If you’ve ever been on Twitter and have more than 100 followers, you know how chaotic it can be. Nobody likes to experience a firehose of content! And yet, some people keep their followers low to avoid the chaos. You don’t have to do that! Here are some ideas to make your Twitter experience a little easier.

Use Lists

Don’t just create lists, subscribe to others’ lists. And by use them, I mean check in on them daily. You can have many lists, and here’s a post you might like with all the details: Twitter Lists for the Power User. Yes, it’s five years old (but updated). And still a good guide. Additionally, use a scheduler like Hootsuite and create a column for your favorite list!

Photo by astro_matt

Participate in Chats

One way to avoid bots on Twitter is to participate in chats. You don’t necessarily have to participate in #DigiBlogChat, but get on one or two or three chats to find people who truly engage on Twitter. Then add those people to your own list and follow them there. By following the chat hashtag, you’ll weed out the other conversations happening on Twitter at the same time. A couple that I like are #KBtribechat (kitchens and baths) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Wednesdays, and #Innochat (innovations) on Thursdays at 9 am Pacific Time. Twitter Chats: 101 Tips for Success.

Avoid Twitter Storms

A Twitter storm is something that can happen if you post something controversial. Of course, people say controversial things every day, but sometimes tweets land at the right (or wrong) times. If you ever are involved in a Twitter storm, you may want to read How to Survive a Twitter Storm. This may happen for the right reason or the wrong reason. Either way, it can be overwhelming.

Have a Strategy

That is, know why you’re on Twitter, use a timer of some type, and get out when the gettin’s good! A scheduler can help you avoid putting too much time into Twitter. One strategy that helps a lot of people is to have a daily strategy. So you may want to post about a certain topic for each day of the week. Unless, of course, you’re just there for fun–in which case, all bets are off! Sprout Social has a terrific post about Twitter Marketing: The Only Guide You Need. And they also have a guide to which Twitter metrics you should be tracking. Hint: don’t worry too much about the vanity metrics, such as followers. And by the way, Twitter has analytics built right into the platform, so you can use those.

Believe That It’s Possible!

That might sound silly, but it’s really possible to NOT waste your entire day on Twitter. Allot a certain amount of time, and get out. If you need to have a big buzzer go off when your time is up, do that. Put the big, bright shiny object down! Of course, you can contact me if you have any issues and I’m glad to help.

Since Covid-19 struck, you might have made some changes to your life. It’s reassuring to bake banana bread, and you might have even created a Jell-O salad or three in your effort to bring back the past. Sometimes those moments of traveling back in time can be positive. You might even wonder why you stopped doing some things that you really enjoyed. Is the newest, shiniest thing always the best you might wonder? No, it’s not! So let’s bring back some of these!

Writing the Old-Timey Way

One example of going backwards is writing in a journal. These days, the bullet journal has become very popular, especially on Instagram. But how about just plain ol’ journal writing? What’s wrong with that? Nothing, that’s what! You might like these 379 Bullet Journal Ideas.

Thank You Cards

Paper ones–not virtual ones. Because who does that anymore? When was the last time you received an actual hand written thank you card in cursive? Probably Neverary! If you have a little extra time, why not send one? You might want to use Gratitude to power your social media campaign while you’re at it.

Cursive

Since cursive isn’t taught in schools anymore, using it has become a kind of secret code. To me, cursive is very, very cool. Make that very, very, very cool. Seriously, when you write that thank you card, write it in cursive! And if you have a kid who loves cursive, they might want to join the Cursive is Cool contest.

Actual Phone Calls

Remember when you used to use your phone…as a phone? lol Me, neither. Making phone calls is an excellent way to connect with people. You can even scare people by calling and not texting first. Again, nobody does that anymore. By the way, you might like this article: Yes, why not call your friends on the telephone? They might even think something is wrong if you just ring them up.

Knitting

Now knitting has enjoyed a resurgence lately, but if you’re locked down in quarantine, there’s nothing better than knitting. You can knit while you’re on a Zoom call, while binging on NetFlix, or any time. It’s fun and relaxing.

Strawberry Cake

Baking

Of course baking is hugely popular right now, and stores are even running out of yeast and flour. Who knew baking would be so necessary? And if you have to eat your own cooking, why not making it extra special? By the way, if you’d like the recipe for the strawberry cake, let me know. (I’m rewriting it as I finish this blog post.)

