As a Social Media Manager, the most popular argument I have heard from small businesses regarding social media management is, “Who has time for that?” The belief is social media management takes too much time. There are budgets and sales to manage, inventory and emails to update, and now social media? What I found interesting is business owners would rather pay for a service they could do for themselves, with ease. Most people do not realize how easy it is to implement their own social media.

Managing your social media presence will require some time but not as much as some people think. Follow these small tips to get you started:

Start with a scheduling calendar. Plan what you want to say. Random posting is okay, but remember time is a factor. Most business owners are not tied to social media all day. You can search online for a printable version, use a calendar app, or invest in a social networking scheduling service.
Schedule your posts. Many programs offer the ability to schedule your posts days, weeks, or even months in advance. Native apps offer a more organic feel, but there are other apps to help manage several programs from a single program.
Remember to Connect with Your Audience. Designate a time to respond to your customers. Your posts are supposed to generate connection with your audience; however, if you ignore them, you will lose them.

So how much time and money can you save? A Social Media Strategist can charge $100 per hour and a Community Manager can charge $60 per hour for minimal posts and engagement. Realistically, social media should have been figured in your marketing budget a few years ago. If you are still investing in print ads, your business is losing exposure. Aside from management fees, a Social Media Manager would require ad costs to help expand your exposure. These costs can add up pretty quickly. The beauty added advantage is no one knows your audience like you do. Your voice is probably the most important voice of your brand. You have the added the advantage of relating to your audience on a level no one else can.

Use your platform to build a community, service your customers, and expand your business. Stay tuned for tips and advice on managing your social media presence without a social media manager. I believe the person who can best understand its audience is the person who is most dedicated to its audience, the business owner.