May 2, 2008 186 Comments

What Were Your First Steps

Let’s do a post inside the comments post today. I’ll ask some questions, and then let’s talk about it in the comments. Fair?

What were your first steps into social media?

Who were your early people you admired and followed?

How did you get started?

If you were going to give advice to someone starting out, what would you tell them?

What will you do in the next few months with social media?

(Let’s see where this goes).

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http://nextcommunication.wordpress.com/ Vedo

…first steps into social media? Had a vague understanding, then heard a presentation by Geoff Livingston on integrating social media into communications plans. Read his book (Now Is Gone) and have been totally geek-ing out on SM ever since

…early people you admired and followed? Geoff Livingston, Kami Huyse, Lauren Vargas, Brian Solis, Giovanni Gallucci, and others

…get started? Started with social networking sites MySpace then graduated to Facebook. I put some ideas to work in my first blog. Presented a Social Media for school districts for some fellow school PR professionals

…advice? jump in, the water’s fine

…next few months with social media? I’ve been asked to give a Social Media for Newbies presentation for Fort Worth PRSA. Things are looking good so far. I am excited to see where this goes.
http://nextcommunication.wordpress.com/ Vedo

…first steps into social media? Had a vague understanding, then heard a presentation by Geoff Livingston on integrating social media into communications plans. Read his book (Now Is Gone) and have been totally geek-ing out on SM ever since

…early people you admired and followed? Geoff Livingston, Kami Huyse, Lauren Vargas, Brian Solis, Giovanni Gallucci, and others

…get started? Started with social networking sites MySpace then graduated to Facebook. I put some ideas to work in my first blog. Presented a Social Media for school districts for some fellow school PR professionals

…advice? jump in, the water’s fine

…next few months with social media? I’ve been asked to give a Social Media for Newbies presentation for Fort Worth PRSA. Things are looking good so far. I am excited to see where this goes.
Pingback: Jump in, the water’s fine « next communication
http://www.bxos.com lou suSi

My first steps into social media included a Diaryland blog that I still occasionally hop back into for my performance art persona ‘SiNuS BRaDy’ { sinusbrady.com }. Diaryland actually helped me develop the character and amass a vast array of random semi-comedic and surreal material to work from for my ‘Stand Up | no comedy’ act as it has come to be known on a variety of levels. I also started up a LiveJournal blog for my personal site that runs somewhere between personal and professional { loususi.livejournal.com }. Interstingly enough, I keep the ‘real’ LJ blog semi-buried on my loususi.com website { you have to go to news and then look 2 or 3 links down on my site to get it without Googling me }. The blog for my fictional alterego has always been out in the open for any and all to see. I’ve been moving in the opposite direction lately. Might be better for me, right?

People I admired and followed earlier in my social media ventures most likely were people like rosS Hamlin, Seth Godin, Ze Frank and organizations like Mobius, iKatun and Art Interactive. I’m typically steeped in that interesting cyberSpace between professional design + media vs art, new media + performative alterreality. And so my inspirations tend to show a dichotomy, or at least an interesting juxtaposition …

I got started right around 1999. Nope, I take that back. I think it was more like 1996. I had a BA in Art. A few years in retail, paiting by nite, living in my parents’ basement … the realization came to me that perhaps further schooling might be necessary to move forward. I went back to UMass Lowell to pursue a certificate in ‘Multimedia Applications’. Multimedia applications = CD-rom production. I immediately got a gig at CNC, started freelancing almost from day 1 wherever possible. After a couple years at CNC I worked for a place called virtualFactory that is unfortunately probably still around. virtualFactory should be more aptly called ‘fFactory’ … ya know? But anyhow … in 1999 my wife and I founded ‘BijaXOuS’ … horrible name for a company, right? You can’t spell it. Most people can’t even pronounce it. But a zine still resides where the designhaus used to be. And now, ‘BXOS’ is the company name. I might change it to ‘Most Wanted Consultants’ … a bit presumptuous, I know, but at least you can remember it and you don’t have to ask ‘what does BXOS stand for?’ or I wouldn’t get people hitting up boxes.com by mistake.

