It’s no longer a question whether or not social media is here to stay, but it STILL after all these years confounds so many of us.  When I’m teaching clients best social media practices or speaking about it, I find the same scenario plays out almost every time.  Faces go pale, frustration begins to well up, and then the next words are, “I just don’t have anything interesting to say.”
If you’re an entrepreneur or an artist, of course, you have something very important to share.Â
All you are missing is a system for your social media posting. Â I have created an Infographic to help you ratchet up your social media and manage it easily. Â
There are five kinds of activity that you need to understand.
 Feel free to mix and match within these groups in order to suit your comfort level.
Group #1: Group EngagementÂ
Like: BREAD, CEREAL, RICE & PASTA
Servings (Recommended Frequency): 3 – 4 out of every 10 posts
Make sure you’re in a two-way conversation with people consistently.  Here are a few ways to do so:
 Facebook: See something interesting on a fan, friend, or group’s Facebook page? Don’t just “like” it: write a  true comment about it and get more involved.
Twitter: Send messages to people or mention you are with them by using the @ sign and their username (For example: I’m @CyberPR).  Retweet (RT) tweets you like by others.
 Instagram: Like and comment on others’ photos!
 Blogs: Read and share great posts on your socials and leave comments!
 YouTube: Make custom video comments or greetings with a smartphone; post them as comments or contributions.  Subscribe to other people’s channels, and comment on their videos.
Group #2: Shine a Light on Others
Like: FRUITS & VEGETABLES
Servings (Recommended Frequency): 3 out of every 10 posts
All the best social media users know this, and use it well. Â This takes all of the attention off of you and puts it onto others, and people will appreciate your kindness because you are recognizing them in front of new potential fans and followers, and therefore, helping them get visibility. Don’t forget to tag everyone you shine a light on so they can see.
Facebook: Quote people you like by sharing their profiles and videos on Facebook and share (re-post) on your page. Â Also link to articles and interesting things that catch your attention, share videos by people in your tribe that inspire youÂ
Twitter: Use hashtags, @’s and RT on Twitter —  talk about why, and how particular tweets influenced or touched you.
Instagram: Regram others and add a comment about why.
 YouTube: Curate lists of videos you like created by others
Group #3: Curate Content on Social Media
Like: MEAT, POULTRY, FISH, BEANS, EGGS
Servings (Recommended Frequency): 2 – 3 out of every 10 posts
Set up a RSS reader to pull interesting content for you so you don’t have to come up with anything brilliant.  Also, curate lists on Twitter so you can pick out the good stuff easily select what you like, and share.  If it’s interesting to you, it’s probably interesting to your crowd.
Ask yourself: How do I spend my time online? Â What do I read? Â Are there sites I visit daily? Â What makes me inspired? Â What makes me laugh? Then simply add them to your RSS reader.
Some great items to share are breaking news, reviews, in-depth discussions and commentary on topics of interest to your crowd, fun factoids, and so on. Â Blogs are a great resource for curated content: politics, celebrity gossip, parenting, music, fashion, art, and sports all make good topics for people to connect around.
Group #4: Images and Visuals on Social Media
Like: MILK, CHEESE & YOGURT
Servings (Recommended Frequency): 2 out of every 10 posts
Visuals are extremely effective, and they are a great way to “mix up” your social media strategy.
Facebook and Instagram: Take photos using your mobile and post them to Facebook and Instagram. Â If you have an iPhone, the best way to do this is with the Instagram app.
Twitter: Mix up your Tweets with photos & videos — they go straight into your feed and they get stored on your homepage — bonus!
Instagram: Visualize your blog posts and share.
Pinterest: This is a wonderful way to share photos of anything you are passionate about, and create boards for your own content and anything you sell.
YouTube:Post videos on your YouTube channel, embed them and post across socials too!  They don’t even have to be videos that you make on your own.  They can be videos that make you laugh, or subjects that are thematic to your niche.
Group #5: Self-Promotion (Use Sparingly!)
Like: FATS, OILS & SWEETSÂ
Servings (Recommended Frequency): 1 out of every 10 social media posts
Of course, you should post self-promotional content once in awhile, but not in an over-hype-y, annoying way.  It is, after all, vital to tell people if you have a program, project or product coming out, or anything that’s newsworthy or noteworthy for your crowd to know about.  That being said, don’t forget about your specific Calls To Action, or these won’t be fruitful.
Mix up these five activities and soon you will be fully engaging people easily and naturally, and your crowd will grow organically in size — and loyalty too. Â
Thank you for the social media food pyramid, Ariel. I’ve been trying to keep up with all the different sites and accounts I’ve created during the blog challenge and find it a bit cumbersome at times. This really helps keep the amount of attention to different platforms in perspective and makes me feel MUCH more manageable. Kudos! (will this be going in the next edition of Music Success in Nine Weeks?)
Thank you for the social media food pyramid, Ariel. I’ve been trying to keep up with all the different sites and accounts I’ve created during the blog challenge and find it a bit cumbersome at times. This really helps keep the amount of attention to different platforms in perspective and makes me feel MUCH more manageable. Kudos! (will this be going in the next edition of Music Success in Nine Weeks?)
Very clever and useful subsuming of the food pyramid! Note that the “food pyramid” has only been around since 1992; before that it was the “four food groups” (beginning in 1956) The first such food guide was published in 1916, aimed at nutrition for children. So I fully expect this “social media” pyramid to change over time with social media itself–it's only natural.
