I totally get the importance of the internet, but it takes me hours to update my website, send newsletters, blog, tweet and post on Facebook. At the end of the day, I’m seriously frustrated. How will I ever find time for my studio?

-A sculptor, Los Angeles

Whenever social media starts to feel like a burden, it’s time to reassess how you’re using it and streamline your approach. Bottom line: You’ve got to find a way to minimize the time you’re spending on-line and make sure that time is actually well spent.

1. Start Small – If you’re feeling overwhelmed it may be time to scale back. It makes more sense to invest time in building long-lasting relationships on only two social networks than trying to be everywhere, all the time. Why not master your website and blog first? Once you see people are responding and engaged by those two platforms, you can add Twitter and Facebook posts when time allows.

2. Plan Ahead – Keep a file on your desktop with a running list of blog post and newsletter ideas and topics. This way, you won’t waste time staring at a blank screen trying to figure out what to write when it’s time to publish your next post. You’ll already have a stack of ideas. Planning an exhibition or gig? Script your tweets in advance using a program like Hootsuite or Gremln.

3. Schedule It – If you wait until the mood strikes, you may never get around to posting or sending out your newsletter. You need to schedule “writing days” into your calendar just like any other appointment. Most likely, you won’t need to update your website on a weekly basis, but maybe every other month you schedule a day to upload new images. Likewise, for your blog or newsletter, decide on a regular weekly or biweekly schedule and stick to it. If you can only manage 2 blog posts a month, that’s fine. Consistency and quality are more important than frequency.

There’s no need to be a slave to social media, and not all platforms will work for all artists. Ultimately, the goal is to find a platform that you actually enjoy and use it in a way that that will allow you to get your ideas and work out into the world and build your collector or fan base.

Social Media Management Tools:
Gremlin
Hootsuite

Send your questions to Kesha:
freshartinternational@gmail.com
Subject Line: Fresh Rx