8 Ways to Get Started in Social Media (It’s Not Too Late!)

How does one get started on social media? Understandably, people are getting frustrated with social media because it’s changing so fast and something new every week. By now, it might also feel like it’s too late to start. Or you’re too far behind, and the field is too crowded.

Many authors, artists, and entrepreneurs think it’s the “magic bullet,” and others think it’s a “bunch of hype” and a waste of time. And then there are folks who “just don’t get it” and try to ignore it. So which category do you fall into?

If you ask me, it’s never too late to get started on social media, and the best time to begin is right now. So don’t be left behind.

The social media train has left the station. So you better get on board!

It’s Time to Get Started on Social Media

Why? Because it‘s the most effective marketing method of the 21st Century. Some call it content marketing or inbound marketing, but it’s really social media marketing.

It‘s about getting the AIDA: Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action from your “potential” customers/readers/clients and fans!

But people are overwhelmed and are running all over the place without a plan or a strategy.

Well, here’s a Simple Social Media Starter-plan that you can do about 15 to 30 minutes a day and start to get more traffic and learn how to build your “tribe.”

(On the subject of social media, take a look at this post next: Five Ways to Build Relationships and Leverage Your Leadership with Social Media)

8 Steps to Get Started on Social Media

1. Visit blogs that are in your area. Follow blogs you find interesting and have great content. Learn from them! Some of my favorite blogs: Tech Crunch, Mashable, Chocolate Pages on Tour, and The Brand New Mommy.
2. Read other blog posts in your area, take notes, write comments, post comments. Posting comments gives you a virtual footprint. It also makes you visible (use your Gravatar!). Finally, it gets you “google juice.”
3. Visit Youtube, watch videos, make comments, subscribe, share on Facebook and Twitter.
4. Visit Facebook pages of the blogs you’re reading/following, send friend requests – add a personal note to why you want to connect with them.
5. Check out their Facebook like pages, like and COMMENT
6. Visit their Twitter accounts, follow, retweet at least one of their tweets
7. Visit their LinkedIn page and connect with them (read their links and info there too)
8. Read their Ezinearticles.com or their Scribd accounts or listen to their blogtalk show. And then, SHARE the information to your social networks via Facebook or Twitter

Consistent Engagement is Key

Social media is about marketing and spreading your message, making connections, and being social! So don’t just have a “one-way” conversation. Don’t be a “drive-by” blogger!

YOU have to engage and get a “feel” for social networking before you start “talking” and posting stuff up everywhere. For real.

If you do the above consistently, you’ll develop quality relationships, and it will increase your value and your following — and your leads will increase, and you’ll get more customers, clients, and yes, cash.

Feel overwhelmed by it all? Well, we started the Branding Superstar University teleclasses back in 2013 to help you get a handle on it ALL and “crush it.” Get out there!

Make sure you leave a comment on the types of things you want to learn, hear more about, and what you want to be covered by “Professor” Perry and the team of experts. We will be LIVE every week, helping YOU to brand like a superstar!

Did you learn a lot about how to get started on social media in this post?

Here are three more to read next:

5 Things Inspirational Authors Must Know to be Successful
How to Build Your Social Media Platform: 5 Stages You Can’t Skip
How to Get Media Attention

This article was originally written in 2012 but has been updated in 2021.