How to learn more about Social Media (1 of 3)

I’m on a mission.  I’m taking my social media knowledge, experience and learnings to the next level.

So this begs the question:  How the hell do I do this?

And.. how do I do this effectively?  Its so easy (for me anyway) to spend way too much time on google reader, wandering aimlessly across the web without actually accomplishing anything.  Instead, I need a plan.  So.. I made one.  Wanna hear?

1. Absorb

2. Create

3. Network

Part One: Absorb

The first step in learning more is to absorb information.  You don’t know what you don’t know.  So, you have to go out there, find information about Social Media and absorb what you can.

Books and blogs. I set aside a time to read everyday.  I really look forward to reading.  Its like I can’t get enough.  But finding the time can be a struggle.

I remember in the 7th grade, my teacher influenced my thinking.  At some point during a lesson the teacher was called to the office and had to step out of the classroom.  Another teacher came in just to supervise the classroom in her absence.  So, I took the opportunity to pull out my current book (Sweet Valley High series… god I loved those) and I was completely absorbed in the story.  The next thing I knew, I faintly heard my name and I looked up at my teacher who returned.  The whole class burst into laughter.  She had been trying to get my attention, but I was in a different place.  Once the class died down and I was appropriately embarrassed, the teacher said, “Its not a bad thing.  Laurinda was using her time effectively”.

How many moments in your day can you squeeze in some reading?

Fav Social Media Books (affiliate links):

• The BIBLE: The Cluetrain Manifesto by Rick Levine, Christopher Locke, Doc Searls, and David Weinberger
• The BASICS: Social Media 101 by Chris Brogan
• The PHILOSOPHY: Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith
• The ENVIRONMENT: Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin

Fav Blogs:

• Mashable, The Social Media Guide
• Chris Brogan.com
• Seth Godin
• Social Media Explorer by Jason Falls
• Brian Solis.com
• Twist Image by Mitch Joel

Podcasts. With my iPhone I can subscribe and automatically download regular podcasts onto my phone.  I can’t tell you how convenient it is to jump into my car, plug in my phone and on my 30 minute drive to work, listen to compelling people talk about issues of the day.  And the best podcasts?  They don’t take themselves too seriously. So while learning about what is going on, you are being entertained at the same time.

Fav Podcasts:

• This Week in Tech with Leo Laporte
• Media Hacks

Videos: If you do a simple search on YouTube, its amazing the amount of content that is available from and about very intelligent people in the field.  This is an area you can get very creative due the amount of videos available.  I don’t just search for basic info, but for speeches and presentations.  Search based on influencers in the field.  If there is social media conference happening anywhere in the world, search for videos of sessions.  The amount of free video with very valuable information is STAGGERING.  Just try it.

Fav Videos, Basic Info:

• Social Media Revolution
• Social Media in Plain English by the very clever people at Common Craft.
• Social Media ROI: Socialnomics
• Social Media Addicts Association Meeting. (humour… and yes, it is a commercial.  Guess for who?)

For Videos, Influencers:

• Gary Vaynerchuk Teaches Basic Social Media Principles to CNN
• Stephen Fry on Social Media pt1

Fav Videos, Conferences:

• Web 2.0 Expo NY 09: Chris Brogan, “The Serendipity Engine”
• Seth Godin on social networking.

Fav Videos, Speeches:

• Mitch Joel: “The Internet is Not a Fad”
• Alexis Ohanian: How to make a splash in social media
• Clay Shirky: How social media can make history

Other: Sometimes the best information you can find has nothing to do with the field you are in.  When absorbing information ask yourself, how does this apply to my field?  What can I learn from this?

Other ideas:

• Current news.  How is what happening in the world affecting your world directly?
• Non-fiction books in other fields.  I just finished Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath (affiliate link).  Amazing read.  If you need to change anything.. this book will definitely help with practical advice.
• Friends.  I came up with the idea for this series during an intense breakfast conversation.
• Daydreaming.  Yes.  I will never admit how much I daydream and imagine things based on random things I see…  because its… well… alot.

Part 2 will be the Creating Aspect of my plan.

Did I miss anything?  How do you absorb information around you?  I would love to hear it.

(technorati token: 7XG9J2SZP542 )