How 'Social' Are You?

Social media is all the rage these days and new options seem to pop up overnight.  With so many choices, how do you decide what to use?  Why jump on the bandwagon at all?  Or, if you've decided to join the social networking ranks, where should you begin? 

Well, we're not sure we have all of the answers for you -- sorry! -- but here are some things to consider ...

1. What do you want to accomplish through social networking?  Are you looking to connect with old friends or new colleagues?  Will you try to promote your site, business, or favorite charity?  Knowing what goals you seek to achieve will help you determine what networking sites will be best for you.
2. How much time will you have to commit to social networking?  The social media world can be somewhat demanding.  With instant access to so many different people, waiting days for a response from you can make your followers or friends a little impatient.  You'll want to be able to spend a reasonable amount of time each week on updating your networks.
3. What is your plan for connecting with people?  Like most things, social networking sites have become victim to scammers, spammers, and more.  Knowing ahead of time who you'll follow/friend/connect with may save you some time and trouble in the long run.

There is some great information out there on social networking and on each individual forum.  One of our favorites is Mashable ... found at http://mashable.com/ ... it's labeled the "Social Media Guide" and is full of tips, tricks, and information for you.

A few of our favorite social media sites (and our links so you can visit and check them out for yourself) are:

• Facebook (see our favorite pages for some great military pages to visit)
• Twitter (see our Twitter lists ... we've collected the best Twitter accounts there!)
• Delicious (we're bookmarking great military and informational sites)
• Digg (always looking for new articles and news for Soldiers and Families)
• StumbleUpon (great websites, videos, photos, blogs and more — all tailored to your personal interests

Plus ... here are some recent articles about social networking we wanted to share with you, too. 

Think ‘Social’ When Using Social Media

As social media has become more prevalent, it seems to have become more confounding. More people means more potential advances in technology, but also means more questions about how to best use social tools in personal and professional business.

What Would You Tell a General Officer About Social Media?
 
Teaching our leadership about the ins and outs of Facebook, Twitter and Flickr is pretty common place in the Army. Education is at the core of our social media strategy ... But, what do you think? If it were your job to educate military leadership on social media, what would you be telling them?

Please let us know YOUR favorites ... and share any tips you have discovered, too!