In an age where we encounter a barrage of “important updates” and blinking/buzzing screens before breakfast, digital overwhelm is at an all time high. And when social media gets added to your already full plate, it might feel like you’re one mouse click away from a meltdown.

But before you tweet, post, pin, or digg yourself into an early grave, check out these 5 time, money, and sanity-saving tips (you’re welcome).

1) Stay organized with Twitter lists.  Twitter overwhelm can be debilitating and tempt you into avoiding the social network altogether. But to avoid becoming a social media pariah (or drowning in a sea of newsfeed updates), segment the people you follow into private Twitter “lists” (one for customers, personal friends, competitors, industry leaders, journalists, and relevant media outlets). Then create specific goals around these lists (ie. to engage with 1 person from each list per day) in order to make the most of your time.

2) Repeat after me: Facebook Groups > Facebook Pages.  Ever since Facebook began favoring sponsored posts over company page updates in its newsfeed algorithm last fall, it has been significantly harder for companies to get consumer eyeballs on their content without paying for it. The solution? Posting in Facebook groups, which drastically increases the chances that your content will show up in group members’ newsfeeds without you having to spend a dime for the exposure. As an added bonus, Facebook groups are great for networking and creating a sense of community around your brand.

3) Don’t leave Google+ out in the cold.Though Google doesn’t say so in any official capacity, the network absolutely prioritizes Google+ posts in it’s search engine results, especially when they are recent and contain highly relevant keywords to a particular search query. The takeaway? Don’t ignore Google+ in your social media strategy and make an effort to include relevant brand keywords in your updates to this often-undervalued and overlooked social network.

4) Create + share branded images.  When it comes to social media, an image is worth a thousand words Likes. Creating captivating + highly sharable images that include information relevant to your brand (such as attention-grabbing quotes or statistics) is social media gold. Be sure to incorporate your logo, URL and branded hashtag into each image and post to popular visually oriented social networks like Pinterest and Instagram. While having a professional designer create the images is ideal, you can also go the DIY route with decent results by using image-editing tools like PicMonkey and Canva.

5) Get listed.  Though they can be a hassle to keep up with, business-listing sites are a highly effective way to get your products and services in front of people who are actively looking for what you have to offer. They also tend to be highly ranked in search engines and are a great way to drive traffic to your website. For small to medium-sized local businesses, Yelp, Google Places, Foursquare, Thumbtack and Angie’s List are a must but it’s also smart to look into industry-specific listing sites as well.

Annnnnd that’s a wrap. Hopefully, after reading + implementing these strategies you (in the words of her highness Olivia Pope) have social media “handled”. But if you still feel overwhelmed, would rather work “in” than “on” your business, or want to spend your days lounging on a tropical beach (while your social media channels drive major dollars to your business without you having to lift a finger), outsourcing is your best bet.

And if it’s a highly qualified + industry vetted provider you’re after, may I humbly suggest you drop me a line at Rebecca@Thepursuitoffabulous.com?  I’d also love to hear any of your tips/questions in the comments field below!