Don't focus so much on social media, newbies.

Hi, everyone!

I've been here for a few months now, and in my time here I've noticed countless questions where new users are worrying about social media, and trying to juggle all the different social media platforms whilst also writing regularly on their websites.

This is more than likely going to be a controversial answer, and I might get some flak for this, but...

DON'T DO IT.

"What are you talking about, Poly? Kyle even mentions it in the training! Why shouldn't I spend time on social media? Why should I listen to you over Kyle?"

Well, actually, if you dig around a bit, both Kyle and Carson say social media isn't as important as they say it is in the training. I can't show you the direct quotes as I don't remember where they are (I'll come back and edit this when I find it), so just take my word for it this time.

Let me clarify what I mean by "Don't do it" - I am NOT saying social media can't be useful, nor am I saying you should never use it. What I am saying is that early on, you will be much happier and much more successful if you put ALL of your focus on your website, and writing. Too many times I've seen newbies get in over their head with all of this social media stuff, and their websites suffer for it.

Let me explain a little further. With your website, you can begin getting traffic (even pretty good traffic) very early on if you focus on honing your SEO skills and writing ability. That means you have an audience - one you can direct anywhere you want, even to your social media accounts. However, if you focus on social media first, guess what you have - nothing. Sure, you might have some of us added or friended, but chances are we aren't reading every new article you post (Not out of malice or disinterest, we are just focused on our own websites). This means that you don't have an audience - you have a place you want to direct people, but you have nobody to direct.

Unless you're a social media marketing savant, it is very difficult to build up quality social media profiles, especially early on. SEO brings in people passively - they just search for keywords and find your website. Social media requires constant activity and constant engagement. What would you rather focus on early on? A passive, ever-increasing audience (less effort, steady reward) or one that requires far more activity for less reward early on?

I don't know about you, but I'll take the former.

The bottom line is, newbies - no matter what me or anyone else says, your website and your business is YOURS. Do NOT stress yourself out over social media (I don't use any, and my traffic has increased exponentially, just so you know) if you don't want to. Nobody on here has the right to tell you how to run your website, not even me. You do what feels right for YOU, and take everything else anyone says otherwise with a grain of salt - no matter how good their intentions are (I know everyone here is just trying to help).