Whether recommending a new platform for my clients or testing out a new niche myself, I like to approach experiments strategically. After all, it’s not like time suddenly expands just because you decided to try something new (although dropping another routine task to make time for the new thing is a good approach). Here are a few ways I’m making room to try new things:
Know why you’re trying it and what your goals are
Just because all your friends are using something doesn’t mean you should. Although if all of your competitors are using it then you might at least be curious about it (is life ever different than it was on the playground when we were kids?). After knowing what you want to get out of your experiment, give it a fair shot with a decent investment of time, and then consider what metrics would make it worth your while to continue.
Lurk first
Before I move onto a new platform or try a new tool, I like to verify the example of people who are already using it well. When I create a newsletter, I check out the top performers on that platform and see what they create. When I contemplate a new social platform, I set up a user account, follow a bunch of people who do what I do, and see what their posting rhythm, tone and frequency look like. While you may be tempted to rush in (and occasionally there’s good reason to) it can pay off to wait an extra week and do this research.
Create a plan (and some extra content)
To give yourself the best chance on the platform, it’s helpful to take the goals that you contemplated in the first step and create some sort of plan of attack. I find it useful to work backwards – what would your most successful launch look like in three months and what steps do you need to achieve them (also add what your medium success looks like and your worst case). If you can create some content to give yourself a buffer for the weeks that you’re not able to devote the time to your new venture, this can be good protection against becoming inconsistent when you get busy.
Set check-ins on your content
While you should be checking in on your content semi-annually or quarterly, with a new venture it can help to check in more regularly, say monthly or even weekly. Monitor against the goals that you set, and consider whether any tweaks are needed for your plan. Lather, rinse, and repeat!
