Yes, it’s come to that point, my friends and readers. You really cannot be on every social network today and still be productive in your business or on your blog.
The realization came to me when I cut the cord with Tailwind for Pinterest back in 2020. For the past year and a half, it was working well.
It brought traffic to the website and to other sites I’ve worked with. Pinterest drew in a few leads and clients. But back then, Pinterest changed everything.
Tailwind no longer was working and the impending bill was looming over me. I began discussing it over on Twitter X with others and learned I was not alone.
Some people even had their Pinterest accounts suspended. I had a pin taken down a few times but I appealed and got it back up.
So, instead of wasting more time mulling it over, I deactivated my subscription to Tailwind. However, I’m using Pinterest more effectively today in 2024 and it’s driving traffic to the blog, sometimes as much as Twitter X.
Time sometimes is better spent on the blog, newsletters, networking, exploring new options, and being on fewer social networks.
Table of Contents
Why You Can’t Be Everywhere
Many people in the past several years left some of the traditional social media for alternative social media like Rumble for example. Video content creators learned they could generate more views and clicks via Rumble than the old big YouTube. (as well as make money.)
Now, if you read the Rumble piece, you can share your videos to both networks if you like. So that’s a win-win for video content creators.
So when you can do one thing and have it do several things for you, you are being more productive. But in the case above with Pinterest, I had to make images just for Pinterest and be on Tailwind to share others and share mine, etc.
It was a precious time factor. If nothing else, the year 2020 taught us how precious time is. We cannot get back the time that we have lost.
Knowing Where Your Audience Are is Key Today
Now, of course, if your audience is on Pinterest that is the place for you to focus on. You can spend that extra time making pretty pins and engaging over on that network. But here on Inspire To Thrive, Twitter and Quora are my 2 biggest sources of traffic. (Until Pinterest kicked in.)
Every few months I go through an audience for me and my clients to see where their audiences are as well. That’s where I guide them to be. It really is different for everyone.
Because, what works for me, may not necessarily work for you and your website.
Lisa, Inspire To Thrive
And what worked last month may not work this month like in the case with Tailwind and Pinterest. Therefore, Twitter and Quora may not work come January. That is why I explore other networks all the time.
You have to be ahead of the social media curve!
So, if you are everywhere all the time, you are defeating your purpose to be engaging on the platform you should be spending more time on. You may want to consider deleting an account or two along the way.
Every Social Media Network Is Not A Fast Marketing Method
Social media is a means to an end but it takes a long time to get the means there. It can take up to 2 or more years to begin to generate leads via social media.
The same for blogging. It all does not happen immediately like “real ads” do.
Yes, remember real ads? The old days of print and TV and radio. You placed an ad and the phone began to ring immediately! If you put something to give away free the phone never stopped ringing. ☎️
But you can do ads like that on Google and social networks. They will cost money/investment to work. (And the time to get them right! Many people have wasted money on the ads when not done right.)
That’s why there is training for Facebook and Google ads out there. People pay others to do the ads for them today.
Nothing is FREE, cheap, or quick. All good things take investment in time and or some money.
Time Is Why You Cannot Be On Every Social Network
Today it is about the time you spend that results in generating money for your business or blog. You must focus on the short term to bring in money and the long term to be your business for the long haul.
Most businesses take 5 years to grow to generate an income! (That’s from Business 101.) So always set the expectation up that it takes time to grow a business and/or a blog if you are going it alone!
Now, if you work with others and have a team you may be able to grow those efforts a little quicker. Businesses and blogs both grow quicker when a team is working on them.
Each person is accountable for a certain part of the production and promotion of that business or blog. Imagine if you could produce another one of you to work your business.
You can always hire out until that time comes if you want to go in that direction or purchase fantastic tools to help you along the way.
Can AI Help You Manage Every Social Network?
AI helps you manage every social network by automating routine tasks and offering smart insights. It schedules posts, tracks engagement, and even replies to comments, saving you lots of time.
AI tools can analyze your audience’s behavior, showing you the best times to post and what content works best. They also help in curating content by suggesting relevant topics and trending hashtags.
