Social media is everywhere. It encompasses blogs, social networks (such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace), professional networking avenues such as LinkedIn, and creative sites like Flickr, a photography-sharing website. People such as the teenager next door, grandma and celebrities are using social media outlets.
 
Did you know that there are more than 300 million active Facebook users who post nearly 1 billion photos monthly to their accounts? Additionally, it would take 7,000 years for all the photos on Flickr to be developed at a one-hour photo!
 
People use social media for a variety of reasons. What role does social media play in your life? What role should it play?

• Know what you are talking about. If you are going to work with social media, be involved in social media. Start your own Twitter account, Facebook page, read blogs and get engaged. That is the best way to understand the culture, tone, best practices, and protocol.
  
  
• Always be transparent. When you are communicating in social media say who you are and who you work for. Don't try to be sneaky and plant comments, don't hire people to go out and say nice things about you and stay away from ghost writing. Be genuine and be real.
  

• Post frequently. It's a lot of work, but don't post to your blog then leave it for two weeks. Readers won't have a reason to follow you on Twitter or check your blog if they can't expect new content regularly.
  
  
• Add value. Share tips, tricks and insights. People's time is precious and they need to get something out of the time they spend with you. Make listening to you worth their time.
  
  
• Respond. Answer questions, thank people even if it's just a few words. Make it a two-way conversation.
  
  
• Have fun. If you don't like what you are doing, others will notice it and won't enjoy interacting with you.

• However, you should always see to it that the social media you engage in should be appropriate for a professional setting.
  

• Employers (and potential employers) really do check your social networking sites. Spell correctly, use proper grammar and don't be vulgar or degrading to others.   WH