Advice I would give to those starting out: Use your name for your domain name, at least for one version of your online social media life. Stay social in offline circuits too. Make friends. Manage your time wisely. Be careful what you promise to which person and when. Do work in what you love.

My next few months with social media includes more bloggings, hopefully more vloggings for my SB alterego, I would love to delve into podcasting { I co-hosted ‘Tears of the Gods’ at WMFO recently and loved my collaborations w/ Edward Beuchert }, more Social Media Breakfastings { perhaps a ‘North’ version of this same event at The Friendly Toast or somewhere up on the North Shore }, more social media networking on the music and performance side of life … we’ll see … there are SO many options. Aight … back to Ninginging ;]
http://www.bxos.com lou suSi

My first steps into social media included a Diaryland blog that I still occasionally hop back into for my performance art persona ‘SiNuS BRaDy’ { sinusbrady.com }. Diaryland actually helped me develop the character and amass a vast array of random semi-comedic and surreal material to work from for my ‘Stand Up | no comedy’ act as it has come to be known on a variety of levels. I also started up a LiveJournal blog for my personal site that runs somewhere between personal and professional { loususi.livejournal.com }. Interstingly enough, I keep the ‘real’ LJ blog semi-buried on my loususi.com website { you have to go to news and then look 2 or 3 links down on my site to get it without Googling me }. The blog for my fictional alterego has always been out in the open for any and all to see. I’ve been moving in the opposite direction lately. Might be better for me, right?

People I admired and followed earlier in my social media ventures most likely were people like rosS Hamlin, Seth Godin, Ze Frank and organizations like Mobius, iKatun and Art Interactive. I’m typically steeped in that interesting cyberSpace between professional design + media vs art, new media + performative alterreality. And so my inspirations tend to show a dichotomy, or at least an interesting juxtaposition …

I got started right around 1999. Nope, I take that back. I think it was more like 1996. I had a BA in Art. A few years in retail, paiting by nite, living in my parents’ basement … the realization came to me that perhaps further schooling might be necessary to move forward. I went back to UMass Lowell to pursue a certificate in ‘Multimedia Applications’. Multimedia applications = CD-rom production. I immediately got a gig at CNC, started freelancing almost from day 1 wherever possible. After a couple years at CNC I worked for a place called virtualFactory that is unfortunately probably still around. virtualFactory should be more aptly called ‘fFactory’ … ya know? But anyhow … in 1999 my wife and I founded ‘BijaXOuS’ … horrible name for a company, right? You can’t spell it. Most people can’t even pronounce it. But a zine still resides where the designhaus used to be. And now, ‘BXOS’ is the company name. I might change it to ‘Most Wanted Consultants’ … a bit presumptuous, I know, but at least you can remember it and you don’t have to ask ‘what does BXOS stand for?’ or I wouldn’t get people hitting up boxes.com by mistake.

Advice I would give to those starting out: Use your name for your domain name, at least for one version of your online social media life. Stay social in offline circuits too. Make friends. Manage your time wisely. Be careful what you promise to which person and when. Do work in what you love.

My next few months with social media includes more bloggings, hopefully more vloggings for my SB alterego, I would love to delve into podcasting { I co-hosted ‘Tears of the Gods’ at WMFO recently and loved my collaborations w/ Edward Beuchert }, more Social Media Breakfastings { perhaps a ‘North’ version of this same event at The Friendly Toast or somewhere up on the North Shore }, more social media networking on the music and performance side of life … we’ll see … there are SO many options. Aight … back to Ninginging ;]
http://www.ldpodcast.com Whitney Hoffman

First steps? I started out by listening to podcasts, and then deciding that was a great way to get my own message across. Then after just about three months into actually putting a show out there, I attended this event called Podcamp Boston, which has totally changed my life as I know it.

