Tips

This is not an April Fools joke - I'm not feeling very clever or impish today, or else I would attempt some sort of scam like these.

If there's anything I've learned over my many years in the biz, it's that prioritization is essential to keeping your head above water. This goes for social media also.

Because is still an "industry" (I use this term very loosely) that's in it's infancy, you can get sucked into every new tool or idea that's shouted from the rooftop by self-proclaimed gurus. A few tips:

- Stick with the basics that provide you with the most listen and engagement (Facebook, blogging, Twitter) and hone your strategy.

-Listen to the chatter and attempt to discern the true taste from filler - check out trusted follows, bloggers, industry leaders. They'll help you filter the noise.

-Break down your day. The highest percentage of your time should be spent listening (outside and in), then plan, enact, evaluate, respond.

-Stick to your agenda. Others may (will) come at you with their own priorities and either attempt to "push" them off on you or move up the deadline for immediate relief. Investigate just how hot the request is, and prioritize once the truth is known. What you do is important, too.

-Make the rounds. This goes back to listening in - talk to your colleagues, as they may be working on a story or outputting information that would be a great fit for campaigns or strategy your working on. Share the love.

-Be present and have fun. I forget this one often. I get bogged down in my own deadlines, stack of editing, and phone calls/interviews I have yet to tackle. It will all get done - maybe not in the time you want it to, but fussing about it may take you away from a great moment that's happening right in front of you.