A Social Media Workout for Building Strong Online Connections

Edie Melson        

@EdieMelson

We all know the importance of fitness. Beyond having a healthy workout plan for our bodies, we also need to keep our online lives in shape. To make valuable connections through social media we have to be able to work at top performance.

Exercises for building an online platform that can go the distance takes training and discipline.


Sit Ups:

This exercise will help us improve our ability to sit up and take notice of what is going on around your digital neighborhood.

Reps: 5 (take five minutes and scan through your social media feed for current updates)

Sets: 3 (do this three times a day)


Strength Training: 

Where do you have the most followers and friends? That is where you need to invest the majority of your time. For me, that is twitter. I have over 20,000 Twitter followers, so I make sure my interactions on that platform stay fresh and current. I also spend time on Facebook, but not as much because I do not have as strong a presence there.

Reps: 20 (Out of your 30 minute daily workout, spend twenty minutes on the network where you get the most bang for your buck)

Sets: 1

Reps: Daily


Push Ups: 

Make it a practice to push up your numbers. Spend a short time each day adding new friends and followers on social media. The best way to do this (actually the only way I recommend)? Be a friend to have a friend.

Reps: 5 (take five minutes and follow or friend several new people)

Sets: 3 (do this three times a day)


Hurdles:

Look at the obstacles ahead of you. If you are struggling with something, take a run at it. Learn a new skill to keep your social media on track and moving forward.

Reps: 5 (take three minutes and begin to learn or practice a new skill)

Sets: 3 times a week


Sprints:

 Keep watch on the amount of time you spend on social media. Do not go over that 30-minute a day threshold. Do not forget the law of diminishing returns. After 30 minutes, your productivity and value goes way down.

Reps: 30 (watch the clock every minute you are online)

Sets: Daily


Jump Rope:

Every day take time to jump someone else ahead of you. I always try to promote others ahead of myself.

Reps: 5 (out of every six social media updates share five promoting someone else)

Sets: Daily


Endurance Training: 

Remember this thing called social media takes time—it is a marathon. Take small consistent steps and you will find success every time.

Reps: 1 time a day

Sets: 3 times a week


Cardio:

Make sure you follow your heart and your passion. Share things that mean something to you, and you will be valuable to those who follow you.

Reps: 3

Reps: 3 to 4 times a week



Like any workout, taking time for regular online exercise will make us stronger. The goal of this routine is to ultimately grow stronger connections with our readers. Our muscles will work more efficiently and our efforts will garner more results. If we stop exercising, we run the risk of growing flabby and week. Instead, we need to stay the course with a regular social media workout routine.

Edie Melson is the author of numerous books, including the bestseller Connections: Social Media and Networking Techniques for Writers. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Social Media Director of Southern Writers Magazine and board
Member of the Advanced Writers and Speaker Association.

Visit Edie on www.EdieMelson.com and through social media.
Visit Edie at www.EdieMelson.com
Twitter: @EdieMelson
Facebook: Edie Melson