I got an interesting e-mail question from a friend in the USA asking me what I was doing to equip myself to use and understand Social Media.

This was my response.

Over the past 6 months I have immersed myself in social media trying to understand and use it. What I have realised is that there are rules of engagement to using these technologies and that stats are showing that it is becoming an important weapon/instrument for change and getting your messages across. It is like that old saying – People have 5 senses, use as many of those in your marketing & sales messages.

However with everyone now using this, it has become vital to discern how to be more relevant and get your message through the clutter.

After reading their books, I can highly recommend reading books by Brian Solis, Chris Brogan & David Meerman Scott.

Some of these posts may also assist and guide:

My preferred source for guidance is definitely the Hubspot Blog, Mashable & Lifehacker. The HubSpot Inbound Internet Marketing blog covers all of inbound marketing – SEO, Blogging, Social Media, Landing Pages, Lead Generation and Analytics. Just check out this article:  60 Proven Ways to Increase Your Online Marketing Influence – Read more: http://bit.ly/9tTB7q

In South Africa, I follow the work of Pieter du Toit & Lisa Breedt – http://www.socialmediaiq.co.za/ 

I also kept this post for some time by the author of the Social Media Bible – Lon Safko – As an author of The Social Media Bible, I am often asked, "What do I need to do engage my company, my products, and myself in social media?"

The answer is easy:

Participate.  Get out there and get involved.  If you aren’t in the game, you can’t win.  Here’s your Ten Commandments or things you need to be doing to get in and win with social media.

•   Thou Shalt Blog (like crazy).
•   Thou Shalt Create Profiles (everywhere).
•   Thou Shalt Upload Photos (lots of them).
•   Thou Shalt Upload Videos (all you can find).
•   Thou Shalt Podcast (often).
•   Thou Shalt Set Alerts (immediately).
•   Thou Shalt Comment (on a multitude of blogs).
•   Thou Shalt Get Connected (with everyone).
•   Thou Shalt Explore Social Media (30 minutes per week)

Interesting Reads:

2010: The Year Social Marketing Gets Serious – http://bit.ly/6gRcJ4

Social Media Productivity – 13 Tips to Maximize Your Time – http://brainzooming.com/?p=5569

What I have done is to use Twitter to equip myself. I follow a couple of experts. I check their tweets and move those to a folder for later reading. This has helped me substantially.

It’s all about doing your homework and trying the tools. Just like Lao – tsu said in the Tao te Ching:

“If you realise that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold onto.

If you aren’t afraid of dying, there is nothing you can’t achieve.

Trying to control the future is like trying to  take the master carpenter’s place. When you handle the master carpenter’s tools, chances are that you’ll cut your hand.”

Even if I cut my hand, I have to try. Just like surfing, learn to ride the waves.