Social Media 101
Still wondering how to get started on Twitter or Facebook? Resources to help people of all skill levels enter – and get the most out of – social media.
Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, LinkedIn, YouTube and other social media tools have become part of our nation’s lexicon, however, not everyone has made the leap into the world of instant updates and postings. While there is a wide – and growing – range of tools you can use to participate in social media, we are focusing on just four that we believe can help you build your personal brand as you connect and reconnect with others: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google Profiles.
A word of caution: these are tips and tools on how you personally can get started in social media. Using social media to build or forward your brand is another exciting way to leverage your business, but it involves another set of strategies. To learn how we help companies unleash the power of social media, click here.
Twitter was the fastest-growing web brand in May 2009 with 18.2 million users. May 2009 Nielsen data shows that Twitter grew 1,444 percent over last year and the average time per person increased 175 percent. Jumping in now allows you to be part of a new and rapidly growing medium.
- Mashable has created the best all-around guide to Twitter, according to The Poynter Institute.
- Follow these steps to get started on Twitter.
- Once you are set up, there are a few rules you need to follow. One of our favorite bloggers, Joe Pulizzi, offers a few key rules on how best to use (and not use) Twitter.
In May, Facebook overtook MySpace as the most popular social media tool in the United States (eMarketer). With over 70,000 unique U.S. visitors in May, Facebook now ranks as the king of social media. And, if you think Facebook is only for Generation Y, think again. The fastest growing demographic of Facebook are users over the age of 35.
- Facebook offers a tool that walks you through the set up of a page. If you need additional help, this article offers step-by-step instructions.
- Once you set up your profile, there are a few things you need to be sure you know about your privacy settings.
LinkedIn is no longer just for job seekers. LinkedIn is a powerful networking tool that you can use to connect with others inside and outside your immediate circle of professional friends. And, LinkedIn’s network is vast – the company claims 42 million members in over 200 countries.
So, if you’re not looking for a job, why would you want to use LinkedIn? This quick video gives you some ideas.
While this blog entry is entitled “The Basics of Using LinkedIn to Find a Job,” it is a great tutorial on how to set up your LinkedIn Profile and begin creating a network.
Google Profile
Have you ever taken the time to search Google for your own name? If you want to influence what Google posts about you, then create a Google Profile. This way, you are guaranteed that at least one Google listing about you will be accurate.
- Learn how to create a profile.
- Read Google’s own marketing about Google Profiles and how to get started.
