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Social Media Strategies - Navigating the waters.

Caesar Rondina, Author | Public Speaker
7 hours ago
9 min read

INTRODUCTION:

Greetings. I hope you have enjoyed my blog posts so far this year. I try to mix up the topics to address all my email requests. Also, thanks to my new subscribers for joining our family. I keep my promises. We will never share or sell our email list because your privacy is paramount to us.

Occasionally, I receive emails discussing social media and how best to utilize it. This week, I thought I would discuss that with my readers. No, this post is not about how to get your friends to see your content; it is geared towards those who use social media to get their message out to others. This is challenging because each platform serves different purposes, and we never know the best times to post. There are many things to consider due to time zones and the time in other countries, etc.

Yes, you can spend tens of thousands of dollars a year advertising on social media, and some companies will do that for you. As always, that comes with a price. Well deserved because it takes a lot of time and research to figure this out. I did that for a few years until I found the high cost—a price many cannot afford. Therefore, they rely on word of mouth. I started saving money by creating my one-minute video promos. I found I loved the technology and began producing them for others. As that grew, I turned it into a small business. I create book trailer videos for other authors, advertising for some small businesses, and more. Yet, it is tricky to figure out the best times to advise them to post.

Many programs will assist you in figuring out when the highest volume of users are, but that is not enough. I spent months rotating the times of my posts to gauge the best times to post on the various platforms. However, that is not written in stone, and it changes. In addition, many who post with the intent to get their message out forget that many people work overnight and check their social media sites at different times than someone who works days.

A good example of this is my blog post. For years, 8:30 pm EST seemed to be my sweet spot. Then I noticed my site visits dropped and changed my posting time to 7:30 pm EST, which has also been my publishing time for a while. I recently changed the publishing time to 7:00 pm EST. In just the past two weeks, I have seen more engagement. I have also changed the day of the week I publish my post. So far, Monday seems to be a good choice. The purpose of the post is to help you understand the background, and if you are posting for engagement, it may help you get more engagement. Let's face it: not every video goes viral.

HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE THE WORLD OF SOCIAL MEDIA?:

In today’s digitally driven society, social media has transformed how we communicate, share information, and conduct business. While it offers innovative ways to connect and engage, the plethora of platforms and constant influx of content can feel overwhelming. So, how do you successfully navigate this complex landscape? First, understand that social media is a double-edged sword.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, now "X", Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, TikTok, and others serve various purposes. They connect friends, foster communities, promote businesses, and provide a platform for self-expression. However, the ease of access can lead to information overload, misinformation, and a distortion of real-life interactions.

Before diving into social media, we must know with whom you wish to engage on these platforms. Are you looking to:

- Connect with friends and family?

- Promote a business or personal brand?

- Stay informed on news and trends?

- Network professionally?

- Pursue hobbies and interests?

Understanding your goals can guide your social media interactions, helping you develop your experience to align with your objectives. For example, besides my personal social media accounts, my business accounts are for one purpose: promoting my blog and/or books. Knowing that purpose, I can tailor most posts to align with those goals.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PLATFORM:

You do not need to target every platform if you are a business trying to sell a product. However, I hope to have deep pockets. Over the years, social media algorithms have significantly changed. Therefore, you must spend more to reach more people. Due to the number of users on a platform, the average post lives on a person's newsfeed for 13 minutes. After that, they need to scroll down a lot to see it. Most people only scroll so far down their feed before they move on. However, some will scroll back days to see what they missed. There are no numbers written in stone on this. That increases the challenge of determining the best times to post something. Let's look at a few platforms.

Facebook is great for networking, sharing life updates, and engaging in community activities,
Instagram is Ideal for visual storytelling, fashion, travel, and lifestyle content,
"X", Twitter is useful for news highlights, real-time conversations, and trending topics,
LinkedIn is best for professional networking, job searching, and industry-related discussions,
Truth Social is ideal for open conversation with less chance of censorship,
TikTok appeals to younger audiences interested in creative and entertaining short videos.

Select the platforms that resonate with your objectives, ensuring you effectively portray your social media presence. Crafting a positive online persona is vital.

Be genuine in your interactions. Share real experiences and emotions to connect with your audience more deeply.

Regularly posting will help to maintain visibility. Create a content calendar to plan and schedule your posts strategically.

Engaging with your followers is critical. You can accomplish this through comments, shares, and direct messages. Acknowledge their contributions to foster community. Lastly, the quality of your content should focus on creating meaningful and high-quality posts that resonate with your audience rather than sharing content for the sake of posting.

Remember that this is a digital world. If you post things publicly, anyone can and may see them. This can open you up to rude and undesired comments, often hurtful ones. Some people like to stir the pot and see what comes to the surface. This is especially true regarding topics that may be sensitive for people, such as politics.

