A Beginner's Guide to Social Media

First you need an email address and Internet access. If you don't have a computer you can visit your local library for access. Sign up for a free email address at Google, Yahoo! or MSN Hotmail. Next join a social networking site like Facebook, MySpace or Friendster. Get an electronic photo of yourself and you're all set to begin the journey.

Facebook is the most popular social networking site. You can create a private network so you don't need to worry about being too "out there."

MySpace also has a privacy setting however it has lost popularity to Facebook and is not as interactive or user friendly.

Friendster is the dinosaur of social networks and may be extinct soon, but it might be best for those who want to begin there social networking experience modestly.

You find people to connect with via name searches or importing contact info from your email account. You can then see who your friends' friends are and invite people you may know.

I would recommend using one or more of these sites for 3 to 6 months before moving on to next step.

A blog is pretty much a website with dated entries that guests can comment on. It's your blog so you can write/blog about anything you like. Blogs are easy to set up and free if you get one from Blogspot.com or Wordpress.com. Look at a few blogs that interest you and then go for it. Google Blogs is a great directory you can use to find blogs to review.

Join blog directories. This introduces you to fellow bloggers and the overall blogosphere. Registering with directories also helps people find your blog. Interact with other bloggers and your readers.

Once your blog is ready with some good content you can introduce it to your social network. After you're comfortable with your social network and you've generated a basic audience for your blog, you are ready to tweet.

(Image courtesy of Newstex.info.)

Twitter is written text you can publish to the world using less than 140 characters. It's basically a mini-blogging tool you can use to promote anything you wish. The key with Twitter is to provide valuable content that will lead others to follow your tweets, or transmissions.

You have the option of setting up a private Twitter account, but it will may limit your audience. Generally, anyone can read your tweets so be thoughtful.

Online discussion is a major part of Twitter. The goal is to earn some authority for your social media brand, but remember to have fun doing it. A good mix of personal and professional tweets is best. Don't just promote yourself, promote others as well. The general premise behind Twitter is I help you, you help me and together we make the world a more social and informative place.

There is a huge learning curve with Twitter, so take it easy and don't give up. You'll catch along soon enough. Follow people right away to get the hang of it. Don't be afraid to ask questions. You can also directly send a tweet to someone without everyone knowing.

Take your time with Twitter.