Who were your early people you admired and followed? I had listened to Mommycast and CC Chapman’s Accident Hash, and after meeting CC at Podcamp,the connection between online and offline became more real. From Podcamp Boston, I met a ton of people, including Chris Brogan, Chris Penn, Mark Blevis, Larry Lawfer, Julien Smith, Eric Skiff, CC Chapman, Dave LaMorte, Jay Moonah, John Havens, Mitch Joel, Rob & Megin Hatch, Drew Olanoff, Adam Plante and the Best Damn Tech Show guys, and others, that gave me not only a core of people who still are part of my internet family, who have in turn expanded my horizons to other people I’ve met online and off, creating really great friendships, including Linda Mills, Chel Wolverton, Matthew Ebel, Todd & Sage Tyrtle, Bob & Cat Goyetche, Dave Beaudolin, Tammy Munson, Joel Mark Witt, Andycaster, Vivian Vasquez, and more. Each podcamp I attend expands my network more so than any other online presence in a meaningful way. Other social networks like facebook, twitter, etc. have merely become ways to keep in contact and extend that in person meeting to a gradual way to really get to know people and what happens in their lives.

If you were going to give advice to someone starting out, what would you tell them? You can start by getting your feet wet on any number of social networking sites, but taking the time and effort to attend an event like Podcamp, especially with the fact that Podcamp attracts not only people creating new media, but PR and marketing types looking for different ways to get the message out, this is a perfect way to get the lay of the land and meet people that can truly transform what you do and how you think about new media.

What will you do in the next few months with social media? More blogging, podcasting and Podcamps are in my future, and hopefully we’ll get the book about Community building and unconferences finished.
http://www.ldpodcast.com Whitney Hoffman

First steps? I started out by listening to podcasts, and then deciding that was a great way to get my own message across. Then after just about three months into actually putting a show out there, I attended this event called Podcamp Boston, which has totally changed my life as I know it.

Who were your early people you admired and followed? I had listened to Mommycast and CC Chapman’s Accident Hash, and after meeting CC at Podcamp,the connection between online and offline became more real. From Podcamp Boston, I met a ton of people, including Chris Brogan, Chris Penn, Mark Blevis, Larry Lawfer, Julien Smith, Eric Skiff, CC Chapman, Dave LaMorte, Jay Moonah, John Havens, Mitch Joel, Rob & Megin Hatch, Drew Olanoff, Adam Plante and the Best Damn Tech Show guys, and others, that gave me not only a core of people who still are part of my internet family, who have in turn expanded my horizons to other people I’ve met online and off, creating really great friendships, including Linda Mills, Chel Wolverton, Matthew Ebel, Todd & Sage Tyrtle, Bob & Cat Goyetche, Dave Beaudolin, Tammy Munson, Joel Mark Witt, Andycaster, Vivian Vasquez, and more. Each podcamp I attend expands my network more so than any other online presence in a meaningful way. Other social networks like facebook, twitter, etc. have merely become ways to keep in contact and extend that in person meeting to a gradual way to really get to know people and what happens in their lives.

If you were going to give advice to someone starting out, what would you tell them? You can start by getting your feet wet on any number of social networking sites, but taking the time and effort to attend an event like Podcamp, especially with the fact that Podcamp attracts not only people creating new media, but PR and marketing types looking for different ways to get the message out, this is a perfect way to get the lay of the land and meet people that can truly transform what you do and how you think about new media.

What will you do in the next few months with social media? More blogging, podcasting and Podcamps are in my future, and hopefully we’ll get the book about Community building and unconferences finished.
http://maximumcustomerexperience.typepad.com Kelly

Chris,

Wow am I late to the party!

First steps:
1. I showed my Mom how to use AOL forums back in 1995, so she could “get connected” and talk to folks with interests like hers. Then I married somebody I met chatting to demonstrate how it all worked. Neither one worked out. It took six months to see my Mom would never use AOL forums, but nearly 10 years to get rid of the other. :)

All along, I was a huge participant in genealogy forums, something I guess I never talk about in my business life. Genealogy is a pretty consuming “hobby,” and forums can turn up some good help. Mostly I gave the help, because I’m pretty far along in my work, but sometimes received, too.