This means you spend less time on manual tasks and more time creating great content. In short, AI keeps your social media game on point, making your job easier and your strategy more effective.
However, don’t be fooled by all the tools – they still cannot replace YOU and your engaging with others in real time on the social networks.
The Biggest Social Networks To Be On Today
- YouTube
- X
- TikTok
- Snapchat
If you’re trying to stay current in the social media scene, you need to be on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Facebook is still a giant for connecting with friends and engaging with groups.
YouTube is the biggest search engine behind Google, it’s owner.
Instagram’s great for sharing photos and videos, while Twitter X helps you stay on top of news and trending topics.
LinkedIn is a must for career networking. Snapchat is great for the younger audiences and their parents.
And TikTok? It’s where you catch the latest viral trends and reach a younger audience. Being active on these platforms keeps you relevant and connected.
Your Turn: Being On Every Social Network
Now, do you see why your time is why you cannot be on every social network? How many are you on today and will you be dropping any for the new year?
In the past year, I’ve actually spent more time on SEO and the efforts are starting to pay off. I get 90% of my traffic via search these days. Do you know what where your blog or website traffic is coming from?
Drop me a comment below to discuss it ⬇⬇⬇
FAQ: Why You Cannot Be On Every Social Network and Be Productive
Why can’t I manage every social network effectively?
Time is limited. Each network requires unique content and engagement. Managing all at once spreads you thin and compromises quality.
Will being on many networks hurt my productivity?
Yes. Juggling multiple platforms diverts focus from core tasks. It leads to burnout and missed opportunities.
Can I create the same content for all networks?
No. Each platform has a different audience and format. Tailoring content is essential for engagement and effectiveness.
How does focusing on fewer networks benefit me?
It allows you to create impactful content and engage meaningfully. Quality over quantity builds stronger connections and better results.
What’s the risk of trying to be on every social network?
You risk becoming inconsistent and irrelevant. Spreading yourself too thin dilutes your message and weakens your brand.
How do I choose the right networks to focus on?
Identify where your audience spends their time. Research demographics and engagement rates to prioritize.
Should I stop using some networks entirely?
Yes, if they don’t serve your goals. Focus on platforms that align with your objectives and where you can maintain an active presence.
Can automation tools help me manage more networks?
They can assist, but they’re not a cure-all. Over-reliance on automation can lead to impersonal interactions and reduced authenticity.
What’s the best strategy for small businesses on social media?
Pick 1-3 platforms where your target audience is active. Create valuable content, engage consistently, and track performance.
How can I improve my productivity on social media?
Set clear goals, create a content calendar, and batch tasks. Prioritize engagement and track metrics to adjust your strategy.
Is it okay to take breaks from social media?
Absolutely. Regular breaks prevent burnout and help you reassess your strategy. Schedule time offline to maintain balance.
She has 30+ years of experience in marketing/advertising with 12 years of experience in content marketing, social media, blogging, and SEO.
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Great post Lisa! You really break down the time commitment and audience focus for social media success. Maybe add a tip for finding your best platforms?
Hi Jhon, welcome to Inspire To Thrive. Yes, it depends on your niche and where your audience is to choose the best social media network for you.Excellent point when I update this point. Thank you and have a great day.
Great epiphany to come to Lisa. I was pretty much that way for the last… 20 years… gasp! lol There were some sites up front I knew would be a waste of time (MySpace) and others that I figured out too late were wasting my time (Ryze). I joined Facebook early, but realize I wasn’t going to spend lots of time on it; still, it connected me to my relatives for the first time in my life, so it’s been helpful… but that ain’t business! lol
Hi Mitch, thank you. Yes, it’s become less business on most of the social sites these days unless you are in the beauty business or home products etc. Nice to see you back here, hope all is well your way Mitch. Thanks for coming by.
Hi Lisa!
So true! Our time is why we can’t be on every social network.
In my 2nd month of blogging, I was completely distracted from my blog and was focused on building an audience on Twitter that would drive traffic to my blog. Apart from that, seeing huge success of some bloggers on Pinterest, I also started designing pins for Pinterest.
