Comments on: How to Manage Your Time with Social Networks

By: Harrisburg Web Design

Harrisburg Web Design — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:33:16 +0000

I also turned off email notifications which can suck you in. The downside is I have lost a few leads that way. On the other hand if they are serious they can get to my site easy enough and email me.

I check Twitter 1-2 times a day, Facebook 1-2 a week and Linkedin 1-2 a month.

I disagree about Tweetdeck, it can save you time. You just need to manage when and how much you use it, just like updating directly on Twitter.

Harrisburg Web Design´s last blog post… Custom Twitter Pages

By: Meryl

Meryl — Wed, 20 May 2009 21:04:41 +0000

@Helen, that’s a great idea to list the times you’re online. The nice thing about twitter is that the messages will stay there (when it behaves). Many of us look at older tweets — not the ones from the last 10 mins.

By: Helen Hoefele

Helen Hoefele — Wed, 20 May 2009 01:04:07 +0000

Great list! Here are three things that have helped me cut back on my online time:

(1) In my profile, I list that I’m generally only online on evenings or weekends, which I try to stick to(though I’ll sometimes check in during lunch breaks or downtime).

(2) On Twitter, my goal is to try to post at least 2 or 3 tweets a day (often RTs of things that catch my attention), I feel this at least helps give the appearance of steady activity.

(3) I’ve overcome my fear of “what if I miss something”…generally the important stuff gets retweeted or referenced often enough.

Hope that helps!

Helen Hoefele´s last blog post… Green Shoots: Not Just About the Short-Term

By: Meryl

Meryl — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:24:44 +0000

@Davina, exactly. I learned early on not to use twitter apps (except when in a twitter chat) because it’s very easy to let it swallow up your time. It’s a great water cooler and helps freelancers get out there and talk with folks.

By: Davina

Davina — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:01:37 +0000

Hi Meryl. It can be overwhelming, I agree. These are good tips you’ve shared — I too, stay offline when I’m focused on other things.

I used to keep Twitter open while I worked, but it was too tempting to click over to see if I was missing a good conversation. Before I knew it, at least 10 minutes had passed.

I have my hands full with working to earn a living being the top priority, and then keeping up with the blog and Twitter. So many options. It’s all good when we can keep it balanced.

Davina´s last blog post… Positively Breathing — Not According to Plan

By: Tumblemoose

Tumblemoose — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:38:30 +0000

Hi Meryl.

I think that LinkedIn I consider more of my Professional connections platform and the contacts there are far fewer for me than say, Twitter.

George

Tumblemoose´s last blog post… What Kindergarten taught me about writing today

By: Meryl

Meryl — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:27:17 +0000

Thanks, George. You’re right that Facebook has too many apps. That’s another thing — just click “Ignore.” No one’s feelings will be hurt if you don’t install the app.

How is LinkedIn not interactive enough?

By: Tumblemoose

Tumblemoose — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:18:41 +0000

Meryl,

For someone who’s work is all computer based, the lure of social networking is a great temptation.

We can come up with all kinds of reasons to justify a big chunk of time “networking” and while I think some time spent is valuable, it’s too easy to become THE thing we do on a daily basis.

I love your suggestion about using folders, I’ll have to try that.

I end up using Twitter almost exclusively, although I have profiles at LinkedIn and Facebook. LinkedIn isn’t interactive enough for me for regular use and FB is just plain outta control with karma, birthday and about a million other inane invites and requests.

George

Tumblemoose´s last blog post… What Kindergarten taught me about writing today