Wake up, wash, dress, and eat breakfast. Scan the headlines, scan LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Blog comments. Read and respond to comments in your communities. Then start the day. Check voice mail. Check email, and respond to emails from LinkedIn groups, Facebook, and Twitter direct messages. Then see if there are any comments on YouTube. And write your daily blog post. Then Tweet.

In this day of social connection, it doesn’t take long for your Social Media “obligations” to quickly expand to fill any and all available time. As we layer more and more complexity, we become enamored by the exciting advances in Social Media functionality, and shiny new Social Media sites.

Here’s the fundamental question: Is it time for you to wipe the slate clean and start again from first principles?

Who are you hoping to engage with?
What business or profit (or personal) goal are you hoping to achieve on Social Media?
How will you measure success?
How much time each day/week/month will you devote to the endeavor?
Can you afford the time to do so? And if not, what is plan B?

This week’s action plan: Where has your momentum taken you? If you’re like most, you have either done far too little, or far too much in Social Media. This week, go back to the basics, and make sure that the time you spend is getting you where you want to be.

Randall Craig, president of 108 ideaspace, is a leading Social Media & Web Strategist.  We share Randall Craig’s blogs here on 108 ideaspace. However, the Make It Happen Tipsheet is also available by email. Go to www.RandallCraig.com to register.

This post has been written by 108’s Senior advisor and former CEO Randall Craig.

For information on our upcoming events, click on the links below:

Social Media Business Development and Sales – February 12, 2014 (No-cost webinar)

Social Media Master Class – March 5, 2014

Inbound Marketing and Content Strategy – April 23, 2014 (No-cost webinar)