Getting your feet wet with social media

When learning to swim, some people take the cautious route, starting at the shallow end. Others employ a "just jump in and go-for-it" mentality. I see much of the same when it comes to social media. The thought of jumping in to social media can be simply overwhelming for most people, and the thought of staying afloat after jumping in can be even more daunting.

Most people don't even know they are already participating in the social media realm through sites like Classmates, Ancestry, YouTube and other sites where they contribute content.

When you're just beginning to test the waters, I recommend selecting a social networking site which most closely fits your goals and needs. All of these are free!

• Are you looking for business networking and referrals? Start with LinkedIn.
• Do you want to connect with classmates, family and friends? Try Facebook.
• Interested in the entertainment scene and the youth market? Go with MySpace.
• Like to read and recommend articles online? Try Digg.
  
• Enjoy real-time, streaming news, updates and texting? Twitter!
• Want to share your opinions and ideas or news? Try Blogger.
  

Begin with a goal or area of interest in mind, sign up for one of the sites and get started. Don't just sign up and then forget about it. Social networking does not "run itself." You must be an active participant.

Add other social networking sites on as you become comfortable. If you have multiple interests or businesses, develop multiple online "identities" for each one, which are relevant to a particular audience. (i.e. local business people, moms, support groups, foodies, etc.)

All of the above-mentioned social networking sites can be relevant to many more purposes than I listed, but each has a unique feel and usage trends. I'll be posting follow-up articles about each of them, outlining some of the ways you can utilize each for different purposes, especially about strategy as your comfort level improves.

The water's nice... come on in!
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Kerri Goldsmith is the founder and president of Dark Horse Strategic Marketing, Inc. in Fort Myers, Florida. With more than 20 years of experience on both the agency and client side, Goldsmith provides advertising, marketing and public relations services, including social media consulting. Goldsmith is a past president of The Advertising Federation of Southwest Florida, a member of the Florida Public Relations Association and currently serves on the steering committee of the Social Media Club of Southwest Florida. Twitter: @kerrigoldsmith