Social media is always changing, and people regularly tell me how difficult they find it to keep up with the never-ending stream of updates, announcements and shifts within the digital media marketplace.
I agree, it is challenging - however staying up to date and informed of the latest news doesn’t have to be cumbersome. With the right plan in place, you can be ready for changes – and adapt with relative ease.
In this post, I'll outline my tips for navigating the constant changes in social media. Hopefully they'll help keep you in the know.
1. Subscribe to respected and reputable social media publications
Blogs that specialize in all things social media - such as Social Media Today and Social Media Examiner - will help you stay abreast of current changes.
I also encourage you to subscribe to Mark Schaefer’s {grow} blog - Mark has a pulse on what’s coming down the road in the industry, and he explains things in an easy-to-understand way.
2. Surround yourself with people who can help
More heads are better than one when it comes to keeping on top of what’s happening in the dynamic social media realm. Consider assembling a small group of people to collectively read, watch, and listen for changes, and with whom you can exchange ideas and expertise.
This will help you stay in the know, and make the process of dealing with changes less overwhelming.
3. Log into your accounts and see what’s going on
Sounds simple enough, right? Many social media changes that occur will be evident if you log into your accounts frequently.
For example, layout changes (which are among the most common alterations that social media networks make) are easily detected by simply accessing your accounts. You'll also see that some sites present notifications when you log in after they have made changes.
Besides regularly logging into your social accounts, also consider subscribing to the blogs of the major social sites.
For example:
4. Don’t jump on the bandwagon
When new social media platforms or new features surface and become all the rage, it doesn’t mean you should pursue them immediately - or even in future.
Succumbing to “shiny object syndrome” is how people end up with more social media sites than they can handle, and that they eventually ignore altogether.
Always keep your audience and your goals in mind when shiny object syndrome threatens your logical thought process.
Also, recognize that not all shiny, new sites will last.
I definitely do recommend checking out new sites and tools to objectively assess their capabilities and the potential value for your business. However, as a general rule, I advise that you don’t put a lot of resources into the newest trend until you’re confident it will be more than just a passing fad.
Final Thoughts on the Challenge of Change
Changes occur in all industries, and with ongoing advances in new technologies like AI and virtual reality, we can expect them to accelerate. Rather than cringe at what technology has in store for us, we need to keep cool heads. The one constant we can always count on is change - and that’s especially true with social media.
Fortunately, dealing with social media changes doesn’t have to catch you off-guard. The simple tips I’ve mentioned above will help you prepare for what lies ahead.