Boomerang

Recently a client asked me what he could do to increase his knowledge of social media and to be perceived as a “web-savvy executive.” While he’s already pretty sophisticated in terms of understanding the evolving online ecosystem, he felt was ready to take it to the next level.It’s a worthy goal, and I came up with a list that I think will not only help him talk the talk but also walk the walk.1) Participate in online discussions such as blogs and add your opinions, thoughts, and perspectives. Joining the online conversation is the best first step to become web savvy.  

2) Write an article on a topic you’re expert in or passionate about and post it to Wikipedia or Amazon’s new Amapedia website.  

3) Leverage Facebook and start using it to expand your network. I know people think that site is just for college students but it’s not. Technologists, journalists, and executives of all industries are joining en mass. While you’re at it, why not create a Fan page or even a Facebook group for your company.  

4) Start soliciting your LinkedIn network with questions pertaining to your industry. (What??!! You’re not on LinkedIn? That was even before step 1 so go ahead and register now.) Sending questions to your network allows you to connect (or reconnect) with colleagues and survey them for insights, as well as shows them that you value their opinions and knowledge. I like the fact that LinkedIn questions are public and come up in Google search results. 

5) Create an account on delicious and start bookmarking things you discover on the web. It’s also a great way to extend the distribution of your own digital assets (anything with a URL) and lets people find your content organically through search on that site. Make sure to include your name in summaries, if appropriate, and craft descriptive summaries, notes, and tags.