This is a “reprint” from my Social Media column in the Career Development Network‘s  March-April 2019 Newsletter – Volume 41, Number 2.

This New Year isn’t so new anymore as the months pick up speed and calendars get full. One result is that my motivation for social media fades. I know I need to keep up, but as my time and energy start to wane, social media ends up on the back burner. If you are like me, it may be time to refresh your approach. Luckily, there are a few small steps we can take to get back on track.

Set Up a Social Media Schedule

Develop a short list of social media tasks you want to accomplish every day, week, month, etc., and add them to your calendar! Social Media Today [1] provides a sample checklist to get you started. Making decisions in advance about what you’ll do and when can take some of the anxiety out of the process.

Create New Content

Sharing what others share is effective, and easy, but mixing in your own original posts is important, too. Constant Contact [2] created a 30-day content challenge with ideas like “Answer a Question”, “Share something funny”, “Give a shout out to another organization,” and many more. Explore the suggestions and add a few to your schedule.

Find Some Inspiration

When is the last time you followed new accounts and hashtags? It may be time to add an influx of creativity to your social media feed. Another Social Media Today resource [3] suggests five tools to find inspiration. One tool, Forecast, can help you find new events, while another, Feedly, helps you find new websites and forums.

What will it take to move you from passive to active with your social media accounts? It’s absolutely okay to take a break from social media (I even recommend it), but don’t stay away too long. Whether you are searching for a job, building a community, or extending the reach of your career office, find a way to jump start your social media efforts.

Resources

[1] Social Media Today. Your Ultimate Social Media Checklist. https://bit.ly/2NpnvEs

[2] Constant Contact. 30 Day Social Media Content Challenge. https://conta.cc/2k21rw8

[3] Social Media Today. 5 Tools for Social Media Content Inspiration. https://bit.ly/2BUHEun