Jumping In. Twitter for the Timid.

I've been spending lots of time lately considering the value of the various social media channels, how to use them, how to get the most out of them, and what their value is to my own business. I've been on Twitter for a few months now and it's been a slow, and tentative introduction.

As I was reviewing the various e-mail newsletters that I receive daily, this particular article on Twitter really resonated with me - particularly since I seem to be following the pattern. "Learning Twitter - Come on in, the water's warm!" is a great overview and guide to entering into the world of Twitter.

This channel can be a valuable tool. I recommend deciding what you want to use it for - what are your objectives? That will help give some focus to your exploration. For me personally, being a one-women show based in my home, my objectives include staying informed and expanding my network of resources. I'm enjoying my slow entry and am doing lots of listening. Join me! @betsylinnell

Leveraging Social Media

I'm on a quest to learn more about social media and how it can be leveraged to boost brand engagement and generate quantitative campaign results.

On my radar this morning are two interesting posts:

1. Top 5 Twitter Trends to Watch: http://mashable.com/2009/06/14/twitter-trends-3/

2. The Hidden Benefits of Blogging: http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/2009/06/15/9-hidden-benefits-of-blogging/

I'm also following an e-course offered by Mari Smith http://www.marismith.com/. One of the tips was to use a photo of yourself rather than your logo on your Facebook page. From the perspective of building relationships with your clients (current and potential) this makes a lot of sense given that your picture announces your participation in all that you do on Facebook. In my business, I am the brand - so I am going to update my Facebook page replacing my logo with my photo. I want my clients to relate to me more so than my logo.