For years now many of us have looked as social networking sites and dismissed them without a second thought.  Many feel that social networking sites are only for young kids or trendy adults.  I used to feel this way but have recently converted to the power of social networking.  Let me explain. 

You won't find me "tweeting" every little thing that I do.  You won't find me posting hourly updates to my facebook page.  Other than business related informational videos I don't post to YouTube.  However I do participate regularly in social networking activties, even those that don't involve in Internet.  Social networking is impossible to escape unless you choose to live as a hermit.  Every interaction we have with friends, family, business associates, etc. is part of our social network.  The Internet and sites like Facebook has simply provided us with another tool to maintian our social networks.  If you are going to participate in on-line social networks I have a few suggestions. 

1.  Participate at your own comfort level.  Update your page/status as frequently as you prefer.  Post updates as you feel comfortable.  Don't forget that in order to be part of a social network you must be social.  If you ignore your social network it will ignore you.  Is that any different from a traditional social network? 

2.  Leverage the power of your social network.  Use your social network to look for a job, find advice, ask opinion, research a potential purchase, etc.  Hopefully those people that are part of your social network care about you and want to help when you ask for help.  Most people like to be able to offer help, it makes us feel needed. 

3.  Becomes friends/followers of business that you frequent.  Business will often post specials to those people that are part of their social networks.  Kind of like if you were going to have a party you would invite your friends.  Social networking is one of the least expensive ways for a business to stay in touch with their customers therefore they can pass on some special savings.  They also know that you might share their special offers with someone on your social network thus bringing in additional business. 

This is by no means an exhaustive list of how to particiapte in a social network.  More than anything I want you to realize that social networks aren't inherently evil or dangerous.  Social networking is how we live.  People are inherently social.  Now..get out there and be social!  Don't be a social wall flower. 

Thanks, 

Jason C. Evans