Nice job here Ariel. Thanks again for the valuable advice. You make social media an intriguing and satisfying challange. You have created a method to achieve balance in self promotion by focusing on estabishing and maintaining relationships. Cheers once again. http://www.patrickmolloy.ca
I have a quandary. With two little kids on the go, I have very little time to spend doing the above. I'd rather spend it with them, teaching, actually getting and doing gigs. How does one find time?
And what is the best way to get your own website cheaply?
“If you are interested in others, others will be interested in you”
The social media tools will come and go but this is the one fundamental thing artists (and people) need to be aware of, because not being interested in others and hoping that others will be interested in what you do (baring your soul to the world via your music)…is plain selfish!
Nice article! I like how you used the food pyramid chart, very clever. Yeah, biggest take away, make it about others, be genuinely interested in others. This is sound advice for the entire human race. m/
Agreed. No matter what the next fad in socializing happens to be, human nature still prevails. There's some good dating advice in there, too! Don't just talk about yourself…blah blah blah.
Ariel, I got to say.. you are my new IDOL! I’ve been reading your blog for like 3 hours now and I have to move on to other things.. but your blog is just so addicting that I can’t move anywhere else.. thanks for sharing this with us! (If there is some error on my writing or english expression, forgive me.. that’s because I’m brazilian and I’m still learning English) THANKS A LOT!
ha, this is so cute! and true, too.
I love it, Ariel. Absolutely BRILLIANT!
Hey Ariel, this is a fantastic analogy!
Rock Hard! Rock Sexy!
TheDeacon@MamasDirtyLilSecret.com
Hey Ariel, this is a fantastic analogy!
Rock Hard! Rock Sexy!
TheDeacon@MamasDirtyLilSecret.com
This is awesome! Thanks again on top of all the other stuff you are doing.
Thank you for the social media food pyramid, Ariel. I’ve been trying to keep up with all the different sites and accounts I’ve created during the blog challenge and find it a bit cumbersome at times. This really helps keep the amount of attention to different platforms in perspective and makes me feel MUCH more manageable. Kudos! (will this be going in the next edition of Music Success in Nine Weeks?)
Meghan Morrison
http://www.meghanmorrison.com
twitter.com/megsmorrison
Thank you for the social media food pyramid, Ariel. I’ve been trying to keep up with all the different sites and accounts I’ve created during the blog challenge and find it a bit cumbersome at times. This really helps keep the amount of attention to different platforms in perspective and makes me feel MUCH more manageable. Kudos! (will this be going in the next edition of Music Success in Nine Weeks?)
Meghan Morrison
http://www.meghanmorrison.com
twitter.com/megsmorrison
Very clever and useful subsuming of the food pyramid! Note that the “food pyramid” has only been around since 1992; before that it was the “four food groups” (beginning in 1956) The first such food guide was published in 1916, aimed at nutrition for children. So I fully expect this “social media” pyramid to change over time with social media itself–it's only natural.
This is great Ariel…almost as good as you brussel sprouts receipe.
Nice job here Ariel. Thanks again for the valuable advice. You make social media an intriguing and satisfying challange. You have created a method to achieve balance in self promotion by focusing on estabishing and maintaining relationships. Cheers once again. http://www.patrickmolloy.ca
Your story was really inveomatifr, thanks!
This is very good Ariel, thank you.
I have a quandary. With two little kids on the go, I have very little time to spend doing the above. I'd rather spend it with them, teaching, actually getting and doing gigs. How does one find time?
And what is the best way to get your own website cheaply?
Thanks again. Geoffrey
Thanks Ariel, Great way to look at balancing activities on Social Media – Good Metaphor 🙂
But I *love* bagels…
Great stuff Ariel! You are quite the media *roll* model!
Awesome and helpful advice Ariel! Makes it so much easier and a big time saver! Keep it up!
/Niklas
– Social Pretender
I have a mantra for this type of thing:
“If you are interested in others, others will be interested in you”
The social media tools will come and go but this is the one fundamental thing artists (and people) need to be aware of, because not being interested in others and hoping that others will be interested in what you do (baring your soul to the world via your music)…is plain selfish!
Nice article! I like how you used the food pyramid chart, very clever. Yeah, biggest take away, make it about others, be genuinely interested in others. This is sound advice for the entire human race. m/
Great Job! This is going to be a powerful tool. Much Success in all you do!
Geoffrey….
Quandry indeed! As You know: There is a season for EVERYTHING! And the best wordpress site for cheap is at Nimbit.com 🙂
🙂 Apple Pie Recipe coming Soon! (now that's the BEST)
Good enough to eat Ariel.
I love the visual!!!! Makes me want to go and explore the ones I haven't yet! Thanks for sharing Ariel.
Agreed. No matter what the next fad in socializing happens to be, human nature still prevails. There's some good dating advice in there, too! Don't just talk about yourself…blah blah blah.
LOVE it! Thanks for sharing!
Ariel, I got to say.. you are my new IDOL! I’ve been reading your blog for like 3 hours now and I have to move on to other things.. but your blog is just so addicting that I can’t move anywhere else.. thanks for sharing this with us! (If there is some error on my writing or english expression, forgive me.. that’s because I’m brazilian and I’m still learning English) THANKS A LOT!
William, thank you so much for your comments and support! We are so glad you enjoyed our blog and hope that our more recent posts help you as well!
Thank you so much William!
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Acts 16:31, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 1 Peter 1:17-21, Revelation 22:18-19