An Introduction to Social Media

Social media is an umbrella term that describes websites that empower and connect people online. A hallmark of social media is the user generated content. This model contrasts with the editorially controlled style of old media. Social media is sometimes called Web 2.0.

Popular social media sites:

• Digg - A pioneer in the industry, and arguably the most popular social bookmarking site in the world. Has a slight tech slant.
  
  
• Del.icio.us - Store your bookmarks online and have access to them from any computer. The "social" part comes into play because the most bookmarked sites appear on the del.icio.us popular page.
  
  
• LinkedIn - Create a professional profile and/or find professionals.
  
  
• Yelp! - Reviews of local businesses and service providers. The 21st century version of the yellow pages phone book.

For an overview of social media, and how these and similar sites can help your small business, check out this Introduction to Social Media.