The vastness of the Internet means that privacy is paramount. Be proactive in managing your online privacy. Adjust security settings to familiarize yourself with security and privacy settings on your profiles; control who can see your posts and personal information. Be selective with followers. Carefully choose who you allow to follow or connect with you to maintain a safe online space, and limit Personal Information. Avoid sharing sensitive details that could jeopardize your safety or privacy, such as your address or phone number.

Many people value privacy. In today's digital world, people are reluctant to provide certain information about themselves, especially their email addresses. I occasionally remind people and also place the statement on my website that we will never sell or share your email address. People get enough junk email; they do not want more.

Fake news and misinformation are abundant on the internet. In the era of information abundance, it’s vital to discern reliable sources from misinformation. Here’s how to navigate through the process. Cross-reference news and information from multiple reputable sources before sharing. Fact-check websites to evaluate the accuracy of their claims.

Most importantly, think before sharing. Ask yourself if the content is relevant and accurate and contributes to a positive discourse before sharing it. Sharing things such as funny jokes, quotes, or certain memes is fine as long as they are not anti-Semitic, hateful, promote discrimination, or anything immoral. Use good judgment.

Take Breaks When Needed. Social media can be addictive and may lead to mental fatigue. It’s essential to take breaks to maintain your well-being. I usually take a break from posting on certain holidays. Set intervals where you disconnect entirely from social media. These do not have to be long breaks; don't be afraid to let your followers know that you may not be posting. People can forget you as quickly as they found you. Engage in activities that recharge you mentally and emotionally. After a break, assess how social media impacts your mood and happiness, adjusting your usage if needed.

Let's take my blog for an example. I post a blog post each week, except two or three weeks a year. Without the emails I receive from my readers with suggestions of what they would like to see me discuss, it would be tough to develop a new post each week revolving around the same topic. This is not a one-topic blog. I call it a diversified blog because I will discuss various issues rather than just embellishing around one. I prefer this because most people want to read about different things.

The second reason is that I do not know everything. This is an excellent way to learn about different issues and topics. I pride myself on providing accurate, verified information before I write it out. Additionally, it helps me to state my opinion when I wish to, and I make it clear when a statement is my opinion. Regardless of how I feel about a subject matter, which I may state in an opinion section, the information I supply is factual and not biased.

STAY UPDATED ON TRENDS:

This is easier said than done. Like Donald Trump, who relied on his son, Baron, to campaign on TikTok, I rely on my readers to help me watch the trends. This is done through the emails I receive. The world of social media is ever-evolving. New trends, features, and policies emerge regularly. Stay informed by following industry leaders, maybe your competitors in business in the social media space. Participate in learning opportunities to enrich your understanding of best practices and trends. Be a part of forums or groups that discuss developments in social media for insights and advice.

Many services are available where people can buy likes, followers, or views on their posts. In the majority of cases, these are known as Bots. They are not real people. However, advertisers will buy them to make it appear as if their content is widespread and popular, and many people will read or view a post because it has many views or likes.

I am not a fan of likes or any of this data. It can be misleading, and some people who make posts take it very seriously if they do not receive a lot of likes or views. There are documented cases where someone suffered from depression because they consistently did not receive many likes or views. Considering what I said earlier, a post does not live long on someone's newsfeed unless the person who made the post is paying for an ad campaign.

Spending 20 or 30 thousand dollars on social media advertising is not unusual when I publish a new book. Generally, social media users do not like all the ads they see. However, remember that what those advertisers spend on advertising keeps social media platforms free for you and their users. Social media is a business—a multi-billion dollar a year business. Nothing comes for free. Someone is paying for it, and you can access it for free.

Lastly, be mindful of your content. Over the past few years, social media platforms have tightened their belts regarding what is and is not allowed. Almost any post that promotes violence will be taken down by a platform. We must also remember that we live in a world with others, some of whom may suffer from emotional problems. Therefore, care must be taken when you post something. Also, over the past ten years, there has been much conversation about fair or unfair censorship by some platforms. I agree with certain forms of censorship. However, censorship should not occur because a platform does not agree with your respectfully written opinion, which is the key word, respectfully, written opinion.

IN CLOSING:

As you have just read, navigating the world of social media can be challenging, but it doesn't need to be overwhelming. By defining your purpose, selecting the right platforms, maintaining an authentic online presence, and being mindful of privacy and misinformation, you can cultivate a positive and rewarding social media experience. Remember, it’s about balancing connectivity and authenticity while caring for your mental health. Using these strategies properly will lead to a successful and enjoyable online and social media experience. Do not get discouraged if you are not a celebrity with a following or an already established business with an established brand. It takes time, patience, and diligence to achieve this.

I hope you enjoyed this week's blog post. Please subscribe to my blog, YouTube, or Vimeo Channels, and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and "X" (Formerly Twitter).

Please feel free to leave a comment. If you want me to discuss a topic, you can email me at crondina@caesarrondinaauthor.com. As always, I accept guest blog posts. If you wish to write about a topic, email your finished draft in Word format to crondina@caesarrondinaauthor.com. I will review it and contact you. Thank you.

Be safe, stay well, and focus on being happy. And remember to always: