Time wasted – or time well spent? By Mary Smith

I’ve come across a few articles/blog posts on how to keep the time spent on social media to a minimum while still retaining an effective presence. I’m not sure how ‘effective’ is defined by the writers and have decided it very much depends on the individual and what he/she wants to gain from using the various social media platforms.

Truth be told, I’ve been getting quite irritated by some of what I’ve read. Many of the blog posts focus on giving tips on how to save time on Twitter or Facebook. If we are being advised on how to spend less time on social media it kind of implies we are spending too much time on it. It made me feel quite guilty about the amount of time I was spending tweeting and Facebooking.

I am fairly active on Facebook and Twitter, less so on LinkedIn, though I keep telling myself I should get into the habit of using it more for things like sharing good reviews of my books from Amazon or blog posts like Novel Points of View. I’m also on Google+. So far, its workings remain pretty much a mystery to me (if anyone is willing to provide a tutorial let me know) and apart from sharing other people’s posts from time to time I don’t spend time on it. I haven’t yet signed up for Pinterest, which is next on my list when I can find some time to work out what to do on it.

Plus, I follow a number of blogs including ones with book reviews, author interviews, marketing advice, Alzheimer’s and dementia. I have wide-ranging interests. Yes, as everyone knows, it does all take time. Shouldn’t I be using that time for writing? Or even cleaning the house? How could I reduce the time I spend each day on tweeting, posting on Facebook?

Simple answer? I can’t! Well, I suppose I could if I put a strict limit on the time I go on Facebook or if I unsubscribed from some of the blogs I follow – or not bother to read them or join the conversations in the comments – but I don’t want to.

I enjoy my time on social media. On Facebook I can keep in touch with Afghan friends some of whom still live in Afghanistan and some of whom are scattered around the world from Australia to Denmark.

I have found some wonderful books through the various review sites I follow. They are bloggers I trust – if they say a book is worth reading, I’m fairly certain it will be, even if it’s not the kind of book I usually read. I’ve had my books reviewed and enjoyed the conversations which have followed on from the review. I’ve been interviewed about my writing on blogs, which have been shared far and wide and led to sales (if we’re talking effective = sales).

I’ve met some amazing people – including many writers – on Facebook and on blogs, some of whom I now consider friends even though it is unlikely we will ever meet face to face.  I’m part of a wonderful group of indie writers who ‘pay it forward’ by promoting each other’s books on social media and through the group have learned an enormous amount about promotion and marketing – as well as enjoying the fun and the jokes we share.

In the same way it takes time to meet a friend for coffee, it takes time to socialise (and work) online but in my book, it’s time well spent, not wasted.