I came across all sorts of techniques to build a Twitter audience, used my previous graphic designing skills for Pinterest. I know If I had continued (yes, I decided to stop it), I’d definitely had a much bigger following than I currently have.
But guess what, it ripped me of the nurturing and care that my blog demanded of me. I was spending more time on Twitter and designing pins than my blog and overlooked one of the most important aspects of growing a blog including link building.
While I agree that social media can be a good tool to drive traffic and leads and sales, it’s also true that what might work for others might not work for me.
And guess what, I completely let go off Twitter. I rarely promote my blog posts there. I just use it to network with people these days. And Pinterest is long forgotten. I was also planning to put an Instagram account in place (Thank God, I didn’t start it)
Sure, once my blog gets wings, I will also develop a social media strategy to further my influence and reach.
But for now, I don’t think social media is the thing for me.
Hi Ali, I’ve taken more time away from social to work on my blog and SEO which has drawn a lot more traffic and some money as well. Nothing better than being found when something is searching for an answer and lands on the blog with the answer for them and sometimes a product to help them. Twitter and Pinterest are my top 2 social sites but I’m using them less these days or rather, smarter.Thanks for coming by and sharing your experience with us here Ali.
Right now just focussing on Pinterest and Twitter. It’s so tiring to share on every social media out there.
Welcome to Inspire To Thrive. That is a smart way to do it!
Hi Lisa, Really vibe with your thoughts here. This is where I am right now, looking for the best places to find my audience. Two social media platforms is about my max. Probably need to get back on Quora. Reddit might be the other.
Thanks, Eric
Hi Eric, I do like Quora most of the time. I don’t consider it a full social media network as it’s more a question/answer site. I do like MeWe the most and Minds so far. It will be interesting to see how social media shakes out in 2021. Thanks for coming by and have a great day Eric!
Hi Lisa,
I am focusing only on Facebook and Quora.
Spreading yourself through all the social media platforms is not worthy anymore.
I am running ads on Facebook and doing affiliate marketing also.
I have not started affiliate marketing from my blog because the traffic is still very less in my blog.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the beginners like me.
Dipanjan Biswas
Hi Dipanjan, That’s great. Did you see the changes coming up for FB ads with the Apple case? It will be harder to have effective FB ads after January 1st. (Not impossible but just harder and for more $$$)
I love Quora. You are most welcome and thanks for coming by on this one. Make it a great day!
Probably, it makes less sense trying to be active on all the social networks. Less is more & good too. Smartly, picking the top 5 social media platforms where one’s potential target users are ditching their hours – that’s good enough to target. Hope I’m right, Lisa?
Hi Jenna, I’d recommend the top 3. Each social media network today is changing so rapidly and with so many more components that 5 would be nearly impossible to keep up on. I hope that helps you.
I’ve experienced this too. Sometimes less is more. It is very difficult to maintain the same level of popularity on different social networks. It is better to concentrate on one and get better conversion.
Hi David, Welcome to Inspire To Thrive. Yes, it is difficult and time-consuming to manage them all even with tools as you must be ready to respond quickly to inquiries, etc. Thanks for coming by on this one and have a wonderful day.
Excellent points and great topic Lisa.
You can NOT be successful if you focus on every social network. If you’re just getting started, start with just one platform where you can find your target audience.
Be it FB groups or Twitter or Instagram, you should be able to connect with influencers in your niche and add value to that platform by frequently posting something useful.
Once you build a strong following on ONE platform, you can leverage that to grow your following on other platforms. Until then, focusing on one platform is the smartest thing.
Great insights BTW. Keep up the great work.
Hi Anil, thank you. Oh yes, I always tell clients to pick one to start and then add one if you can leverage that first one. I also recommend not posting the same thing to each and every network. So many small businesses, etc do that today too. Thank you for coming by and taking the time to comment on this one Anil. Make it a great day and weekend ahead.
Everything in life is change Lisa. This may be life’s most difficult lesson. We attach to one site or a bunch of sites, then, sites disappear because life is change. I run everything through my blog and blogs of my buddies and spend less time on social because social is in turbulent times. changing times. Way too much flux on those sites. Excellent post and powerful message.
