Six Ways to Save Time When Updating Social Media and Web Content

Updating your social media, website, and blog is a process that’s never-ending. Continually pumping out valuable content is not only challenging, it’s time consuming. Sometimes you need to take a break from marketing and spend more time doing things like, you know, actually running your business. Here are six ways you can save time when updating your social media and web content.

Stockpile Content

Whenever you have extra time, create an extra post, article, or update. Save those extras for “emergencies” when you truly don’t have the time to update at all. If you have a stockpile of content, you’ll be covered. Don’t, however, use your stockpile as an excuse to slack – that will defeat the whole purpose of it!
Keep a Topic List

One of the best things you can do to help yourself is keep a running list of topics and ideas. At least once per week, have a brainstorming session where you spend a couple hours or so just coming up with potential updates – general topics, specific titles, etc. Sometimes coming up with an idea is the hardest and most time-consuming part of updating. When you can just pull from your list, you can save a lot of time. Just don’t let your list get too low. Whenever you’re nearing the end of it, spend an hour brainstorming fresh ideas.
Publish Series

Sometimes there’s just too much to say about a single topic for just one update. Take advantage of the surplus of information and publish a series of posts dedicated to one topic (for example: part one, part two, etc.). Write it all at once, and you’ll be covered for the next few days. Whenever you can stretch content, it will save you time and effort.
Go Beyond Words

It’s most beneficial for you to publish content in a variety of mediums. You shouldn’t only publish words and articles; you should mix it up with photos, videos, infographics, links, and more. When you’re short for time, “cheat” by updating with only a visual medium or a link. You’re still providing new content, but you saved yourself a lot of time. It’s win-win.
Turn It Over to Comments

You have readers, fans, and followers, so lean on them when you’re in a pinch. User engagement, conversation, and feedback are so important anyway. Instead of doing all the talking, keep it short and then invite your readers to contribute in the comments.
Use Automation Services

There are a variety of tools and services online that can help you automate your social media posting. It’s not recommended that you rely on automation for updating your content on a regular basis, but it can help save some time when necessary. Services like Buffer, Twitter Feed, and Bundle Post will allow you to create, store, and schedule future updates. Other tools like Hoot Suite and Dlvr.it will put all your social media in one place, making it easier to update and analyze all your content across many different platforms in less time.