More recently, first steps into business social media were to find and follow some published authors I admired, starting about a year ago, I guess. I was surprised to find that offline authors were blogging, and even more surprised to find how huge the world of blogs was (is). From the outside, it seemed like such a small world!

2. Early people: Keith Ferrazzi’s might have been the first blog I subscribed to. I can’t remember anymore but he was close. Seth Godin and Jakob Nielsen were early, too. The very first blog I ever looked at is called My Mom’s Blog by Thoroughly Modern Millie (it was set up by her kid). She’s 82 and it is well worth a quick peek. I read about her in a newspaper, I think, and decided to check her out. I still look in once in a while, and I keep her bookmarked to remind me that anyone can “do” this blog thing that once seemed beyond me! She rocks!

3. Beginning: Lurking, subscribing, commenting, commenting more, realizing I had more to say than even my crazy-long comments can hold, writing on paper to test whether I really did have all that much to say, then finally committing to my own blog. I run a full time business, and though I enjoy hearing about the various other social media out there, I don’t do twitter, Facebook, or any other. I know I couldn’t do them justice and if there’s one thing I believe in in social media, you get out what you put into it. Even if I had four more hours in my day, I’d rather spend them with my daughter than commit to more social networking.

4. I did a whole post on this recently when I got a piece of “fan mail” that just made me glow. Advice:

Comment a lot first, make sure you have something to say for the long haul, find your own unique niche (don’t write about what everyone else is writing about: I could write about writing all day but it’s being done! Writing about Experience Design is [nearly] all mine), and BE YOURSELF. I said this in the post I wrote: pretend you’re at a cocktail party. See the person you’re writing to in front of you, and talk to that person on paper.

5. Upcoming: Vast amounts of really cool stuff including an awesome Interview Series are coming up at the blog. I wish I could tell you that I’m going to add in six other social media, but I’m not. I will continue to follow Chris Brogan, and marvel at your immense reserves of energy to do it all. I’m going to try to be really good at what I do, so people know they can trust me as a resource for the long haul. Experience Designer by day, then like Superman into a booth, and trusted blogger in every spare moment.

In spite of being late to the party, I had a blast. Thanks for the invite!

Regards,

Kelly
http://maximumcustomerexperience.typepad.com Kelly

Chris,

Wow am I late to the party!

First steps:
1. I showed my Mom how to use AOL forums back in 1995, so she could “get connected” and talk to folks with interests like hers. Then I married somebody I met chatting to demonstrate how it all worked. Neither one worked out. It took six months to see my Mom would never use AOL forums, but nearly 10 years to get rid of the other. :)

All along, I was a huge participant in genealogy forums, something I guess I never talk about in my business life. Genealogy is a pretty consuming “hobby,” and forums can turn up some good help. Mostly I gave the help, because I’m pretty far along in my work, but sometimes received, too.

More recently, first steps into business social media were to find and follow some published authors I admired, starting about a year ago, I guess. I was surprised to find that offline authors were blogging, and even more surprised to find how huge the world of blogs was (is). From the outside, it seemed like such a small world!

2. Early people: Keith Ferrazzi’s might have been the first blog I subscribed to. I can’t remember anymore but he was close. Seth Godin and Jakob Nielsen were early, too. The very first blog I ever looked at is called My Mom’s Blog by Thoroughly Modern Millie (it was set up by her kid). She’s 82 and it is well worth a quick peek. I read about her in a newspaper, I think, and decided to check her out. I still look in once in a while, and I keep her bookmarked to remind me that anyone can “do” this blog thing that once seemed beyond me! She rocks!

3. Beginning: Lurking, subscribing, commenting, commenting more, realizing I had more to say than even my crazy-long comments can hold, writing on paper to test whether I really did have all that much to say, then finally committing to my own blog. I run a full time business, and though I enjoy hearing about the various other social media out there, I don’t do twitter, Facebook, or any other. I know I couldn’t do them justice and if there’s one thing I believe in in social media, you get out what you put into it. Even if I had four more hours in my day, I’d rather spend them with my daughter than commit to more social networking.

