5 Social Media Fitness Tips to Keep You Motivated

Posted by Gwen on November 7, 2011 in Social Media Marketing | 0 comments

If you’ve ever tried to lose weight–and felt discouraged at the lack of progress–you’ve probably had (well-meaning) friends share that: “Slow and steady wins the race,” “Patience is a virtue,” “If at first you don’t succeed…” …and a slew of other meant-to-be-motivational words of wisdom. But you’re watching what you eat and exercising every day, and two weeks in you’ve gained a pound! (Okay, maybe that’s just my experience…but anyway…) No matter how many people tell you that it takes time (and patience) to lose the pounds, you want instant results, don’t you? When you step on that scale after a breakfast of dry toast and egg whites, you know you’re expecting the needle to have moved–in a positive way.

My truth? I want instant results. I’m working hard. I’m sacrificing. Following all the weight loss rules. So, why is it taking so long?

It’s all about endurance, my friend.

As the name of my company is “Endurance Marketing,” one would think it would be simple enough to apply the logic I know to be true with social media to my weight loss expectation. But, apparently, I need a reminder.

With social media marketing, it takes time to build your influence. To create your community.

Just like the temptation to click on the “Lose 20 pounds in 5 days with this magic pill” button, you’ll be enticed by “experts” who claim to bring you “10,000 fans in 2 days.” Don’t do it. There’s no substitute for hard work, but it takes time–and patience.

When creating a social media strategy (and / or a weight loss plan), keep these 5 (fit) tips in mind:

Set realistic goals. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by setting lofty goals that are impossible to reach. Sure, there are stories of unprecedented success, but don’t be fooled by the hype. Inflated expectations will only discourage you and impede your progress. Start by asking yourself this: What defines success?
Be active. I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but don’t let the excitement of trying something new wear off. Participate. Engage. Set a schedule and stick to it.
Measure your results. A client once shared with me that “If it’s not measurable, it doesn’t exist.” Track your progress against your objectives..and then…
Tweak as needed. Monitor what’s working and what’s not working, and adjust. Sometimes you’ll find that what you THINK works is different from what yields the most positive results. Keeping your goals and objectives in mind, tweak your program as needed. Add something new. And test.
Don’t give up. ”Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that final victory comes.”

With social media, it’s easy to get frustrated when the needle isn’t moving fast enough. I know it’s a corny play on words, but it’s true of social media marketing, as well as reaching your own personal goals: The key to success is to focus on endurance.

Are you looking for a quick fix for your social media efforts or are you focused on building your tribe? Love to know what tactics you use to stay motivated!

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Gwen

Founder at Endurance Marketing

Gwen has more than a decade of digital marketing and communication experience. She has helped brands leverage social media tools and strategies to improve brand visibility, build relationships and fuel business growth.