Conversation

No list would be complete without mentioning the art of conversation. To me, this is the most important of the lost arts. Being on our phones, watching YouTube videos, and texting each other doesn’t cut it. Do you agree? Engagement and conversation are what makes our lives better. In fact, many people have discovered that being closer to family is one of the best things to happen during the quarantine.

We’re all really busy, although since we’re mostly working from home some of us are less busy because we’re not commuting. And some of us are not working at all, which adds to our stress. We all have the same amount of time, yet how we spend it determines our success in life. Some of us may binge endless Netflix shows, while others overeat. Right now, balance is difficult for everyone.

Time Management

Many people determine what tasks get priority using the Eisenhower method of time management. You’ve seen the grid with the urgent versus the important, right? But are the urgent, not important tasks winning out too many times these days? Here’s the wikipedia on the Eisenhower Method. You can see that exercise, vocation, and planning are all in the urgent and important quadrant.

Where Is Writing in Your Quadrant?

If writing is one of those important and urgent tasks that never gets done, why?  Is there a way to shift that task so it’s higher up? And if it feels like such a chore to do it, why? Sometimes I have to ask myself what’s going on, and answering that question allows me to continue writing. So if there’s a block somewhere, knowing what’s causing it might also help you write more. And if that writing really never gets done, contact me because I know someone who could help (ahem!).

The Freshmaker!

What’s fresh in your world? That is to say, what do you consider to be fresh content? Pay attention to the articles that capture your attention as you look at other people’s blogs, or articles in your newsfeed that cause you to stop in your tracks. Could you write something similar? For example, you might like scientific articles with loads of data. Can you write about science and data for your own audience and make it interesting? Make sure that the types of articles you write will resonate with your audience, though. More about audience here: Target Audience and Social Media. Make sure to include your audience’s pain points when you write.

The Writing Itself

Which brings us to the writing itself. If you want your content to be fresh, make sure it sparkles. Edit and remove any excessively flabby parts. Be ruthless with that virtual red pen! And if editing isn’t one of your strengths, hire an editor–it’s well worth the price. You might like this article about editors: Eleven Ways an Editor Can Make You Fascinating. As you might have guessed, I’m a huge fan of editors.

Make it Fun

Without a sense of play, writing can become a chore. Do your readers enjoy themselves when they read your words? While it’s not always easy to measure, an occasional compliment from a reader can really help catapult you into writing more.

Writer’s Block

In her excellent article, How to Beat Writer’s Block, New Yorker author Maria Konnikova outlines several ways writers have cured writer’s block. Graham Green kept a dream journal for many years. Others turned to psychotherapy. Letting writers have an escape, whether through a dream journal or through exercises designed to unleash creativity allow words to flow more freely. Perhaps lowering stress through any means helps with writer’s block.

Maybe you feel that there are millions of topics to write about. Or, maybe like so many, you have no idea what to write about and your mind is blank when you start to write. Either way, you need to consider your audience first.

Who are you writing for?

If you’re just starting out, consider who your ideal reader is. If you already have readers, then you may have a better idea of who you’re writing for. Consider anything about that person that may help you. For instance, what are their pain points? What problem does your product or service solve? Write about that. You might like this article: Target audience and social media.

Who is on the platform where you’re sharing your writing?

Each platform is different and has different types of users. For instance, according to SproutSocial’s excellent article Social Media Demographics to Inform Your Strategy, “You want to make sure that people within your ideal target audience are actually participating actively there.” Look at the income, education level, and age of people on the platform you’ll be on. Does it make sense to share your content there? If not, where would be a better place?

Photo by sk8geek

What Frequently Asked Questions does your audience have?

Do people always ask you the same questions? Write about those. Even if you think you’ve been repeating yourself over and over, chances are, your audience doesn’t think so. You may want to write about the same thing in slightly different ways, too. For instance, if you’re blogging for a zoo and people always ask what kinds of animals you have there, change it up. Talk about the giraffes first, then the penguins. Or vice-versa. Search Engine Journal has some helpful examples of Frequently Asked Question pages.

Write about Where You’re Going

Are you a startup about to pivot? Would you like to move into a different area in your business? Why not write about that? After all, most people are more interested in your future than in your past. You’re probably more interested in your own future, too. So go ahead and write about your dreams and aspirations (not that it hurts to look at your own history). Right now, you might write about what you’re going to do once Covid19 and the shelter in place is over. How will that affect your business?

Do You Have Opinions?

