Why would a blogger obsessed with goal setting advise you not to focus too hard on your Social Media Goals?
That’s right, I don’t think you should focus too hard. When we overthink our strategy the result can be ‘Analysis Paralysis’. We start delighting in the details to the point that no work actually gets done!
Real life example: I have a friend who wastes spends a solid hour every day or two analyzing his Twitter background. Is it the right color? Will more people follow me if I add a different picture?
The end result is a lot of time pondering and not enough time writing.
Here are five tips to help you avoid analysis paralysis:
Write a Game Plan
Every morning I crawl hop out of bed and head into my kitchen with my iPhone and Macbook. First I review the notes I jotted down the day before, then I brainstorm for 10 minutes about which ideas I can use, how to use them, and toss the notes that don’t make sense. Once I’m ready I blog, tweet, and edit videos for an hour.
Writing a game plan every morning lets me stay focused on creating new content and hitting up friends to collaborate.
Follow the 70% Rule
The 70% rule comes from the military playbook. When an officer is 70% certain that a strategy is correct, he or she is expected to act.
I don’t dwell on mistakes or regret taking action – you have to learn somehow.
Phone a Friend
Simple: Ask a friend or trusted colleague for advice. I tell my friends they can rip me apart if what I put together sucks (and I give as good as I get).
Table It
Sometimes you just need to put a project on the shelf for awhile so you can take a look at it later with fresh eyes.
Tip: put a sticky note on your work with the problems/questions/challenges you’re having trouble getting past.
Let it Go
Know when to say when! Some of the best decisions I have ever made are to abandon blog posts about what I thought were amazing topics. Turns out I write better when I’m motivated and take action instead of trying to perfect, perfect, perfect.
Blogs and social media aren’t works of art. They’re conversations, and I don’t know anyone who can have a ‘perfect conversation’.
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