Ryan
Hi Ryan, isn’t that the truth – everything in life does change! Today more rapidly than ever before too. Thanks for your input on this one Ryan. Make it a great day and weekend ahead. I’m sure you will.
Lisa, I also agree that bloggers and marketers cannot be on every social network.
Simply use the ones that work for you and discard the ones that do not.
Hi Renard, thank you for coming by and commenting on this one. Yes, it’s time to really see which social networks to be on and which to ditch in the coming year! Make it a great day!
Hi Lisa,
Great topic especially these days where there are so many platforms of social media to use. I must confess, I was curious about Rumble and others, but I put so much time into Facebook and Youtube that I’m sticking with it. I do believe that being on so many social media outlets takes so much time and time is what we need to use wisely.
When on a social media platform we have to engage what we share. If we are on too many, we cannot keep up. I like to keep it to two or three social media platforms so I can keep up, not only what I publish, but more importantly, what others publish. Its in sharing that we can grow.
-Donna
Hi Donna, Thank you. With Rumble you can share to YouTube as well so it’s doing 2 things with one! Love it! And many are getting more views via Rumble than YouTube. I know Ryan Biddulph noted that in a previous comment. I’ve seen it too and I’ve made a little money to boot! You are correct though that it takes time to grow a network and engage in it. That’s why we have to be choosey on which to stick with or not if they (social networks) change.
Even my FB page, unless I do ads, it’s nothing doing much right now. It has become a Pay to Play game and I’m sure groups may be hit next.
Thank for coming by here Donna and I hope you are well. Been thinking of you and your mom.
Love this post, Lisa. I remember blogging about this years ago! It was such a struggle to be everywhere at once, yet apps like Buffer helped us achieved that in some ways. If you can find a few good tools, like you have, focus on them. Why stress yourself out trying to be everywhere, although we know you are the Queen of Social Media. This is a great reminder to everyone! Thanks for sharing it!
Hi Bren, thank you. Yes, it can do that to you if you let it. I love shutting down the laptop and phone at night before I go to bed to unwind. But there are days I awake early and think I need to do this or that for someone or my business. Then I’m up at 3 am working away. I hope to be more razor-focused in 2021 and get my ample sleep first.
Seeing the extra time spent on Pinterest with Tailwind was an eye-opener. I still am not sure of all the changes Pinterest made but I know there were big.
So I hope this helps other bloggers and businesses who use social media a lot to do the same – look at where they are, know if results are there or no and what else is upcoming like the alternative social sites etc.?
For example, Rumble video seems to draw more views than YouTube. Maybe being a bigger fish in a small pond is better than a small fish in a big pond. I’m watching MeWe as well. 2021 will be a year of the social media shakeup and it will be interesting to see where it all ends or goes. That’s why having a home – like a blog or a website is of utmost importance. I tell all my clients that. Social means is a means to an end, to their website, or for so action on their website. Happy Wednesday Bren and thanks for coming by!
I love your post Lisa… and it confirms my thoughts, which you’ve so kindly shared within it.
When we invest time in trying to promote our businesses, it’s easy to get sucked into a gamblers mentality when things aren’t working out. Perhaps if I continue, things will turn around. Maybe if I give it one more shot my traffic will grow? If I invest more it might make a difference?
There’s actually some sense in these thoughts, since you can’t just quit at the first obstacle you encounter. However there comes a point where you have to be completely objective about the time you’re investing versus the rewards you’re enjoying.
At that point you have to be prepared to reevaluate and change course… it looks like this is what we’ve both done regarding Tailwind and Pinterest.
Hi Paul.
Thank you and thanks for inspiring me on this one too! I thought it was just me at first until I sent that tweet out. That’s one thing I’m not, is to quit anything. There are not many places I’ve made a full-blown pullout. But if I keep putting money or time in with no return, then it’s time to reduce those assets. I will keep my Pinterest up and occasionally use it.
I see more benefit in writing better content with SEO in mind and writing on other blogs and networks to spread the word. Less time on social or at least on less social media sites as we enter into the new year. (If you remember, too I did join a bunch of new alternative social networks too!) It will be interesting to see how 2021 pans out in social media. Thanks for coming by Paul and make it a great rest of the week there.