Your Blog is Not Your Job

This is so true Chris! Taking back control of our time and spreading it evenly and realistically across social media activity is crucial to tending to the things that add value to our work either financially or non financially. Easier said than done though which, I guess, is why we need to deliberately plan it!

Thank you Chris. We're on the same bloglength..er..wavelength. Now, about that egg-timer affiliate program…

I don't know Chris, I think it is part of your job – a big one. I agree that we have to set limits. It's always a balance of focusing on the high-payoff activities. However, this blog is the core of your brand, it's marketing 2.0 at it's finest. To put it on a back-burner for the immediate gig (which you must admit come more frequently now due to your growth via the blog), could be short-sighted. It's similar to when people get super famous and start to ignore their fans. Or, when small start-ups let a major client consume them and stop their search for new customers. If ever there was a person in social media who will find a way to still feel highly engaged and connected via their blog in spite of their growth – it's you! You are a pioneer. My guess is you will feel a strong pull to find a way to keep up your blog activities AND do the paying gigs. I always wondered why you don't invite more guest posts from people you admire. We love your work, so – who's work do you love?

I hope the above doesn't sound like a criticism. I just honestly believe that your blog truly is your job!

I love this post. I often say to my folks that “social media is not your job. It's one of the tools within your marketing arsenal to reach people, in order to do your job. But you must focus on income producing activities if you want to make money.” Thanks for delivering that message loud and clear.

Chris, well said, but it goes beyond what you say. To me, blogging, or any type of social media presence is about the will to sustain. You're right about minding your time, working on “work,” but what I see so many people do is jump into the social web, go nuts and posts lots of meaningless stuff, waste lots of time, and then when the millions don't flow in, they drop off the face of the social universe.

Willing to sustain is not just about making media, but engaging. And instead of just making media, commenting and expanding a colleague's content should part of your social media life, and yes – part of your job.

Great reminder! I needed that Chris. Thanks! I am letting things go undone that should be my objectives.

Great post, Chris! I work with others to be more efficient at work, and one of my target areas is usually social media — the getting sucked into twitter for 20 mins, posting pics of your kids on facebook, checking on your FB games during the day kinda stuff — which we usually rank 'low' on list of priorities, yet 'high' on time spent. I tell folks not to even turn on these programs until they've gotten one 'high' priority task done – and even then, only if they feel like it. Some folks definitely need to be weaned from the rush of SM interactions and immediacy. Blog writing is another one – how much time do you spend writing vs. doing something else? (Not a question for you personally; it's rhetorical…) And is this the 'best' use of your time to meet your BHAG (Big Hairy Assed / Big Hairy Audacious Goal)?

Thanks for the reminder. Alot of the time I get stressed if our blog doesn't have new daily content but my blog is not my job and I need to keep that is mind. Thanks for sharing and making us think about this important point.

Thanks, Chris. It's so important to remember to keep goals and objectives in focus. I also find those shift over time–originally for me it was to build thought leadership and identity in the field of Intercultural Communications. Now that that is building–I realize that ultimately the purpose for me is to attrract new clients–that's a different strategy, that is now subtly shaping content.

Thanks for helping me to keep things in perspective. It's tough wanting to satisfy our readers, as well as branch out in our dreams and goals.

Chris, I'm a user. I know exactly what my job is and what I need to be doing at all times, but I use Twitter, FB and the like to avoid the real tasks at hand. Whoa, you can look up from reading a few blogs and playing with new and old friends on Twitter an a whole afternoon has gone by…….I justify it sometimes….I'm making business connections…Thank you for the reminder of what I really need to accomplish today and I know exactly what that is.
Lois

I disagree. My blog is my job. My blog, and my entire web site, is the foundation of my brand. Without it, I have no following, no reason for companies to hire me as a spokesperson, less cache for book contracts and a watered-down brand. If I ignore my blog — and stop promoting it through social media — then everything else crumbles.

I hear you saying that you have to keep your eye on the revenue producing activities that pay the bills.

That makes perfect sense, but if your blog is part of a strategic marketing plan – whether to build awareness or create inquiries – then it has to be maintained on a consistent basis. Readers respond to some level of predictability.

As for activity in other social media channels, I agree with you that time has to be allocated in a sensible way. I've taken to the idea of measuring my results based on “relevant traffic” rather than just the gross numbers. In like fashion, I have prioritized the channels I want to maintain regular dialogue and have had to make some hard choices by limiting my time invested to fewer social networks.

I think this is the natural evolution of our interaction with social media and you raise the issue at a good point in time. Some are consumed by the activity and your reminder is welcome.

Chris,

Great point. Getting into a routine writing schedule reminds me a lot of when you first implement a time management system. It's like a root canal with no anesthetic! By once you get rolling and start seeing the progress and results of your work, you start to look forward to it. These posts are great reminders about how it should be fun!

Ryan Malone
SmartBug Media
An Inbound Marketing Agency

It is probably all of our jobs to build business. I am a social networking/collaborative learning specialist and my job is to build relationships, engagement, buzz, feedback, etc, and to share knowledge and information, and build communities throughout the enterprise.

Since I am a psychotherapist and a published author I love the internet and what it allows me to do re marketing my ideas to help people. Nevertheless, I appreciate so much your advice to keep our eye on the time we are on social network sites, fun as they are, because they don't pay our bills even if they temporarily help feelings of stress.

Being mindful, being focused, being conscious will all work together for our good. Thanks, Chris.

Great viewpoint on this, Chris. I like to talk about “mission critical” tasks with people. It's simple looking at what tasks or jobs you need to do TODAY that will bring you closer to your goals.

No matter what those tasks are, you've got to work on the ones that need to be completed now. I love your comment about keeping a note on your monitor with your objectives.

Keep your goals in sight and get those mission critical tasks accomplished as they come up, always driving for the big goal.

Great post, Chris.

I think there are two extremes…those who spend loads of time on social media while avoiding more important work…and those who spend little to no time there avoiding the important work social media is. I fall into the latter group. Recently I asked my accountability partner to hold me responsible for a certain level of interaction. She's doing her part (asking the tough questions & not accepting my lame excuses). As a result, I've begun to do mine. As it turns out, it is easier than my imagination suggested. : )

You may be right Chris but for me my blog is my job and that I want to perform very nicely.I think with proper attention and updation of a blog can be the most effective way of making money online.