4. I did a whole post on this recently when I got a piece of “fan mail” that just made me glow. Advice:

Comment a lot first, make sure you have something to say for the long haul, find your own unique niche (don’t write about what everyone else is writing about: I could write about writing all day but it’s being done! Writing about Experience Design is [nearly] all mine), and BE YOURSELF. I said this in the post I wrote: pretend you’re at a cocktail party. See the person you’re writing to in front of you, and talk to that person on paper.

5. Upcoming: Vast amounts of really cool stuff including an awesome Interview Series are coming up at the blog. I wish I could tell you that I’m going to add in six other social media, but I’m not. I will continue to follow Chris Brogan, and marvel at your immense reserves of energy to do it all. I’m going to try to be really good at what I do, so people know they can trust me as a resource for the long haul. Experience Designer by day, then like Superman into a booth, and trusted blogger in every spare moment.

In spite of being late to the party, I had a blast. Thanks for the invite!

Regards,

Kelly
http://colinfrancisbarnes.com Colin Francis Barnes

I’m super-new to the whole social media malarky. I started this weekend after for some reason resisting it for the last year or so. I’m really liking it so far though, although all the various websites and networks can be daunting to manage, but I guess that will become easier.

I’m currently using MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, MyBlogLog, Digg, etc.. and so far it seems to be an interesting dynamic, not entirely sure how to really go about it all but I guess thats part of the fun.
http://colinfrancisbarnes.com Colin Francis Barnes

I’m super-new to the whole social media malarky. I started this weekend after for some reason resisting it for the last year or so. I’m really liking it so far though, although all the various websites and networks can be daunting to manage, but I guess that will become easier.

I’m currently using MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, MyBlogLog, Digg, etc.. and so far it seems to be an interesting dynamic, not entirely sure how to really go about it all but I guess thats part of the fun.
http://mariadkins.com Mari

I’m pretty much where Colin is. I’ve been on MySpace since 2006 (or 2005?). On Facebook for about a year now. I found Twitter last fall, but didn’t start using it really until January. That’s when PurpleCar found me and introduced me to Utterz nd Seesmic – and got me hooked on the broader “social thing”. Am still very much paddle-wheeling my way around.
http://mariadkins.com Mari

I’m pretty much where Colin is. I’ve been on MySpace since 2006 (or 2005?). On Facebook for about a year now. I found Twitter last fall, but didn’t start using it really until January. That’s when PurpleCar found me and introduced me to Utterz nd Seesmic – and got me hooked on the broader “social thing”. Am still very much paddle-wheeling my way around.
http://www.natashasartcandy.com natasha

My first experience with social media was obviously the god ok chattooms of the late 90s. Of course my first social media site was friendster. I was clueless. Never logged on much or really understood that it was bout friendships and all kinds of things. I never went back. I was into Everquest and RPG gaming which was my main source pf social media. It took building my business to consider using those tools and it came about naturally for me.

I would say to a newbie that easing into what’s interesting for you, works with your goals and target audience, should this be a buisiness thing, is the best. Don’t use everything just because evryone else is. Not eerything is worth it or will work for you. Don’t depend onhaving flashy pages or trying to represent yourself exactly how others do. Be yourself!!!!!!!! That’s what makes this so much fun.
http://www.natashasartcandy.com natasha

My first experience with social media was obviously the god ok chattooms of the late 90s. Of course my first social media site was friendster. I was clueless. Never logged on much or really understood that it was bout friendships and all kinds of things. I never went back. I was into Everquest and RPG gaming which was my main source pf social media. It took building my business to consider using those tools and it came about naturally for me.

