (or next week if you are ahead!)
- Create the graphics or photos that you need.
- Write the text for the social media posts.
- Schedule them to post.
- Your posts can then function on “auto-pilot” for the rest of the week!
Need some post ideas? Head here for 30 Social Media Post Ideas – and have 1 month planned for you!
2. Plan a block of time each day when you will engage with your audience.
Whenever it fits into your schedule, know that at that certain time each day, you will log into your social media accounts and answer questions, respond to comments, talk to people, and be present on your social media pages.
If you want your social media pages to affect your business, engaging with your people there is a MUST. It’s not enough to just schedule posts and leave.
Plan a chunk of time each day to be there and respond to any comments or messages.
Related Posts:
What Engagement is and Why it’s Important
Why Your Business Should be on Social Media
3. Plan 1 block of time per month to brainstorm larger ideas.
During this block of time, take a look at 1 to 2 months ahead. What’s going to be going on in your business? What are some promotions you could run? Think through them and how that will affect your social media posting.
Make assignments after this brainstorming session. If you need to hire a video out, make calls. If you need to get pricing on something, do it.
This block of brainstorming allows your social media to be a well thought-out faction of your business, instead of an after thought.
Also, this planning session allows you to do some really COOL things on your pages!
Related Posts:
How to Plan 1 Month of Social Media Posts at a Time
3 Different Ways to Batch Your Social Media
By allowing yourself focused blocks of time, you can start to enjoy the effectiveness and even FUN of social media to grow your business!
Just what I needed to know this week 😀 Thank You!
As part of my batching process at the beginning of the month, I always go check out daysoftheyear.com to find out if there are any “holidays’ I can build posts around!
Yes! That’s a great tip. Social Media holidays are always a fun thing to post around.
Glad it was helpful!
My goal is to start batching more! Thanks for the tips!
So helpful! Thank you for this.
you have no idea how much this post helped me, thank you very much
Glad it was helpful!
I love this idea with work, in general. Batching posts lets you complete a high volume of effective work in minimal time. Makes perfect sense. Smart post here.
Ryan