Make social media a business tool, not a distraction

Like many, I enjoy catching up with friends on Facebook, seeing what industry experts are talking about on Twitter and reading blogs by people with common interests. But my new fascination with social media has me trying to figure out how to keep up and still have time for work and family.Where does social media fit in with work/life balance?

The question is timely as we see more Internet users spending an increasing amount of time in social media environments. In 2009, more than four out of five online Americans are active in either creating, participating in or reading some form of social content at least once a month, according to Forrester Research.

If you love schmoozing or knowing what your social circle is doing, if you are building a brand or job hunting, devoting time to social media is smart. The challenge is that each social media platform requires contributing and responding and can easily drain hours out of your day.

“The real issue is that people have not yet learned how to be productive and use social media,” says Amy Webb, CEO of Webbmedia Group, a social media consultancy.

She says it all starts with figuring out your goal. Are you trying to connect and maybe share photos with friends, market your company, reach out to job prospects or maybe stay on top of trends in your industry? Once you determine your goal, figure out how to make social media a tool in that goal and not a distraction, Webb says.

Some of the tactics so far:

Set boundaries. Webb schedules time throughout her day to check in on her social networks. “I don’t set time limits because I would feel pressured,” she explains. Instead, she sets tasks. She will reply to those messages and comments that need an immediate response and wait until the end of the day to respond to all others.

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