I would say to a newbie that easing into what’s interesting for you, works with your goals and target audience, should this be a buisiness thing, is the best. Don’t use everything just because evryone else is. Not eerything is worth it or will work for you. Don’t depend onhaving flashy pages or trying to represent yourself exactly how others do. Be yourself!!!!!!!! That’s what makes this so much fun.
http://www.thekingkongblog.com mahdi yusuf

wow. alot of your readers have a lot to say and discuss great reader base. I wish i had that many commenters! Anyways my first step in was with my blog! I have many other social media link ups too now! my first admirer was john chow, when i saw him on call for help he really made me want jump and start the blog! I started up last summer and continued ever since! :)
http://www.thekingkongblog.com mahdi yusuf

wow. alot of your readers have a lot to say and discuss great reader base. I wish i had that many commenters! Anyways my first step in was with my blog! I have many other social media link ups too now! my first admirer was john chow, when i saw him on call for help he really made me want jump and start the blog! I started up last summer and continued ever since! :)
http://divinepurposeunleashed.com Michelle Vandepas

I’ve had one email address since 1988 (which I still have) that got me into a bulliten board chat room. I guess that was my ‘first’ social media, but I didn’t know it of course back then. I’ve been signed up on Facebook,Myspace, LinkedIn etc etc for a while now, but didn’t do anything with them.
Two weeks ago I signed up for Twitter, which led me to having a conversation with @joannayoung and her trip to SOBCon08. Which led me to register 6 short days ago, which led me to you, and then, your blog.
A nice circle.
Social Media at it’s best.
http://divinepurposeunleashed.com Michelle Vandepas

I’ve had one email address since 1988 (which I still have) that got me into a bulliten board chat room. I guess that was my ‘first’ social media, but I didn’t know it of course back then. I’ve been signed up on Facebook,Myspace, LinkedIn etc etc for a while now, but didn’t do anything with them.
Two weeks ago I signed up for Twitter, which led me to having a conversation with @joannayoung and her trip to SOBCon08. Which led me to register 6 short days ago, which led me to you, and then, your blog.
A nice circle.
Social Media at it’s best.
http://factoring-invoices.blogspot.com Mr. Factoring

Chris,

My first step was writing a blog. I also started a second blog. I guess I remain at my “first step” level.

I did participate in the USENET before it got spammed all the way to hell. Is that social media?

Cheers
Marco
http://factoring-invoices.blogspot.com Mr. Factoring

Chris,

My first step was writing a blog. I also started a second blog. I guess I remain at my “first step” level.

I did participate in the USENET before it got spammed all the way to hell. Is that social media?

Cheers
Marco
http://www.wearableartblog.com Sandi Atlas-Gordon

My first foray into social media was following Seth Godin and Dosh Dosh. Late last year, I was inspired to begin my own blog, The Wearable Art Blog. The biggest challenge I’ve had is to find the ‘right’ online community – I’m hoping this blog will be a good one for me. I’m also looking for communities in the wearable art world to help build contacts for my blog. I’ve tried Twitter. When I set up my Twitter page, I used a picture of a model in a skimpy top to represent me, which generated an email from ‘Burt Reynolds’ with Burt in a practically naked pose! Oh well, I’m learning!
http://www.wearableartblog.com Sandi Atlas-Gordon

My first foray into social media was following Seth Godin and Dosh Dosh. Late last year, I was inspired to begin my own blog, The Wearable Art Blog. The biggest challenge I’ve had is to find the ‘right’ online community – I’m hoping this blog will be a good one for me. I’m also looking for communities in the wearable art world to help build contacts for my blog. I’ve tried Twitter. When I set up my Twitter page, I used a picture of a model in a skimpy top to represent me, which generated an email from ‘Burt Reynolds’ with Burt in a practically naked pose! Oh well, I’m learning!
http://www.myspace.com/rachelvelardelyricmezzosoprano Rachel

I always considered myself computer savvy, but I graduated college JUST before the Web boom (1994), and am still VERY scared of HTML & therefore MySpace, but I’m working on it!!!

