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Love it or hate it, you can't escape social media. If you love it, awesome. You're already a step ahead and you know it's an indispensable tool to help promote your music. But if you hate it and think that we, as a culture and society, need to stop burying our noses in our phones and engage in actual, face-to-face communication and enjoy a legit connection with other people, well, I don't blame you. I know that I personally spend too much time on my socials. But even if you hate social media, you can't abandon this form of digital communication. It's just too much a part of our lifeblood.
You can, however, make it work for you without having to be addicted. Your online platforms do not need to take over your life and your existence. Here are the ways that you can make social media work for you.
1. Carve out designated social media time
Designate a set time to do your music-related social posts. You can do set aside one hour on a Sunday, or do it three times a week at the same time. Whatever you choose, create a schedule and stick to it. Dedicate the same time slot each week to doing social media. Make it as regular an activity as rehearsing or practicing.
[How to Revolutionize Your Band's Social Media Presence in Under 30 Minutes a Day]
2. Pre-schedule your posts
Scheduling out your weekly content is a huge time saver. Use a service like Hootsuite that allows you to schedule posts in advance and then forget about it for the rest of the day. Then all you need to do throughout the week is periodically check in for any engagement on your posts. You want to pay attention to who is reacting to what, chime in where it makes sense, make a social media appearance, and then go about your day!
[Set It and Forget It: 5 Tools That Help You Automate Your Band's Social Media Posts]
3. Delegate and divvy
If you have social-media-savvy bandmates, make use of their talents and have them handle some of the social media workload. Split up tasks among members: One member does Twitter, another does Facebook, and another focuses on Instagram. Or if you have a friend, family member, or fan who is social media junkie, why not involve them? You may be able to hand over the controls of your social media to someone you trust.
[3 Music Career Responsibilities You Can Start Delegating Today]
4. Keep it professional
You don't have to get too personal on your public social media pages (unless, of course, that's your thing). While it's understandable to want to erase the line between yourself and fans, keep your socials as professional and music-focused as possible. That way, you won't have to worry about whether or not you're oversharing.
[How Much is Too Much? A Guide to Sharing Just Enough on Social Media]
5. Ignore haters and keyboard ninjas
Don't waste time on reading and responding to the haters and keyboard ninjas who may be firing off posts about your music. I know this is tough, since you want to go on the defensive. But seriously – just let it go. Only respond to posts that demand a response. Don't waste time reading and replying to negative people. That's a battle you can't win and could end up blowing up in your face. You have more important initiatives, such as making and promoting your music.
[How to Deal With Haters on Social Media]
Amy Sciarretto has 20 years of print and online bylines, from Kerrang to Spin.com to Revolver to Bustle, covering music, beauty, and fashion. After 12 years doing radio and publicity at Roadrunner Records, she now fronts Atom Splitter PR, her own boutique PR firm, which has over 30 clients. She also is active in animal charity and rescue.
