By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Getting our writing life organized may or may not be one of our personality traits. But today’s writer must incorporate organizational skills into her social media practice, or she will be overwhelmed and fail.
I’ve experimented and will continue to explore methods to work effectively and efficiently with social media. What is critical for success are three factors:
- Establish your social media goals.
- Develop your brand.
- Know your readers, their needs, and their preferred social media platforms.
Here are 6 ways I’ve learned to organize social media into a manageable—and enjoyable—process.
- Use a social media calendar.
When are blogs and posts due? Plan ahead for holidays and vacations—any time you will not be at your desk yet posts are due. A calendar allows the writer to send reminder notifications to herself to begin a blog or form a post in advance of the due date. - Enlist a social media scheduler such as Hootsuite or Buffer.
These tools aid the writer by showing when his/her followers are engaged online. Schedule posts and regularly examine analytics to see how your hard work is performing. Make adjustments and move ahead. - Know where to look for content.
Subscribe to blogs and follow others who are valuable to your writing career. The writer’s go-to sites for education, entertainment, and personal fulfillment often reflect readers’ preferences.What are your readers’ concerns? Not every post should be about writing or publishing. Dig deep and occasionally step from behind your desk to address other topics. A reader is a whole person, not just a reader or writer. - Establish a social media folder in email.
I am prompted for new blog post ideas wherever I go. By filling a social media folder with topics, photos, and snippets of information, a writer never runs out of ideas. This can be your first stop when looking for new and original ideas. - Create a spreadsheet that fits your needs and method of working.
Spreadsheets keep social media in order and arranged according to the writer’s specific needs. - Analyze performance
Various platforms indicate how posts are measuring up with various analytics. Study the stats and make adjustments.
Looking for additional resources? Social Media Examiner.
What is a social media organization tip you can share?
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. Her titles have appeared on the 
CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian Fiction books of 2014.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Suspense Sister, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference with social media specialist Edie Melson. She teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.
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