Of course you do! If there’s something someone in your service or industry is doing that you do or don’t like, why not write about that? Also, if you pretend you’re talking to a friend as you write, that will help speed up your writing.

Still Stuck?

If the idea of coming up with content topics still has you shaking your head, this article might help: What to Write About When You Have Nothing to Write About. You could revisit an old article, do a best of post with a collection that you really like, or respond to a video or another blog post that you liked.

Sometimes the best ideas for blog posts come from clients. Like this one. And sometimes when one person has a question, it’s one that many people might ask. This definitely goes under Frequently Asked Questions! So here are a few things you can do if you’re in a time crunch, or if 30 minutes is all the time you have for social media. So for this one, I’m going to turn on my timer and make sure I can make it through.

Check Notifications

On Twitter, there’s a little blue bell. Click it and you’ll see your notifications. On Facebook, there’s either a little blue bell (on mobile) or a little red square at the top of your feed. On LinkedIn, like the others, has a little bell for Notifications. And here’s a quick summary, straight from the horse’s mouth (LinkedIn) about managing your LinkedIn Notification Updates.

Thank People

If someone has retweeted you, thank them. Same with anything of yours that someone has shared. You can return the favor if you want, but the most important thing is to thank them. There are several ways you can thank people. You might like: Beyond the Magic Words: 8 Ways to Say Thank You!

Engage

Say hello to people, comment on others’ posts, and share. Those are three really simple ways to engage. As you might know, I’m a big believer in engagement. In fact, you might like this post about engagement: For Better Social Media Results, Focus on Engagement.

That’s it!

What would you add? What would you subtract? Thanks for letting me know!

We’ve all heard that old saw about expecting the same results from the same effort. And if you do the same thing day after day and week after week, you’ll probably get the same results, right? Does the same apply to social media?

Dialing it in

Whether you’re on social media or in a classroom or delivering a lecture, it’s important to keep it fresh. That means changing it up each and every time. Evergreen content can be changed to up its Freshness Quotient. Here are some examples, from an article Sick and Tired of the Same Old Content? Create Evergreen Content!

Skipping the Homework

Nobody should skip doing their homework, even if that homework only involves a few minutes of work. And sometimes a few minutes is all it takes. For instance, research on a competitor can be done with a quick Google search. Even a single post may take you some time.

The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over the Lazy Dog

It’s a typing exercise, sure, but it’s also a life lesson. Who knew? Of course quickness will outpace laziness. Always. It’s the reason small startups can move faster than big corporations. Neil Patel explains why the best startups execute faster than anyone else. He also talks about how the best startups fail and start again.

Sloth as a Deadly Sin

“Unlike the other capital sins, which are sins of committing immorality, sloth is a sin of omitting responsibilities.” From the Wikipedia on Sloth. If you can avoid sloth, then chances are you won’t be using the same old baloney. If you’re stuck in a rut, though, you might want to shoot me an email!

If you’re a beginner on social media, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed. Your friends have been on Facebook for years, so they’re no help. What to do? Here are five simple things you can do on Facebook.

Check Your Notifications

Updates are shown through little red squares on Facebook. Click on them and you’ll see who’s trying to reach you, when a post has another comment on it, and things like that. You can change which notification you get through your settings. Here’s an excellent article about Facebook’s Notifications Being Out of Control. By the way, you can change your notifications if you’re getting too many of them.

Post Something

If you’re a business, post something about your business, such as a change in your services. Or maybe you got a new logo and would like to say something about that. Or put up a blog post. By the way, posts with images or videos get a lot more views than just text posts. And if you want to engage others on Facebook, you might like: How to Engage on Social Media: Facebook. Be forewarned, though: getting engagement on Facebook is difficult unless you pay to play.

Comment on Someone Else’s Post

Try writing a comment on a public post. You can also comment on someone else’s comment. Don’t forget that commenting increases your visibility just like creating a post does. There’s a right and a wrong way to comment, however. You probably shouldn’t comment on every single one of your friends’ posts, as Jeva Anand describes in Posting Comments to Other People’s Wall on Facebook. And you definitely don’t want to spam anyone. Please keep your comment about the subject of the other person’s post–otherwise, you could get unfriended or blocked. The good thing about commenting on someone else’s post is often they may feel compelled to return the favor and comment on your page!

