You’ve already taken the first step to getting started using social media for your business when you’ve decided that you want to use it. If you’re not familiar with social media, it’s going to take a bit of learning (just like anything else). And it’s a good idea to get familiar with what social media is and how it’s being used and can be used before you do anything else.
In order to get familiar, one option is to just dive right in. Set up profiles on the various social networks and start following some people on Twitter, connect with people on Facebook and read blogs.
If you’re not quite ready for diving in, I’d suggest reading a few books first (diving in is a good thing to do at some point, but it’s ok to take your time and learn a bit first). Here’s a few I recommend (affiliate links, but I’ve read them all and they’re very helpful):
- Social Media Marketing, an Hour a Day
- Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies
- BrandDigital: Simple Ways Top Brands Succeed in the Digital World
- Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
- Flip the Funnel: How to Use Existing Customers to Gain New Ones
When you are ready to dive in, pick one or two types of social media and start actually using them for your business. Post helpful content. Have conversations. Listen to what people are saying.
After you’ve gotten comfortable with social media and what it is, you can start to think about how you should and can be using it for your business. The book, Social Media Marketing, an Hour a Day
What are your favorite books, websites or resources for getting started with social media?
(photo by Ed Bierman)