Don't be scared of Social Media, just don't be a jerk and wear the right pants
I hear all the time the fear and apprehension around entering the world of social media but you already know how to "do" Social Media, you just forgot.
Have you ever gotten a new job, gone on a date, changed schools, joined a new club or been appointed to a new board or committee?
I'm going to assume the answer is yes, if no... well ...I got nothing, you're on your own.
But assuming the answer IS yes, then you know exactly how to Tweet, Facebook, post on LinkedIn, Pin, and like stuff on Instagram and then whatever the new thing is tomorrow.
You have done it all before... I promise!
When most of us enter a new social situation we follow some unspoken rules and have ways of navigating this new adventure based on prior situations. Social Media Platforms are no different.
1. Ask a veteran:
You have never been golfing before and your best friend convinces you to go. One of the first 
things you do is ask your friend and probably a couple other friends some questions so you know what to expect and what is expected of you.
Such as what do I wear, how long will I be out there, are you allowed to be noisy, what if I suck because I probably will suck... and so on.
You probably are more concerned with "fitting in" ...and just "doing the accepted behavior on the golf course" than how to actually PLAY golf. let alone worry about winning.
During your first golf outing you will probably spend a lot of your time looking around at what everyone else is doing, you will ask a ton of questions and probably get embarrassed or flustered a few times. You will most likely play it a little safe and conservative as you get more familiar with this golfing thing.
Well Social media is no different. You went to a seminar and the speaker convinced you that you HAVE to be on Facebook or your business will NEVER grow. Forget the "how" to Facebook worries and ask the same questions.
First concentrate on learning the culture and "behavior" of Facebook. View starting a twitter account the same as going golfing for the first time and ask a veteran... ask what is acceptable, what is expected, then observe, and be prepared to mess up.
2. Don't curse in church:
Do you speak or present yourself exactly the same in every situation?
I am not talking about being two-faced, disingenuine or fake, But different situations bring out or call for different parts of us. 
You are meeting your buddies at a local sports pub to watch the game and a business deal comes up in the conversation, very likely the language and ways you discuss that deal will be different than if the same deal came up at a black tie event EVEN if some of the same people are there.
You have learned the accepted behavior, grey areas, and taboos for each situation. This doesn't mean you never bend the rules or completely throw them out the window but you do so knowingly.
Think about the things you already know. When texting first came out most of us couldn't imagine a time when we would be texting a client but many of us do at the urging of the client. We also may shorthand "would" to "wld" in a text to a client but would not do that in an email to that same client, because of the accepted expectations. These are fluid and changing rules but we are aware of them.
Same with social media - on Facebook versus Twitter versus Instagram ...etc... the accepted amount of posts per day, abbreviations, humor... etc... is slightly different.
You learn by doing, observing and gauging reactions just like how the look on the priest's face communicated that perhaps saying that four lletter word during the service was not your best choice.
3. Speak when spoken to:
Most of us know that when someone says something directly to us a response is expected or you are considered rude, snobby or worse.
So if you are on any social media network make sure you respond if someone talks to you. If you don't know if someone is talking to you or how to respond ... go back to #1.
It may look different than your high school cafeteria but all the same rules apply.
Basic guidelines for interaction still apply.
4. Along those lines, Go Introduce yourself:
New to a business networking group? First time at a new city's chamber greeters?
What do you do? Well, you introduce yourself.
You look around for a friendly face or someone that looks like part of your target market and you walk up, stick out your hand and meet them.
Guess what?... yep you guessed it... new to Twitter? don't know anyone?
You can eat lunch alone but if would be a lot more useful and enjoyable if you had people to sit with. So look around find a table that looks good and go introduce yourself.
Whether behind a computer screen or in 3D people appreciate the effort taken to meet them.
5. Stop talking about yourself, listen and Look for ways to help:
We have all seen the new guy in a group assault everyone, only talking about themselves and just into selling selling selling... You probably avoid that person like the plague.
So don't be that guy.
Then there is the guy that asks about YOUR business and even uses that info. to help you find a person or service you had been looking for.
Be THAT guy!
In your early and even subsequent interactions on social media, be interested in others, ask about them, and find ways to help that don't directly benefit you.
6. Don't over automate:
When phones became common place, marketers adapted, realizing there had to be a way to leverage this new technology to reach more people with the message of their business.
Enter telemarketers and then someone realized that if you automated the calls you could reach even MORE people in way LESS time.
Brilliant idea.. right?!
How many of us have listened to those automated sales calls?? They are lazy and annoying.
The way to reach people is to be a person. So even though it may be tempting to be super efficient and automate, schedule and mass produce your social media efforts remember that people know 'real' and respond to it.
There ARE ways to be more efficient but be wary of making it too easy... a million people called in two minutes with a recorded message is "easy" but is it a valuable and effective use of your money and resources if everyone hangs up?
