by Monique Hodgkinson

Over the past year or so, you’ve probably heard the buzz going around about social media, but you may be asking, “Just what is social media?” You may have also heard it referred to as social networking services or simply social networking. I can sum it up for you in a few words: building relationships and building community.

A little bit of history: The first social networking Web site to appear, back in 1997, was SixDegrees.com. Others began to develop, a few here and a few there. From 2002 to 2006, social networking really started to take off. Sites that are now widely recognized such as Friendster, LinkedIn, MySpace, Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube emerged, capturing the mindshare of millions of users around the world.

Built on proprietary software platforms, social networking sites involved a significant investment in engineering and time. The landscape is once again changing. New social networks continue to appear as platforms like Ning and Elgg allow users to set up their own social networks for free.

Getting started with social networking: The dominant players of today’s social media scene are Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and MySpace. Each has its own purpose and terminology. Pick a social network that fits your need and is interesting to you:

• If you are looking for a professional network of colleagues, then LinkedIn is the place to start.

• MySpace started out as a place for musicians to highlight their endeavors and has grown from there.

• Connect with current and long-lost friends on Facebook. Share photos, games, and special interests quickly and easily.

• Entrepreneurs and larger companies alike recognize Twitter as a platform for promoting their businesses in 140 characters or less  to potential customers.

• YouTube allows users to share and comment on videos that are uploaded to their servers. It’s amazing what you can find on YouTube. For fun, search for “Will It Blend?”

When signing up for a social network, the first step is to create the user profile. This profile may ask for interests, preferences and affiliations, which allows other users to decide if they would like to connect with you. Some sites use the profile to make suggestions to help grow your network. Profiles can be updated and edited over time.

Just a word of caution: Anything that you put on the Internet has the potential to spread and stay out there for a very long time. Think about what information you want to keep private and how you want to present yourself publically. You may have friendly conversations online, but not everyone that you share typed words with is truly your friend. Use good judgment. Don’t give out addresses, ages and personal information to strangers.

Enjoy the social sites; they are a great place to share thoughts, gain insights, and promote businesses. And remember, you get out what you put in. Nurture the relationships and watch your online community grow.

Next month: Using Twitter for business.

Monique Hodgkinson is the founder of Screen Caffeen, a company that specializes in building online strategies and solving customers’ challenges on the Web. From Web design to social media marketing, Screen Caffeen will wake up your online presence. Stop by at screencaffeen.com.