So many online Social Networking sites that you don't know where to begin?  Maybe you don't even want to begin but are feeling pressured by your family and friends?  I've spoken to the odd (not as in strange but as in rare) family member or friend who says........"Well I'll Never".....hmmm O.k....

Here we'll focus more on those that would like to dip their toe in the water and check it out........So lets check this out.  There's Facebook and My Space,Google Alerts, Twitter and Linkedn...and This Blog and That blog....oh and what about You Tube?  Only so may hours a day or week that you have to invest in this medium....So where do you start?

And then there's the reason........Is it strictly a social medium that you're looking for, wanting to connect with old friends and meet new ones........or are you interested in doing this for Business purposes?  And if it is business........why and what for?  That might be the harder or the two questions to answer.

Well you could start by being a Fly on the Wall. You could actually go online first just to get a flavor for the types of conversations that go on there.  Who are they saying it to, what are they saying, how do they say it, what gets attention?...Segway?....Well to the Fine Art of Online Listening of course!

O.K so what would that look like?  Well listening might mean going to one of these sites and just observing.  Grabbing a notebook and pen and jotting notes....One of my favorite places to start - is Google Alerts! I'm a big fan - it keeps me in the loop - most recently it just informed me that my daughter (an MMA fighter) had just announced her first pro fight! )....unfortunately she didn't announce it to me.........so thank you Googalert!

What exactly does it do and how does it do it?  Well first of all where do you go to sign up?   Well click here:  Google Alerts.  Its good to put your Name and maybe Your Company name in (and that alone will stroke your ego )......but maybe you want to take it to a new level.  How about your competitors, key players in your line of work and some industry related terms?  Its really a fantastic way to better understand who's making news and how, and it WILL give you some new insights into your business!

Then taking it to the next level....once you're getting those Alerts.....something will happen - and you just might shift your way of thinking.  All of a sudden you have an opportunity to think outside the box and it might really get you thinking about how to innovate or change up your business.  Use this info to follow trends and then share it with your clients!  It might just help you find a better way of doing what you're doing and take it to the next level!

The second place you could start with is a Twitter Search. While others are busy trying to figure out how to limit their words of wisdom to 144 characters....YOU COULD BE digging the gold mine of the Twitter "Search" tool.  Frankly you don't even need to sign up  it is not a closed social network - everything happens out in the open!  You could actually just 'troll' and find out what people are saying about your industry!:-) Go and play - plug in some words. Twitter is an amazing source of conversation, insights, sass and gossip.  All this and all you have to do is Listen!  This way when it comes time for YOU to speak you'll actually have a Voice! :-)

If you or someone you know is thinking of Buying or Selling property in Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz  Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.     

Copyright © 2009 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. All photos by Liz Moras(except the one of Claire). All information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive.  It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd..