TOG Solutions

As with any new technology, social media, for businesses and individuals, should not be taken lightly. Individuals will find that social media can provide a greater pathway to selling themselves as viable job candidates, not to mention uncover a job market not readily available to them on traditional job boards.

With businesses, the use of social media is slowly emerging into an essential component, capable of tracking customer feedback, broadcasting company news real-time and providing a mechanism to increase visibility.

But how much do you know about social media?

That appears to be the biggest question. Education is the key. Over the years, I heard from countless people and companies about how they needed to be on the Internet, but their knowledge wasn’t up to date. For some technophiles, ignorance is not a valid defense. On at least more than one occasion, I have been witness to a tech-savvy user publicly brow-beating others for not getting the technology they were trying to use.

We, on the other hand, take a more practical approach. Like anything else in life, social media is an ongoing learning process, and even the so-called “experts” are constantly trying to keep up with what’s new.

So, if you’re a novice and want to jump headlong into the social media pool, my best advice would be to take a step back. And just like growing up, learn to crawl before you walk.

First, I encourage you to sign up to a couple of sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. Don’t overdo it, though. There are literally hundreds of social media sites and for the novice, signing up for all of them at once will be overwhelming and defeat the purpose of learning.

Secondly, look around. If you’ve signed up for Twitter, follow people who can provide the type of advice you need to build your brand or protect your reputation. For Facebook, connect with friends who have been using it for a while. And don’t be afraid to ask questions. LinkedIn, for example, has an entire section dedicated to questions and answers.

Finally, start slowly building your social media. Always remember, though, people don’t like being overloaded with information. Also, people hate getting sold to. You will find out what’s best for you when you’ve done your homework.

And don’t be concerned if you make a mistake along the way. Even in the break-neck speed of the Internet, you can always go back and make up for lost time.