Unless you were kidnapped by aliens and have been living on another world for the past few years, you would have heard the incessant buzz that is Social Media.

Now, I'm no expert on this new sensation but I do recognise its potential for spreading my business message so am eager to learn all about it.

Here's what I've gleaned so far ... and to be honest, it may not be much more than what our friends on Planet 'Ahh-ya-got-me' already know, but it's a start:

1. Make the decision whether or not to use a form of social media for business BEFORE you sign up. That'll prevent your Facebook page becoming an 'old acquaintance and school chums catch-up place' filled with juvenile games like Farmville and Cafe World (and other suoıʇɔɐɹʇsıp ʎןןıs)

2. Don't feel compelled to follow someone on Twitter simply because they follow you. Sure, it may seem like the polite thing to do but what really matters is the quality of your contacts, not the quantity. If you don't genuinely have an interest in their 140 character pearls of wisdom, don't follow them.

After all, Life's too short to read bad tweets!

3. Then of course, there's YouTube. Apparently, YouTube's the second biggest search thingy on the Web - edged out only by 'The Google'. So it makes sense to have some kind of video presence if you want to raise your profile in cyberspace. Hey, it worked for SuBo.

Add to these the various other social media platforms that you can Link In, Digg in and Squidoodly diddly in - it's no wonder I'm a tad confused!

Thankfully, there's stacks of information out there to help make sense of it all.

Kirsty Dunphey has a fab article on her blog here, which is well worth a look.

 

Here's to taking off the training wheels!

The first thing to remember is that in order to write, you don't have to be chained to your computer. Hey, technology's wonderful and I'm the first to admit that without my computer I'd be really stuck. But when it comes to writing, taking a break from that electronic comrade may be just what you need to set your creativity free.

Make a decision to enjoy the experience of writing - of expressing yourself in text and then set yourself up so that it happens.

1. Get a notebook. Now, I'm not talking about your average office style notebook. I mean a really nice hard cover book that's a reflection of your personality. Perhaps it's conservative and faux leather, maybe it's loud and groovy; whatever it is, it should make you smile when you see it.

2. Choose the perfect writing instrument for you. A pen that glides effortlessly over the paper and is comfortable to hold. Perhaps, like me, you like to write with a pencil - freshly sharpened and not too fine. When you feel comfortable with the instrument, you'll notice your handwriting will seem neater and you'll find yourself enjoying the simple act of putting pen (or pencil) on paper.

3. Location, location, location! Take your notebook and pencil somewhere nice. By the fireplace on a cold day or out on the terrace in the sunshine with a plunger of coffee beside you. I've written business proposals in a park and a sales letter on a mountain. Let yourself be inspired!

4. Just write. When you have the first 3 steps in place just write. Even if it's off topic - you'll either get back on topic eventually or create something else that you can still use and be proud of.

Happy writing!

Seriously though, I look forward to bringing lots of useful information for you to use in your business ... and maybe just some fun horsin' around stuff too. (Sherbet told me to say that ;D)

Cheers,

Carol