Information Overload!!

Great question, Michael. I ampretty new at it too, so I have had some of the same and similar thoughts.It will be interesting to see the responses!

Welcome to AR!  It is definitely a learning experience.  Time management is a very important tool these days as we seem to never have enough time - As you guide yourself through the maze of AR, you will fine that you can effieciently utilize to maximize your social networking.

Hi Michael. I know it looks overwhelming but it is really easy to make progress. Don't try everything at once. AR gives you the biggest bang for your time. Just spend a little time every day and you will see results pretty fast. I post at night usually instead of watching TV (thank's for tivo) Have a great 2009!

When the F5 came through Jarrell and my daughter and I volunteered to help sort the donations that came in as a result, when we walked into the gymnasium where the donations were, we stopped short.  The gymansium floor was full, the bleachers were full, all the way to the ceiling.  An experienced volunteer came up to us and said, "Stop.  Don't look at it all.  Just pick out a 5' x 5 ' square on the floor down here and focus on that.  Don't look at anything else until you're done there." 

That's pretty much how it is with Active Rain, and with social networking in general.

I'd recommend that you start by reading some blogs and commenting on them.  If you see comments that you like, click on the commenter and see if they have a blog that you like and that you can comment on.  Write a blog a day at first if you can - if not, every other day will do, or sit down and do a big marathon blog writing session and then post those over the course of several days. 

Gradually, it will become more comfortable and more just one of the things you do.  (I say that, not having blogged religiously for some time now because it worked and I got busy and because of some other social networking sites that are getting more of my attention because I'm adding them to the mix.)   But it will, indeed, get easier and less overwhelming. 

Just remember, DON'T LOOK AT THE WHOLE THING. 

http://activerain.com/blogs/debe

Go read her last post about getting started.  She is outstanding.

David,

Welcome to AR.  I am relatively new approx. 2 months.  It can be overwhelming and so time consuming because there is so much great information in here.   Take one day at a time - baby steps.  Good luck.  - Judy

Welcome to AR, there is so much to learn from tehis site, i would start by looking at what you are interested in and going from there.