Photo by Iain Farrell

Connect with a New (or an Old) Friend

That business associate you worked with ten years ago is probably on Facebook. Why not reach out and connect? If your friend has a business page, you can connect with them there, too. You probably have some new friends that you could also be friends with on Facebook. You’d be surprised who’s there. Don’t forget to set up your own Facebook business page, too, once you get comfortable with Facebook.

Join a Group or Two

There are groups for all sorts of things on Facebook. Like mountain bikes? Do a search and you’ll find a group. Enjoy traveling? There’s a group for that! Want to explore your bird watching hobby? You can definitely find fellow bird watchers. And if you’re an author, you might want to know how to promote your book with Facebook. When you’re comfortable with groups, you might even want to start your own.

Need More Help?

Still feel stuck? Facebook, just like other social media platforms, can definitely be overwhelming! It’s changing all the time and difficult to stay updated. I can definitely help you sort things out!

You might notice that I skipped over the idea of whether your cats belongs on social media at all. Because of course they do. Cats have opinions about pretty much everything. And they love to share. Even if you don’t want to hear–they want to share. So I’m assuming that your cats needs to be somewhere on social media. And since so many introverts love cats, you might also like this article: Six Facts about Introverts and Social Media that Will Impress Your Friends.

LinkedIn

Only the most professional cats can make it on LinkedIn. Some of them might be professional, but the professional air only lasts for a few minutes at a time. For most, LinkedIn is unsustainable. They will seem professional, but when the catnip appears, all bets are off.

Twitter

This has always been my favorite platform, for cats and non-cats alike. Your cat may want to express its opinion, be snarky, and bask in its own beauty. Twitter is great for the pithy comment, too. My late, great kitty Purrsilla had a great run on Twitter as @BigDataKitty. She mostly insulted people and also she got listed with some big data professionals. Just her and 49 guys in suits. Does that sound like your cat?

Facebook

But of course your cat belongs on Facebook. Why not? Perhaps a private group for your kitty would give him or her the best audience. Yes–you can have an audience with a cat (since cats are similar to the Pope and a cat might grant you an audience–if you’re lucky). People want to see cute pictures, such as your cat basking in the sun, stealing food off your plate, and of course sleeping.

Cats and TikTok

TikTok

Yes, videos belong on Tiktok, and cats love videos. Ergo your cat belongs on TikTok. All three of mine have a video together on TikTok. The video was too big to put here, but you can go look at it on TikTok. And it looks like…

YouTube

There were 2 million cat videos on YouTube as of 2015–so you can just imagine how many there are now, five years later. Here’s a wiki about cats on the Internet. And there’s this: “In 2015, there were more than 2 million cat videos on YouTube, with an average of 12,000 views each – a higher average than any other category of YouTube content.”

Need Help Getting Your Cat on Social Media?

I’m available to help!

Scrolling through Gary Vayner’s wonderful post How to Make 64 Pieces of Content in a Day, hidden on page 66, I saw a little snippet. The snippet was about using the Notes App to capture content, but I saw something else. It was about focusing on your deepest interests: “Keep challenging yourself on what you do when you’re not at work and find ways to allocate time to putting in a business or media (social media) platform around your deepest interests.”

Your Deepest Interests

What are those things you do when you’re at home? Especially at home right now, since we’re all at home a lot now (except for essential businesses). Many of us are baking banana bread, deep-cleaning appliances, and reexaming our life choices. By the way, my new favorite banana bread recipe is on Epicurious. But there are also people enjoying deeper interests that they might have felt they had no time for before. Personally, I’m reading different books, with more fiction taking precedence.

Your Forgotten Hobbies

If you suddenly have more time to think and restart some old hobbies, you could be surprised and delighted. You might like this article about your hobbies: A Good Hobby Will Make You Feel Delighted. Active leisure doesn’t seem like something people engage in as much as they used to. Isn’t it time to bring back those active hobbies? The people in my family always had a million hobbies. My brother raised Siamese Fighting Fish and rebuilt motorcycles, for instance, while I mostly read and played sports.

Your Childhood Dreams

Was there something you wanted to do that you forgot about? Maybe now you have more time and could pick it up. Stranger things have happened. And if it’s possible to combine a childhood dream with something else you might like to do, why not now? Maybe you could illustrate your own blog posts with pictures you painted. Or created videos of your efforts at engine repairs.

If Writing Is Your Passion

You could easily create many pieces of content if you enjoy writing. While others may be struggling to come up with content, you could use that one article 50 different ways. If you are someone who’s struggling, you might like this: Content Creation: What Are the Best Habits for Writing?