We’re just a few short weeks into learning about Google+, and we’re already starting to see plenty of news reports about the potential for fatigue. One of the biggest features of Google+, the ability to corral friends, work associates, family and others into separate circles, is being cited as one of the reasons for the social media overload.
Some have found the creation of these groups too tedious, too confusing and too overwhelming.
It’s hard to predict where this is going. Adoption of social networks tends to be slow and organic, but Google+ broke the rules – at least initially. Building on the power of Gmail and a closed invite system, the new network quickly attracted millions of members.
But do we REALLY need another social network?
With so many options to choose from, we could spend our entire day updating statuses and sharing our thoughts – while leaving all of our other tasks untouched. In fact, the NY Times recently wrote on this issue and told the story of Jessica Lawrence – a woman who opted to focus on a single network (Twitter) rather than branch out to a variety of networks. For Jessica, streamlining her social media activities not only helped her avoid burn out, it also helped focus her energies where she needed them most.
With that in mind, here are 3 tips that can help you streamline your activities to avoid social media overload.
  • Syndicate your posts. You likely need to have a presence on the big networks (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and now Google+) but you don’t have to provide them each with distinct content. It is easy to get your Twitter posts to appear on Facebook for example or to have your blog posts automatically pushed through to Twitter or LinkedIn through the use of an RSS feed. Automating as much as you can and syndicating to all your networks at once can reduce the amount of time you spend on social networking.
  • Focus your energy where you get the best results. For Realtors, there no one “catch-all” solution. Different networks tend to perform in different ways – and they are highly dependent on your location and demographics. Experiment to figure out which network gathers you the best response (not just in terms of followers or popularity but in terms of real potential clients and referrals), and focus the lion’s share of your social time there.
  • Use your favorite network as a dashboard. Some people prefer the ease of Twitter, some like the personal approach of Facebook, some are compelled by the new features of Google+. The network you like the best can serve as your hub, pushing your information to the other networks as needed.
Because we have so much to choose from, we’ve become social nomads. We pack our bags full of followers, and set up shop at the newest place – until the next one comes along. While that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, we’ve got to remember that what matters is that you know who is in your network, and why they’re there.
Remember, connections are the lifeblood of the real estate industry, and social media is just another way for you to communicate with the people you know.