According to eMarketer's Clark Fredricksen, US consumers spent 264 minutes per day watching TV in 2010.  Therefore, the average US adult spends roughly four-and-a-half hours per day or approximately 30 hours per week watching television. 

How much time is 30 hours per week in a year?

• (30 hours per week) x (52 weeks per year) = 1,560 hours
• (1,560 hours) x (1 day / 24 hours) = 65 days!

  

We Flush Away Two (2) Month Per Year in Social Media Productivity

Instead of watching two month's worth of tv, here's what I'd like to accomplish in 2011:

1) Publish sixteen (16) additional blog posts.  That estimate is based on my historical production from November 2010 to December 2010.  For Mitch Joel or Chris Brogan, an extra month translates to 30 - 84 additional posts.  Note: Mitch Joel publishes six (6) times per week, and Chris Brogan gives advice on how to publish three (3) times per day (see below).

2) Write a cool, promotional eBook.  Here's a link to David Meerman Scott's free, no-strings-attached, no required contact information, cool, eBooks.  And yes, I've got some ideas for two (2) eBooks I'm planning to publish in 2011.

3) Learn how to shoot / edit professional-looking videos.  Here's a great book by Steve Garfield — Get Seen: Online Video Secrets to Building Your Business.  I enjoy poking around different sections of the book, and video will be an important part of my 2011 content strategy.

4) Read two (2) extra books on social media and digital marketing.  Here's a link to my recent post on 19 fabulous social media and digital marketing books.  Please keep in mind, this is based on my personal reading / studying speed.  For many, I'm sure this translates into reading  four (4) or more extra books per month (and I envy your reading speed and comprehension).

5) Learn how to create, edit, and publish podcasts.  This is something I've toyed around with as a new idea for 2011, but my priority is currently on getting trusted advice to undertake 1) through 3). 

Chris Brogan, Adam Singer, and David Meerman Scott Don't Watch TV … 

These A-Listers productively publish content and generously share advice on writing and improving blog content.  Here's some of their best advice on maximizing personal productivity: 

Chris Brogan

• The Lesson: Don't watch tv and get up early before your kids.
• The Post: How To Write Three Blog Posts a Day

Adam Singer

• The Lesson: Get rid of your tv and simplify your life.  
• The Post: Going Car Free 
• A 2011 Post - The Ultimate Lifehack: Gain Back 13.9% or More Time 

David Meerman Scott

• The Lesson: Cut out tv, go to bed early, wake up early, and exercise regularly.

• The Post: Why Social Media is Like Exercise

… or Watch Lots of It.  Just Don't Spend All Your Free Time Doing It.

Mitch Joel

• The Advice: Instead of watching Dancing With The Stars, read more books and periodicals. 
• The Post: The Most Important Thing You Can Do …

Important Note / Correction: When I originally published this post this morning, I mistakenly said Mitch Joel doesn't watch any TV at all.  He absolutely does.  It was sloppy of me to make that leap after reading his post. 

Please see Mitch's comment below.  I modified the post to reflect his input.  Thanks Mitch!

 

Conclusion

November 2010 and December 2010 was my most productive month since I started blogging almost a year ago.  I attribute the productivity increase to following the previously mentioned advice.  More experience with the blogging process, increased discipline in recording blog ideas, and waking up earlier also contributed to more posts. 

I still watch at least one hour of tv per week.  For my wife and I, The Good Wife is a DVR'd guilty pleasure.  And, I personally consider Super Bowl Sunday a national holiday.

Yet, I don't miss tv.  Researching material, coming up with blog ideas, and publishing this blog are more fun and mentally fulfilling.  Blogging is a genuine labor of love (and I wish I'd discovered it sooner). 

So, how would you invest an extra month of time in social media marketing? 

Please share your fun and creative ideas for 2011.  I'd love to hear them!

P.S. Super Bowl Sunday is February 6, 2011.

Photo Credit: By Nesster Via Flickr