Do any of us really keep up with “social networking” the way we should? Coming up with content, taking photos, editing… it’s all enough of a task. Then, uploading photos and sharing on every single social media site is adding extra tedium to an already packed schedule.

Yet, it’s never been more important. I’m making an effort to be more proactive when it comes to my blog’s exposure on social media sites; won’t you join me?
Here’s a breakdown of what I’m currently doing (or trying to do more of!)

Pinterest:

Pinterest is the easiest, for me! I’d use it whether I had a blog or not. While no one likes spam (constantly and exclusively pinning your own work), it’s a good idea to make sure your stuff gets pinned.

Make this easier:

Create a board that only contains pins from your own site, and then ONLY use that board when pinning your own work.

Make it convenient for users to pin directly from your site - Pinterest provides buttons for both following and pinning, and there are a plethora of WordPress plugins that will add a “Pin It” button to each photo. I use Pinterest Pin It Button for Images.

Instagram:

A lot of people don’t think to connect this popular photo sharing network to their blog, but I love following other bloggers on Instagram. It’s like a behind-the-scenes look at their lives. It might be a great way to connect to your audience.

Make this easier:

Services like Followgram allow even non-Instagram users to see your photos, in a regular web browser. If you’re logged in, you can easily follow other users even if you’re away from your phone.
If you’d like to take it a step further, you can use a WordPress plugin like Instagrate, which automatically posts to your blog each time you post to Instagram.

Facebook:

If you haven’t created a Facebook page for your blog yet, you should. And if you have created one, but you never use it (like me…) now is the time to start.
Everyone is on Facebook. Seriously. And regardless of your personal feelings about it, many people use it to get their news about, well, everything. There’s a good chance that if someone likes your page, you’ll have a direct path into their consciousness every day.

Make this easier:

There are a metric ton of plugins and widgets that let you add a “Share on FB” or “Like” buttons to posts and pages; I personally use the sharing options in Jetpack.

I have albums of photos from my different categories and link them back to my posts. You should also be “liking” other bloggers so you can follow them and share interesting things with your fans. Sharing is caring!

(Most of these tips can also apply to Google+, the red-headed stepchild of social networking)

Twitter:

If Google+ is the red-headed stepchild, then Twitter is easily the sweetheart of social networking. You really shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to use this to your advantage.

Make this easier:

Use a plugin that automatically tweets your blog posts, like WP to Twitter. You can even set up a custom shortlink (mine is hzlagn.es – clever, no?) Twitter also provides their own widget for your sidebar, but there are many other ways to do the very same thing. Jetpack has an option for this, as well.
You can also integrate nearly any other service into Twitter – Instagram, for instance, is a big one. Interact with the people you follow and they will interact with you.
Additionally, this is a great way to keep tabs on the rest of the blogosphere (and world in general!) Retweeting useful things is a great way to gain followers.
I used to think that lists were really only meant for yourself, but now I see that they’re a great way to provide useful content to your followers. Having separate lists for bloggers, news, indie companies, and other topics is not only a good way to stay organized, but it also provides a service to your audience.

What other tips do you know of for diligently pursuing your social network? Share them in the comments!