This blog is part of the How to Monitor Social Media in 10 Minutes a Day eBook download.

We are currently live in a society that's heavily focused on social media, and at this point, there is no going back. Many of us have adjusted to this online way of life by now. We’ve mastered the balance between different social media feeds, learned the lingo, and we know when and how to disconnect and find time away from the bleeps and bloops of constant notifications.

But the fact is, no one asked you if any of this was okay. In fact, the endless chattering and social demands of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter still might not be your cup of tea, but social media has a built-in mentality that obscures this difficulty. While it is ostensibly designed for everyone to use in their own way, each platform's end goal is a user’s full engagement with all of its services. They want you to accumulate more likes, talk to more people, and use more hashtags. It can seem exhausting to just about anybody, but for those with low social energy to begin with, the social media mentality is especially daunting.

I have seen this struggle firsthand, as I’ve worked with clients trying to overcome their introverted tendencies. As much as they try and muster enthusiasm, they still struggle with affecting the humor and presence necessary for winning posts. In the real world, not everyone has to be a social butterfly. Too bad social media marketing doesn’t know that.

So, if you’re in a position where you have to manage a social media feed, but you aren’t such a sociable person yourself, how can you balance the two?

• Stick to a schedule

This is a big one! Lots of people think being on social media means constant engagements and distractions, and this can often be what scares potential marketers away from getting into the services. It doesn’t have to be a 24/7 activity! Instead, make time during your week to sit down and write that week’s content. You can often schedule posts in advance (and watch for when they get the most attention, so you can find the perfect time to post). Make some additional time to respond to comments and messages later on. You’re the one who ends up shaping your commitment to being online, and we promise, if you make it part of a regular routine, it will seem much more manageable than a recurring hassle.

• Use lots of images

Another hurdle seems to be a Facebook form of writer’s block. My clients sit down and want to make a post, but they just don’t know how to put what excites them about their product into words. Instead, try using pictures to grab your audience’s attention, rather than using social media to deliver a lot of textual information. Image posts are what attract likes and clicks far more than word-heavy content, which is much more appropriate for a blog format. You can even try any one of a multitude of free image-editing websites (like Canva) to personalize your pictures’ aesthetic.  

• Keep your posts personable, but… not too personable

You want to make your page seem inviting, so while it might be easier to just stick to the facts as you’re writing posts, try and have fun with the delivery or imagery surrounding the information. If there’s a cute dog picture or a goofy smile available to you, use it! However, this is not a call for you to be Facebook’s resident class clown. If you aren’t comfortable making jokes, it’s better to be earnest and heartfelt than to fake a sense of humor. You’re looking for likes and clicks, not a sitcom laugh track.

Most of all, it’s good to remember that social media is a tool and not a set of expectations. However much you see your notifications stressfully piling up, or other pages posting new content daily, it is entirely up to you to shape your own social media experience. If you want to dive into that brave new world, great! Just know that the introverts among us might feel better writing one or two posts before finding respite in the “log off” button.