As a social media manager, time management is crucial for balancing client work and business tasks. In this blog, I’m sharing my best time-saving tips for social media managers to help you optimize your workflow and boost productivity. If you’re juggling tasks like onboarding clients, creating content, and staying on top of trends, these tips will make a big difference in how efficiently you work.
1. Start Your Day with a Top 3 Task List
One of my top time-saving tips for social media managers is to start each day by writing down the top three tasks you need to complete. My routine usually begins with a workout, followed by a shower and then heading to a cafe or working from home. Once I open my laptop, I immediately go to Notion, my favorite project management tool, and jot down my top three tasks for the day. This helps me stay focused and productive, ensuring I tackle the most important tasks first. If you prefer, you can prepare this list the night before to hit the ground running in the morning.
2. Themed Days for Maximum Efficiency
Another effective time-saving tip for social media managers is to organize your week with themed days. Instead of switching between different types of tasks, group similar tasks on specific days to boost productivity. For example, I use Mondays as CEO days for content creation and strategic planning, while Tuesdays through Thursdays are dedicated to client work. This approach minimizes multitasking and keeps you in a productive workflow.
3. Plan Ahead and Batch Create Content
Planning your content at least one to two weeks in advance saves you time and helps maintain consistency on social media. Use a project management tool like Notion to map out content ideas for yourself and your clients. This tool helps you organize launches, promotions, and content creation schedules. If you don’t have a content creation workflow, you can grab my exact Social Media Manager Notion TemplateHERE. This template will help you organize your days, streamline workflows, collaborate seamlessly with clients, map out content, and more—all in one place.
4. Create Templates and Design Assets
Save time by creating templates and design assets for yourself and your clients. Platforms like Canva and Creative Market offer a variety of pre-made templates that you can customize to fit your brand. This reduces the time spent designing from scratch. Consider creating 10-15 social media templates to work off of regularly, which will streamline your content creation process.
5. Utilize Automation Tools
Automate repetitive tasks in your business to free up time. Tools like Dubsado can automate your onboarding process, send contracts and invoices, and manage client communication. Similarly, scheduling tools like Metricool allow you to plan and schedule content in advance, reducing the need for manual posting.
6. Recycle and Stretch Your Content
Maximize the reach of your content by recycling and repurposing it. For instance, a blog post can be broken down into multiple social media posts, quotes, and videos. Additionally, tools like ChatGPT can help generate content ideas and engaging hooks, keeping your content fresh and consistent.
7. Learn to Say No
Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining productivity and mental health. Politely declining requests that don’t align with your priorities allows you to focus on what truly matters. Whether it’s saying no to a coffee chat or setting expectations with clients about response times, learning to say no will help you manage your workload effectively.
Final Thoughts
Implementing these time-saving tips can help you manage your tasks more efficiently and focus on activities that drive your business forward. If you have any other hacks or found these tips helpful, send me a DM on Instagram @shannonsegall.
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Episode Links + Resources
Try Metricool– My favorite scheduling tool for social media managers
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The Tropical Social Podcast
Your go-to podcast for social media managers, freelancers, and service providers who want to stand out online and build a brand that lasts.
Whether you're dreaming of working from anywhere, building a business that supports your lifestyle, or simply wanting your marketing to finally click, The Tropical Social Podcast is here to help you make it happen.
Through honest conversations, actionable tips, and behind-the-scenes insights, host Shannon Segall shares the tools you need to grow a personal brand, attract aligned clients, and market yourself without burning out.