My first step into social networking was my husband bugging me to sign up for Facebook (September 2007 – late in the game, I know). Finally, in March 2008, I started actually using it (rather than him checking me in every few weeks). I have reconnected with friends from high school and with some former colleagues as well.
Well, actually YEARS ago, one of my friends had me try Friendster, but I just didn’t “get” it & it lapsed very quickly.
THEN, I Googled a voice competition that I was doing and I ran across The Collaborative Piano Blog on, of all days, April Fools Day & LOVED their sense of humor and committment to the art. Through them, I found chrisbrogan.com!!! Between that inspiration, and a recent article in Classical Singer Magazine, I’ve started using MySpace (and I’ve written ONE blog post so far – more are planned) and am just staying in touch a little more. I’ve always been an avid emailer, but…. One of my colleagues used Google Calendars to invite lots of people to her recent voice recital and I thought “THAT’s COOL!!” So, I’m excited, but still VERY much a newbie. Thanks for your blog! It really encourages me that I CAN do it. I’m thinking about trying out Twitter, but don’t really know if there’s anyone that I would talk to. Does it matter if I know anyone on Twitter already, or so I just jump in??
http://www.myspace.com/rachelvelardelyricmezzosoprano Rachel

I always considered myself computer savvy, but I graduated college JUST before the Web boom (1994), and am still VERY scared of HTML & therefore MySpace, but I’m working on it!!!

My first step into social networking was my husband bugging me to sign up for Facebook (September 2007 – late in the game, I know). Finally, in March 2008, I started actually using it (rather than him checking me in every few weeks). I have reconnected with friends from high school and with some former colleagues as well.
Well, actually YEARS ago, one of my friends had me try Friendster, but I just didn’t “get” it & it lapsed very quickly.
THEN, I Googled a voice competition that I was doing and I ran across The Collaborative Piano Blog on, of all days, April Fools Day & LOVED their sense of humor and committment to the art. Through them, I found chrisbrogan.com!!! Between that inspiration, and a recent article in Classical Singer Magazine, I’ve started using MySpace (and I’ve written ONE blog post so far – more are planned) and am just staying in touch a little more. I’ve always been an avid emailer, but…. One of my colleagues used Google Calendars to invite lots of people to her recent voice recital and I thought “THAT’s COOL!!” So, I’m excited, but still VERY much a newbie. Thanks for your blog! It really encourages me that I CAN do it. I’m thinking about trying out Twitter, but don’t really know if there’s anyone that I would talk to. Does it matter if I know anyone on Twitter already, or so I just jump in??
http://meshugavi.com Avi Kaplan

I’d say my first steps were with AIM, and a group of friends who all got really into LiveJournal in middle school.
More recently I’ve set up a blog, gotten a bit involved on twitter, and decked out my feed reader with great brain candy.

My interest really has spike since reconnecting with Tamar Weinberg who I knew in high school. Also was inspired by Beth Kanter and Michelle Martin early on.

I feel like I’ve just started to graze the surface and I’m always finding new interesting conversations. My advice would be not to be afraid to reach out and get in touch with people, be generous, and always remember that time is precious and you don’t own anyone else’s!

I hope this month to get more involved in conversations, use twitter more regularly, and try to develop writing every day as a habit.
http://meshugavi.com Avi Kaplan

I’d say my first steps were with AIM, and a group of friends who all got really into LiveJournal in middle school.
More recently I’ve set up a blog, gotten a bit involved on twitter, and decked out my feed reader with great brain candy.

My interest really has spike since reconnecting with Tamar Weinberg who I knew in high school. Also was inspired by Beth Kanter and Michelle Martin early on.

I feel like I’ve just started to graze the surface and I’m always finding new interesting conversations. My advice would be not to be afraid to reach out and get in touch with people, be generous, and always remember that time is precious and you don’t own anyone else’s!

I hope this month to get more involved in conversations, use twitter more regularly, and try to develop writing every day as a habit.
http://theledgeofknow.blogspot.com Lisha Sterling

Let’s see… I was a big IRC addict in the early to mid 90′s…

Seriously, advice for getting into social media? My advice is not to try to be anything but yourself. Do what you like to do. Talk about what you are passionate about in any and all outlets for that passion and enjoy. Any given platform (facebook, twitter, tribe, livejournal, whatever…) may or may not be the right one for you at any given moment. Don’t freak out about whether you are in the “right” place. If you are getting what you want out of it, then it’s right. If not, then not. The good news is that you don’t have to have monogamous relationships with your social media platforms. Pick and choose the things that you want out of as many applications as you see fit. So your friends aren’t in every single one of those locations? So what?!

Just chillax and enjoy it.
http://theledgeofknow.blogspot.com Lisha Sterling

Let’s see… I was a big IRC addict in the early to mid 90′s…

Seriously, advice for getting into social media? My advice is not to try to be anything but yourself. Do what you like to do. Talk about what you are passionate about in any and all outlets for that passion and enjoy. Any given platform (facebook, twitter, tribe, livejournal, whatever…) may or may not be the right one for you at any given moment. Don’t freak out about whether you are in the “right” place. If you are getting what you want out of it, then it’s right. If not, then not. The good news is that you don’t have to have monogamous relationships with your social media platforms. Pick and choose the things that you want out of as many applications as you see fit. So your friends aren’t in every single one of those locations? So what?!

Just chillax and enjoy it.
http://KolbeMarket.com BarbaraKB

Book reviews and a favorites list with Amazon.com and an account with classmates. com back in 1998 were my first ventures into social sites.

Been a rocky ride since. My blog is long gone. Why? I am not a writer and I will not just rehash all the other great blogs out there. Besides, I love the numbers & the analysis more. True, marketing geek, you could say.

Right now, I am enjoying the new feed reader options such as FriendFeed and Twitter. I believe these sites are teaching the ordinary person about RSS. That’s powerful to me.

Peace!
http://www.kolbemarket.com BarbaraKB

Book reviews and a favorites list with Amazon.com and an account with classmates. com back in 1998 were my first ventures into social sites.

Been a rocky ride since. My blog is long gone. Why? I am not a writer and I will not just rehash all the other great blogs out there. Besides, I love the numbers & the analysis more. True, marketing geek, you could say.

Right now, I am enjoying the new feed reader options such as FriendFeed and Twitter. I believe these sites are teaching the ordinary person about RSS. That’s powerful to me.

Peace!
Pingback: Baby steps… « I am an Enigma
http://www.grandwebmasterflash.com Leslie

In the early 90s, I started using AIM and ICQ.

In late 90s, I was part of starting a design community called New Element. We primarily communicated through ICQ and IRC.

My use of today’s definition of social networks started in 2002 with Friendster. Then from Friendster started joining other sites such as, myspace, Blogger, flickr, last.fm, threadless, Pownce, facebook and virb. I’m more active with photography and music related sites.

I really like what virb is doing with their site, but unfortunately I don’t have as much time as I’d like to participate. Them seem to take the good music aspect of myspace and make the design soooo much better.

On the topic of music, I came across this site recently: http://www.muxtape.com It isn’t very social in the traditional sense, but I feel like it is social in the sense that you’re still sharing music you are into with complete strangers. Being a musician and a eclectic music lover, I think you can tell a lot about a person from their music tastes.

As for what I would like to see more of in the future…definitely more music centric sites. I also feel like the lines of content management and social networks are being blurred more and more.
http://www.grandwebmasterflash.com Leslie

In the early 90s, I started using AIM and ICQ.

In late 90s, I was part of starting a design community called New Element. We primarily communicated through ICQ and IRC.

My use of today’s definition of social networks started in 2002 with Friendster. Then from Friendster started joining other sites such as, myspace, Blogger, flickr, last.fm, threadless, Pownce, facebook and virb. I’m more active with photography and music related sites.

I really like what virb is doing with their site, but unfortunately I don’t have as much time as I’d like to participate. Them seem to take the good music aspect of myspace and make the design soooo much better.

On the topic of music, I came across this site recently: http://www.muxtape.com It isn’t very social in the traditional sense, but I feel like it is social in the sense that you’re still sharing music you are into with complete strangers. Being a musician and a eclectic music lover, I think you can tell a lot about a person from their music tastes.

As for what I would like to see more of in the future…definitely more music centric sites. I also feel like the lines of content management and social networks are being blurred more and more.
Pingback: Expert Chris Brogan Offers Tips on Blogging « Communication in a Web Saturated World
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